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!