Problems in the Food Industry - Research Paper Example

Problems in the Food Industry Introduction In the United s of America, the food industry is experiencing many problems in 21st century. The advancements in the levels of technology have caused many developments in the farming methods and techniques. This has both positive and negative effects of the food produced and onto the consumers both in the short term and long run periods. For instance, animal torture and hormones commonly known as GMOs have taken the better part of the day in the recent news and reports. Genetically modified foods are readily available in the food stores nowadays. The reason behind this is that they take less time to mature in the fields. However, when taken for long, they have a negative impact on the lives of human beings health wise. Most of the issues are health related issues, which reduce the life span of the human beings as they cause terminal illnesses. Environmental pollution has also implicated negatively of the food industry. The climate has been highly affected food production in most parts of the country. In addition, environmental pollution caused by the activities of human beings has also affected food production (Halden and Schwab 5-12). Further, use of inorganic fertilizers has also affected the quality of food that is produced by farmers in the world today. This is because it has led to changes in the soil composition, which is directly evident in the contents of the food that is produced by farmers (Abel, Thomson and Maretzki 1). Moreover, increase in human population has also led to decrease in land that is available for farming. Most of the land nowadays is used for human settlement, and building of industries as the rise in need of them has occurred. Hence, most of the food that is available is from imports from the developing countries. This has led to an increase in the food prices as compared to the prices in the 19th century. Environmental impact has caused a lot of changes and problems in the food industry, and it is our role to ensure that these problems and long-term solutions determined. Throughout the essay, we will focus on the solutions that different stakeholders in the food industry and then decide which among all of them the best is. Solutions to the problems Globally, people have embarked on many activities that are aimed at ensuring food security and maximize the general output in the food production in the country. This has been achieved through individuals who have taken it as their role to ensure food security, movements that address the issues of farmers and suppliers in the market as well as companies and organizations in the country. The main aim of these organizations is to ensure that the problems in the food industry are handled in the right way. These include the farmers supplying their products in different markets in the country. Further, it has also become the business of local food movements such as the non-GMO in the country (Ben and Jerry 1). When we talk of food security, many factors have to be considered. This is because the problems that affect food security come from all diversities. Firstly, let us focus the people and the organizations whose aim is to champion for the best practices that will enhance food security in the country. According to Weil in his article that featured, ‘the food revolution networks’, he described the efforts that different stakeholders are determined to implement in order to achieve food security in our country (Weil 1). Currently, food chain is experiencing many challenges. The reason behind this is that most agribusinesses are more interested in making profits other than minding the health of the consumers and that of the ecosystem. In his article, he has clearly enlightened the people on the importance of knowing how the food that they consume is grown and how it reaches the final consumer. In reality, most people just go to the food chain stores and buy their groceries without considering their originality. This is why the federal is spending 25 percent of the entire gross domestic product on health (Martinez 7-12). Most of the foods that the people always consume affect their bodies in different ways. Mostly, they result to cases of obesity even in children, diabetes and other different chronic illnesses as compared to years earlier. Genetically modified related foods cause obesity in people of all ages. Most young people are now obese. This is because their lifestyles are dominated by fast foods and processed foods. Due to this, the need to create awareness and enlighten people on the best healthy practices has risen up. This has led to the formation of revolution movements whose aim is to create awareness and sensitize people on healthy eating habits that will lead to better and healthier lives by the end of the day. ‘Diet for a good America’ is a magazine that is a result of the good work that is done by these revolution movements. The aim of the magazine is ensuring that the readers of this magazine are well updated on what they need to know about their diet and health issues that are related to food (Weil 1). In addition, they can give their opinion and complaints to the parties that are responsible in ensuring that their safety and well-being is minded. The magazine also highlights the safety measures, which the consumers are supposed to take in order to ensure that what they are consuming is good for their health. In ‘new diet for America’, it is evident that the beef consumption has greatly decreased while the entire sales for organic foods have risen by almost 26 percent per annum as compared to the other years (Weil 1). This is an s a result of the awareness that is created by these revolution movements that enlighten people on eating healthy foods. Further, Weil has also pointed out that farmers are using industrial fertilizers to ensure and facilitate faster production (1). A good example is that most of them prefer growing genetically modified foods and offering them for sale in the food stores for sale without proper labeling. Most farmers prefer them because they take less time to mature, and their main aim is to make profits by the end of the day. Therefore, the movements that are formed by the consumers and other stakeholders in the country are aiming at boycotting these bad people and companies. This will ensure that they label all the GMO-related foods in the shelves (Fields 1). It also ensures that farm faunae are pickled in the right way. For this reason, most consumers now prefer to buy their fresh products from Non-GMO projects that are present in the country (Abel, Thomson and Maretzki 1). Additionally, they are advocating the government to ensure that the policy is set and implemented to ensure that all GMO products are labeled and regulated in the market. Moreover, the local food movements in different states have also ensured that consumers are not exploited when it comes to the prices of the products that are offered in the market. They successfully achieve this by setting rules and regulations that are followed by the suppliers and markets of these products. Different organizations are also advising farmers on the best farming practices. Mostly, they advise on the use of organic fertilizers to ensure that the food, which produced, is free of chemicals and other harmful substances. Inspection on the quality of the food that is offered for sale to the consumers is also promoted to ensure consumer safety. Genetically modified food is also discouraged because it has many negative impacts on the health of the consumers. Through proper awareness, people have observed healthy eating habits, which reduce diet-related illnesses. There are ways to solve the issues that are related to environmental impact. The state through the department of environment has set up various measures that are aimed at ensuring food security in the country (Martinez, et al. 7-12). Firstly, the government enacted measures to control all types of pollutions as they have a negative impact on the environment. One of the factors that have greatly contributed to environmental pollution is the establishment of industries in different countries. Their wastes cause both water and air pollution which leads to global warming that directly affect food production in the country due to changes in climate. On the artless written by Weil, he has clearly outlined that it is the high time that the federal government fully implement the national policy on food safety (Weil 1). This is because, for a long time, consumers in the market have always been exploited n terms of both quality and prices. The presence of middlemen in the market has led to an increase in food prices. Despite the market being controlled by the demand theory, sometimes the middlemen also influence the prices of these commodities in the market. Further, the federal government needs also to control human activities that lead to pollution in all manners. Further, increased human settlement has also led to the shortage of the available land for farming. This has led to a scarcity of farm produce in the marketplace causing a surge in prices. My opinion Different solutions as shared work out in different ways. In my opinion, all the activities that are undertaken by different individuals and movements provide the best solutions in both long and short-term periods. For instance, the movements create awareness on consumers by sensitizing on their rights as consumers in the market. Through different forms of media, they can enlighten consumers on healthy eating habits. Precisely, they should educate them on the dangers of fast foods that they mostly prefer, as they are the main causes of obesity. In the 21st century, social media platforms have brought a revolution in the whole world. In my opinion, they are among the best platforms that can be used in creating general awareness as well as educating consumers on their rights in the market and the industry. Additionally, they are also various publications that include journals and magazines where consumers can still get the information. Genetically modified foods also cause different types of cancers in human beings. To be specific, the issue that is commonly advocated in the world today is the effects of genetically modified foods on the health of the human beings. When consumed for a long period, they cause obesity, and diabetes among other illness (Martinez, et al. 45-50). However, most farmers consider them because they mature faster, and they are more attractive on the shelves as compared to organic foods. This is supposed to be one of the mandates and responsibility of these movements in the country. I believe that the local movements are empowered, and it is their role to organize and mobilize for funds to organize community check up for all terminal illness that are mostly caused by different types of foods and lifestyles. They should also advocate and promote the consumers highly to consume organic foods other that the fast foods and processed which they mostly rush. The federal government through its various departments should also enforce various policies that regulate the amounts of these foods that are offered in the market to ensure that they are organic foods. Through the state department of agriculture, the government can directly influence what farmers use to grow different types of crops. Most farmers use inorganic fertilizers that are manufactured by the industries that are mandated to do so. They also use genetically modified seeds as they are known to be resistant to different factors. Though they contribute to increasing in food production, they have negative impacts of the lives of the consumers. The federal government should ensure that all this factors are regulated for the well-being of consumers in the market. This will be a great move as it will enable the government to reduce its expenditure per annum on healthcare issues. Further, most farmers are profit oriented, so it is their mandate to sensitize the farmers on the best practices that ensure their safety. This can be easily achieved by offering them trainings on different organic farming methods and the negative effects that are brought by the genetically modified foods. Further, these movements also educate farmers on the best organic practices to ensure that their produce is fit for human consumption. This is the reason as to why most of them discourage the genetically modified foods as they are harmful to human beings. Hence, their composition should also be regulated to ensure that they are not harmful to the environment. These organizations also ensure that the intermediaries in the market do not exploit the final consumer. This is why they are advocating the implementation of the food security policy by the federal government in order to curb these malpractices, which negatively influence the consumer (Weil 1). Also, I think that the federal government should also invest in research and development in the department of agriculture to ensure that new breeds of crops are developed. This is evident in other countries in the world where the weather is not predictable due to the effects of the global warming. This should also consist of better methods of practicing organic farming. Most farmers consider organic farming to be a challenge. Therefore, I think it is their role to enlighten and provide them with the knowledge to achieve it successfully. The movements propose to the federal government that they should import from developing countries in order to promote and ensure growth of their economies to deal with the shortage of food in the country. However, various rules and regulations should also be set to ensure that the products imported met the quality standards that are required. Strict rules and regulations should be enforced to ensure that all the imported foods are safe for consumers in the country. Developing countries especially from Africa greatly contribute on the general food imports in the United States of America. Hence, in my opinion, I think that solutions offered by different individuals and families to solve this issue of food security are the best, and they should be fully implemented. Globally, the United Nations always organize different forums and platforms which discuss issues of food security in the world. Food security is a global issue, and there I advocate full participation by different stakeholders in the food industry from our country as it concerns us in one way or the other. Works Cited: Abel, Jennifer, Thomson, Joan and Maretzki, Audrey. “Extensions Role with Farmers Markets: Working with Farmers, Consumers, and Communities.” Journal of Extension 37.5 (1999). Joe.org. Web. 05 December 2014. Ben and Jerry. “Labelize it!” Benjerry.com. Web. 05 December 2014. Fields, Jennifer. “GMO Labeling: A Movement in Motion.” Huffingtonpost.com. Web. 05 December 2014. Halden, Rolf and Schwab, Kellog. “Environmental Impact of Industrial Farm Animal Production.” Ncifap.org. Web. 05 December 2014. Martinez, Steve, et al. “ Local Food Systems.” Web. 06 December 2014. Weil, Drew. “How the Food Movement is Gaining Strength.” Foodrevolution.org. Web. 05 December 2014. Read More