NPR: "What Separates A Healthy And Unhealthy Diet? Just $1.50 Per Day"

NPR: "What Separates A Healthy And Unhealthy Diet? Just $1.50 Per Day"

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/12/05/249072685/what-separates-a-healthy-and-unhealthy-diet-just-1-50-per-day

Hey everybody. Sorry this is so late, but I haven't contributed with an article and I think this one is extremely relevant.

This article explains a recent study demonstrating that a "healthy diet" is approximately $1.50 daily more expensive than an "unhealthy diet," which equates to approximately $550 a year. Considering our semester focus on the geography of food, I felt that the issue of "place" in regards to access to healthy food was missing, but absolutely necessary. Because access is largely, but not solely, dependent on price.

1. How would you put this article in dialogue with themes we have covered this semester? For example: food deserts, race, labor, whichever you feel is relevant.

2. The article mentions that education and SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) help increase access to healthy foods but at the same time are under jeopardy because of the possibility of cut funding. What are other ways to increase healthy food access, and what steps can we take to prioritize policies that help, not hurt, with healthy food access?

Typhoon Revives Debate on U.S. Food Aid Methods

Hi Everybody,

I'm assuming I'll be one of the last ones to upload a blog post here. With the semester almost over, I thought it would be important to look back at the topics we covered during lectures and find an article/issue that talks about some of them.

Related to current events, the following article from the NY Times talks about the debate over (the delivery of) U.S. food aid  to foreign countries, in light of the recent typhoon Haiyan in Philippines. Much of the debate and what both sides are arguing about aren't novel ideas. The U.S. government, Congress, and aid workers/agencies, etc. have been  seriously debating about whether U.S. should change its means of delivering food aid abroad since the mid-1900s with the introduction of First Farm Bill. Specifically to Typhoon Haiyan and the Philippines, the question lies on whether U.S. should continue to purchase U.S. food and deliver there, or allow for greater purchase of locally grown food. There are pros and cons to both sides: One of the pros is that the aid will get to the disaster-stricken area much quicker (in this case 8 weeks vs. 12 weeks from U.S.). But opposition argues that this would mean decrease in U.S jobs and rise in unemployment rates, especially in the agricultural sector.

Maybe it's just me, but this article also reminded me of the Banana War debate we did at the very beginning of the semester, with Dollar bananas vs. Caribbean bananas.

What do you think the U.S. law makers should do? Should we allow for greater purchase of local products? Is there a middle ground for this debate?

Good luck with the rest of your finals!

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/22/us/politics/typhoon-reignites-debate-over-how-us-supplies-food-aid.html?_r=0

Predicted Food Scarcity

Article
      With some of our most powerful computer models predicting drought in our most trusted and dependable farming latitudes, there is much worry about the future state of world food security. This article discusses details gathered from the most recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report regarding food scarcity. The article found that it was concluded that the previous prediction of high magnitude disruptions in the food cycle by 2050 may be occurring much sooner in the next 20-30 years. This short amount of time makes it seem that the urgency to secure a stable food system that can meet the demand for a growing population is quite urgent.
    1.  If there were such a disruption in food security (and the article already outlines evidence of the beginnings of such disruptions) with crop failure and subsequent price inflation, what will that mean for current trends in such places as Europe and the United States for smaller-scale "slow food" system?
   2.  There is predicted to be massive increases in Africa revolving around food scarcity for example. What might this mean for proposed GMO cropping systems to be put in place there? What if a specific drought resistant variety of GMO were developed?

Local Food Aid

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/hannah-lauferrottman/failing-to-address-the-co_b_4385083.html

This article refers to a plan which will change the current dynamic of food aid. Currently, surplus food (mostly starches and carbohydrate rich foods such as corn and wheat) is processes, packaged, and shipped to nations in need. It is extremely expensive and inefficient according to recent studies. The new system would provide cash to establish infrastructure in aid target areas which would allow for the production of locally sustainable produce and provide effective logistics systems for the distribution of said foods. It would eventually replace the old system and thus reduce demand for grain produced in the US, reduce US shipping, and change relationships between the US and aid target nations.

Some of my research explores local sourcing and procurement of food for food aid purposes as an economically viable alternative to shipping surplus goods overseas. Ideally this will squeeze the American domestic farmer (because of a reduced dumping market) and in the long term reduce production and subsidies on produce such as corn, beans, soy. It also provides for a much more nutrient rich food aid product, a culturally stimulating product and process, and economically stimulating processes. This article, however, considers that local sourcing may have negative externalities which could hamper progress and even reduce viability of local sourcing.

1.) What externalities do you perceive in a local (meaning geographically contiguous to aid target) food aid sourcing and procurement, negative or positive?

2.) What do you think could stand in the way of or act to induce locally sourced food aid projects? i.e, A.L.E.C, Farmers lobbies, economic interests, federal sequester.

Feeding the world: Can global crop production meet future demands?

http://storymaps.esri.com/stories/feedingtheworld/

     This interactive map was done by Esri (makers of ArcGIS software).  It shows a study done by the University of Minnesota's Institute on the Environment that focuses on how the world's crop production can double by the year 2050, so as to support the world's ever growing population. 

     3 solutions are offered based on various articles (I believe all of these solutions were discussed in class at one time or another):

     1) Closing Yield Gaps
     2) Increasing water use efficiency
     3) Changing crop use & diet

     Each solution can be quickly compared to Current Crop Yields by moving the vertical slider to the left and right.  It makes for a very visually stimulating look at possible solutions to global crop production going into the future.

"8 Things I've learned cooking without Gluten, Dairy, Nuts and Sugar" by Emily Ho

This was in interesting article that discussed a cook's recent removal of gluten, dairy, nuts and sugar via the "elimination diet" to see if her food choices were causing her health problems both mentally and physically.

1. Do you think that going "Gluten-free" is a food fad?

2. Do you think that people are just now discovering their gluten intolerance because of the way food is produced and prepared today (i.e- using GMO products or chemicals)?

3. If you are willing to share, has anyone fully eliminated dairy, gluten, nuts or sugar from their diet and noticed a significant difference in the way you felt or acted?

http://www.thekitchn.com/8-things-ive-learned-about-cooking-without-gluten-dairy-nuts-and-sugar-197775

"The word 'Natural' has no clear meaning"

The Wall Street Journal-Business
"Some Food Companies Ditch 'Natural' Label 
Amid Lawsuits Over the Claim, More Producers Drop the Word" By: Mike Esterl

This article was just recently published in The Wall Street Journal Business section and I thought it was interesting because we discussed a few weeks ago how much, for example organic, a product must be in order for the label to read "Organic," well in this case, certain companies are now taking the "natural" label of certain products due to recent lawsuits and the questioning of the word "natural." According to the FDA, there is no definition to the word "natural," but instead of following a definition, there is a policy that has been followed for a long time that helps to classify what is natural. What is your definition of "natural"? What criteria would do you think a product needs to meet to considered "natural"? How do you think consumers determine whether or not the products are really "natural"? Do you think consumers trust the label or avoid the products due to uncertainty of the production?

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304470504579163933732367084

4 Ways the Food and Drug Administration Is Not 'Protecting and Promoting Your Health'

This was a very interesting read as we have recently been talking more about food safety and how effective the FDA is in maintaining safe food practices and regulations.

1. Do you think the FDA is entirely at fault for these apparent issues or are others possibly responsible, such as FDA permit manufacturers?

2. What do you think the FDA should do to quell of these rampant gaffes in their lack of regulation in many food safety realms?



4 Ways the Food and Drug Administration Is Not 'Protecting and Promoting Your Health'

Frankenfish!

I just though this article was interesting & relevant to what we discuss in class. Plus I though the name was cute and clever since it's almost Halloween!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/agriculture/geneticmodification/10391080/Frankenfish-coming-to-a-supermarket-near-you-as-campaigners-warn-against-GM-salmon.html

Family Farms Nourishing the World

This artcile highlights eight stories of successful small-scale farms that make an important impact on our world:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/danielle-nierenberg/family-farmers_b_4110458.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003&ir=Food

Discussion Questions:
1. Do you think this article only highlights the more positive aspect of small-scale farming? Do you believe that it is an accurate representation after what we have previously discussed in class?

2. What do you think could be done to make these success stories possible for more family farms?

Slavery Footprint and Food

This website has been around for a while but it is still relevant. You take a quick survey and it tells you how many people in slavery around the world are working to create the products you consume. I figured that this would be interesting to look at the labor that goes into creating the food we eat.
Slavery Footprint Calculator

The Cost of Fast Food Labor

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/10/16/235398536/why-u-s-taxpayers-pay-7-billion-a-year-to-help-fast-food-workers

I found this article to be very interesting, and as we will be discussing labor in the food industry this next week I felt that this article tied into our discussion at least somewhat. While it may not discuss a farm worker's labor issues, I feel that it is still very relevant to the food system as a whole. I know this subject may be slightly touchy for some individuals as unions and workers rights discussions tend to get very politically charged and often end up being pointless - I would just like to hear some peoples personal thoughts on what raising wages not only in the fast food industry but also in the food production industry as a whole would possibly do to the price of food, the excess taxpayer spending associated with food workers, and how this may affect the way we as Americans perceive the food production industry.

Thanks for reading,

Riley Hilderbrandt

Sustainable Protein Production in Georgia

Mr. Will Harris from White Oak Pastures has developed a massive, economically successful, farm using the Serengeti rotational grazing system. here is a video about his operation.
http://vimeo.com/30151350

Keep in mind the massive acreage He uses to do this. Also the fact that he uses no almost zero imputs into his farming system.
what do you guys think? Is this operation something that can be duplicated? is it large enough to even put a dent into the American farming system?

Recent Food in the News

• Was Your Chicken Nugget Made in China? It Will Soon be Hard to Know (NPR, 9/5/13)
• Chickens raised and processed in the U.S. are being sent to China to be transformed into manufactured chicken products to be sold back to the U.S. market. (!)
• Rodale C.E.O.: U.S. Agricultural Companies 'No Better' than Syria (Discover Magazine, 9/6/13)
• An open letter from Maria Rodale ("the C.E.O of the world’s leading health-and-wellness publisher and the granddaughter of the founder of the organic movement in America") to President Obama, cautioning against the dangers of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
• GMO Foes Blast Scientific American Editorial Decrying Labeling Laws (NY Daily News, 9/6/13)
• In a recent editorial, the editors of Scientific American Magazine claimed that laws requiring labeling of genetically-modified foods are "unscientific." This piece covers the debate that ensued.

Where the idea of golden rice works...

Does this idea actually make for a population that actually has sovereignty over its food supply?
Is it sustainable?
How effective do you think this will be in the long term?



NPR- The Humble Sweet Potato

Test-Tube Meat

Test-Tube Meat

http://science.time.com/2013/08/05/meet-schmeat-say-hello-to-the-stem-cell-hamburger/

“Schmeat” or “in vitro meat” is the culinary product of stem cells harvested from a cow’s shoulder and nurtured in a laboratory into strips of muscle. Heavily supported and funded by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), “schmeat” made its debut earlier this month in London where a 5-ounce patty was served that took two years to produce. Its release was highly anticipated among animal rights activists.  There is a vision that this technology could develop become commonplace in society. We could potentially be able to grow our own meat at home. Proponents argue that “schmeat” is better for the environment, more ethical than conventional meat, and no animals have to die to produce it. They also claim it will help reduce greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming, and “schmeat” is healthier than conventional meat because scientists can control the quality (no fat, no cholesterol, etc). Opponents argue the meat is tasteless and has the consistency of a scallop and draw attention to the potential economic impacts of introducing this to our world economy. What are your thoughts?

1. Do you think that “schmeat” is just another science fiction experiment or do you think its production could help feed the world and reduce some food-industry practices promoting climate change?

2. If scientists are successful in their production of “schmeat,” how do you think the public will respond when it begins to replace conventional meat products?

3. What about the economic effects of “schmeat”? If it turns out to be the best option for us environmentally and ethically, what about all of the slaughter houses that will be put out of business, leaving hundreds of thousands of people unemployed?

Week 3: Industrialization and the Green Revolution

A helpful review of the Green Revolution from Wikipedia.

From the New York Times, August 24, 2013: "Golden Rice: Lifesaver?"

Two different stories about the Green Revolution (video):

• The Green Revolution: Waging a War Against Hunger
• Not a Very Green Revolution

Minnesota farmers turn away from wheat; corn, soybeans more profitable

Minnesota farmers turn away from wheat; corn, soybeans more profitable

Minnesota used to be the nation's wheat producing capital, but lately the local farmers have turned to more profitable crops. As we've discussed in class, corn and soybeans have been genetically engineered to withstand harsh conditions and survive heavy doses of pesticides. It is more worthwhile and cost effective for farmers to cultivate these crops, but how will this effect the wheat market? Already, the price of flour is increasing because millers are located further from the source of wheat.

We know that corn is already overproduced and sold to consumers in more calorie dense, expensive ways every day. How will the price of corn being driven down even further and the increased price of flour affect the nation's health? Should wheat and other crops be genetically modified so they can compete?

The Plight of the Honeybee

Time Magazine Article

Albert Einstein once said, “If the bee disappeared off the face of the earth, man would only have four years left to live”.  At the current rate of worldwide bee population decline, this statement may yet be tested.  
    This article discusses the rapid disappearance of bees and possible causes. Among some reasons of loss of bees, such as pesticides and mites, the the dominance of wheat and corn as crop staples is listed. Since these crops are lacking of pollen, bees are starving. This is a relevant topic of discussion stemming from currents readings from class.

TED talk: What's wrong with what we eat

This TED talk seeks to explain and explore how food is effecting both our health and our environment. Eliminating animals and junk food, which have been proven unnecessary, and increasing our intake of plants will increase the amount of years we live and ensure quality health for those years, so why haven't we moved to a different and healthier lifestyle? Bittman seeks to explore the perks of localvores and the elimination of the processed food that so abundantly plagues our lives.

With a food system so rooted in its ties to agribusiness how do we, as consumers, make the right food choices? Also, what would be an effective and efficient way to educate the general public about what's wrong with what we eat, especially since the main sources of information on food are controlled by lobbyists with agendas?

Food Innovations Newest Potato Chip Flavors

This article from National Geographic discusses the most recent form of food engineering in the potato chip industry.

http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2013/02/08/food-innovations-newest-potato-chip-flavors-sriracha-chicken-and-waffles-and-garlic-bread/

-Madison Boyd

Reading-related Links: WEEK 2

This week, we're reading about changes in U.S. Food and Farm structure over the course of the 20th Century. Here are a few links for more information on this topic.

Gottlieb and Joshi, Chapter 2:

• From the section "Grocery Gaps": USDA's information about food deserts; and their "food desert locator tool" (which we'll be critiquing later in the semester...!)
• From the section "Convenient Calorie Culture": Democracy Now interview with David Kessler on food marketing. 
• From the section "Convenient Calorie Culture": Check out Lunchables' "Kids Site"! (Also Post's Pebbles Play, Kraft's Candystand). 
• From the section "Convenient Calorie Culture": NYT article on Coke's "H2NO" Campaign

Gottlieb and Joshi, Chapter 5:

• From the section "Wal-Mex Takes Over": A NYTimes article on Walmart de Mexico's bribery practices.
• From the section "Globesity": David Berreby on "The Obesity Era"

Food in the news...AND How to post an article to the blog!

A sampling of recent food news from around the web:

• From the New York Times' Mark Bittman: Not All Industrial Food is Bad
• From Realfarmacy.com (video about industrial meat processing): Quite Possibly the Most Eye-Opening Six Minutes Ever on Film
• From EarthIslandJournal.com: Monsanto's Stock Becoming High Risk as Demand for GMO Labeling Grows 
• From NPR (audio and text): Can Quinoa Farming Go Global Without Leaving Andeans Behind?
• From Grist.org: The People Are Hungry: The Link Between Food and Revolution

And... How to post an article to the blog:

1. Log in to blogger.com with the account you created.
2. Select this blog. 
3. Click on "New Post."
4. Create a title for your post.
5. Add text to the text box.
6. When you've found an article you'd like to share, copy the url from that article's webpage.
7. Back in blogger, click on the blue hyperlink ("Link") button in the toolbar. Paste the URL into the box next to the radio dial for "Web Address." In the "text to display" box, write the name of the article.
8. Below the link that you post, write a few sentences summarizing the article and your thoughts on it. 
9. You can preview your post, and make sure the links work, by clicking the "Preview" button near the top of the page. Once you're satisfied with your post, click the orange "Publish" button.
10. Voila!

Welcome!

Welcome! This is the course blog for Catarina Passidomo's Fall 2013 course on the Geography of Food. Students enrolled in the course (GEOG 3660) will use this blog to post articles and information from around the web that relate to our class discussions.

Each student is responsible for posting at least one news article published since January 1, 2013, to post two discussion questions to accompany the article, and to moderate classmate discussion for their article. Additionally, each student is responsible for participating in at least 5 separate discussion threads.

There are resources in the right sidebar, which you may utilize to find relevant news stories. Additionally, any major news source may be cited for our purposes.

Happy reading/posting/commenting!