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Food Security - Global to Local
May. 19th, 2014 08:01 amWe live in a time of where our global food system is in need of serious revision, the estimated 9 billion people that will inhabit earth this century will need to be nourished through practices that are sustainable and socially sound. Looking at the globalized food system we can see a great disparity in the issues sounding food security in the global north compared to the issues in the global south. In the global south we see issues such as poor transport and market infrastructure, lack of proper storage causing food waste, price supports and subsidies in the global north that are maintaining a "poverty trap", and often the inability to adequately nourish on a local level. In the global north the issues surrounding food security are largely to do with food waste due to developed countries have come to expect their food to look aesthetically perfect and subsequently wasting 30-40 per cent of edible food. The increase of food prices are also becoming a concern, the high cost of fuel to transport the food globally and maintain many of the agricultural practices is becoming more and more reflective in food prices.
As a nutritionist, I look at our global food crisis as a paradox between the developed and developing countries. We see those in developed countries dying from diseases of excess, such as heart disease, diabetes, and other illnesses linked to poor diet and obesity. In the developing countries we see them dying of diseases of deficiency, such as malnourishment and starvation. I believe that our globalized system is greatly flawed and that we need to return to the ways of grandparents food system, local production. Nutritionally speaking,eating food that has been picked within a day or two before consumption is largely nutritionally superior to produce that has been in transport for weeks. Supporting our local farmers not only is more nutritionally beneficial, but it promotes our local economy, cuts down on gas emissions, and connects you to people in your community. A number of years ago I worked as a produce manager in a very busy Co-operative in Nelson, BC, and much of our focus was surrounding supporting the local farmers. Through getting to know the farmers many of them shared with me how difficult it was to make a living as a farmer, even while getting paid top market value for their produce, many of them said when they broke down how much time was spent farming they were making approximately $2 an hour. These were small, scale, organic farmers who were not receiving government subsidies or supports; their situation could be compared to what it looks for developing countries in their global food production participation. I believe that one of the most impacting ways we can create food security is by looking at how we can feed ourselves through our local food system. I understand the issues surrounding food security are very complicated, but our reliance on cheap food from far away is not only unsustainable, it also perpetuates the oppression and starvation of those living in places that are not benefiting from this globalized system.
Question- How much of the food that you purchase is from Vancouver Island?
As a nutritionist, I look at our global food crisis as a paradox between the developed and developing countries. We see those in developed countries dying from diseases of excess, such as heart disease, diabetes, and other illnesses linked to poor diet and obesity. In the developing countries we see them dying of diseases of deficiency, such as malnourishment and starvation. I believe that our globalized system is greatly flawed and that we need to return to the ways of grandparents food system, local production. Nutritionally speaking,eating food that has been picked within a day or two before consumption is largely nutritionally superior to produce that has been in transport for weeks. Supporting our local farmers not only is more nutritionally beneficial, but it promotes our local economy, cuts down on gas emissions, and connects you to people in your community. A number of years ago I worked as a produce manager in a very busy Co-operative in Nelson, BC, and much of our focus was surrounding supporting the local farmers. Through getting to know the farmers many of them shared with me how difficult it was to make a living as a farmer, even while getting paid top market value for their produce, many of them said when they broke down how much time was spent farming they were making approximately $2 an hour. These were small, scale, organic farmers who were not receiving government subsidies or supports; their situation could be compared to what it looks for developing countries in their global food production participation. I believe that one of the most impacting ways we can create food security is by looking at how we can feed ourselves through our local food system. I understand the issues surrounding food security are very complicated, but our reliance on cheap food from far away is not only unsustainable, it also perpetuates the oppression and starvation of those living in places that are not benefiting from this globalized system.
Question- How much of the food that you purchase is from Vancouver Island?
