Globalization and Social Change Final Exam
CU18LIH
soc_4330_ch_14.pptxChapter Fourteen
Threats to Well Being: Environment and Food Systems
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Security Brought Home
“What makes you feel secure? A full stomach, warm and dry shelter, a stable job, a loving family, and sleeping peacefully at night are basic elements of human security. Clean water to drink and bathe in, clean air to breathe, and food that is nutritious, not just filling, can make the difference between life and death. Being able to send your children to school, or go to school yourself; living without fear of gunfire, rocket fire, or bombing—most of the world cannot take these simple aspects of security for granted. Most people do not have them” (Chrico 2013, p. 444).
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Out of Sight, Out of Mind: The Great Pacific Garbage Patches
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Vulnerability to Sea Level Rise
Fossil fuel utilizationAtmospheric CO2 increase Greenhouse effectGlobal warming Reduction of glaciers and ice caps Sea level rise Various social, economic, and political consequences
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/earth/extreme-ice.html
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Vulnerability to Sea Level Rise
Clemson University, elevation about 725 ft
Old Dominion University, Norfolk VA (about 8ft)
https://www.odu.edu/content/dam/odu/offices/coo/docs/masterplan/Flood%20Plain%20and%20Sea%20Level%20Rise%20Assessment.pdf
Sandhills region in South Carolina reveals past limits of
(non-anthropocentric, i.e.,non-human caused) sea level rise
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Vulnerability to Sea Level Rise
A prehistoric shoreline runs along the eastern edge of North America; scientists have pointed to it as evidence that much of Antarctica melted 3 million years ago. But new research suggests this shoreline is actually about 30 feet (10 meters) lower than previously thought, meaning less ice melted than suspected.
http:// www.livescience.com/32060-mantle-flow-changes-topography.html
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Vulnerability to Sea Level Rise
Maldives, average elevation about 4 ft, highest < 8 ft
http :// news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8311838.stm
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Objectives
This Chapter will help you:
understand hunger as a manufactured risk (“Now, there is plenty of food, but human’s relations with each other and their environment prevent many of the world’s people from getting enough” (Chirico 2014, p. 421).
compare and contrast the successes and failures of the green revolution in fighting hunger
evaluate the benefits and disadvantages of several major food policies
analyze the factory model of food production and weigh its benefits and harm in crop, poultry, and livestock production
describe new trends in agriculture toward more sustainable farming
identify environmental risks to land, water, and air
relate environmental risks to the production of food
assess the impact of modern life on the capacity of the earth’s environment to sustain it.
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Food security definitions
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations currently uses the following description: “Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food which meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s definition of food security is, “access by all people at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life.”
Food security comprises several different components, including food access, distribution of food, the stability of the food supply, and the use of food.
The opposite of food security - food insecurity - is defined by the USDA as, “a household-level economic and social condition of limited or uncertain access to adequate food.
Food insecurity is part of a continuum that includes hunger (food deprivation), malnutrition (deficiencies, imbalances, or excesses of nutrients), and famine.
In the US, the term “food desert” is often used to describe a location that has limited access to healthful, nutritious food, especially in low-income neighborhoods.
http :// www.sustainabletable.org/280/food-security-food-access
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The Challenge:
Producing and distributing sufficient, affordable, and nutritious food
Barriers and concerns
Sustainability
Culture
Trade policies
Consumer tastes
Climate
Irrigation potential
Population density
Infrastructure for transportation
Access to finance
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First Transformation in Agriculture
Mid 19th Century to WWI: Mechanization
large scale production and commercial cultivation
Regional specialties developed
Countries developed market niches
Monocropping and specialization
Indigenous crops neglected
Number of farms dropped, size of farms increased
Countries became more dependent on import and export of food
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Number of Farms, Specialization, Export
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Supply Management
Early 1900s, WWI
Over supply
Climate
Depression
World market prices dropped
1930 Smoot Hawley Act in USA
Protective Tariffs for Agriculture (to protect domestic farmers from foreign agricultural imports)
Supply management and price supports introduced
(governments buy surplus and hold them to keep prices up, release them when supply drops– or pay farmers not to grow)
Other countries also became more protective U.S. imports from Europe declined from a 1929 high of $1,334 million to just $390 million in 1932, while U.S. exports to Europe fell from $2,341 million in 1929 to $784 million in 1932. Overall, world trade declined by some 66% between 1929 and 1934. (http://future.state.gov/when/timeline/1921_timeline/smoot_tariff.html)
Trade dropped and did not rise significantly until 1960s
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Cost of Subsidies
Good for Subsidized Farmers (USA and Europe) under priced US products on the global market.
Kept prices predictable for consumers
unfair competition between subsidized farmers in the US and Europe and small scale farmers in developing nations.
"long term negative effects for poverty, food security and the environment." Many of the worst of these effects have been borne by the most economically and socially disadvantaged sections of rural society, in particular women and indigenous communities”
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The Green Revolution 1920s
Convergence of Forces (emphasis on science over traditional indigenous knowledge in food production, rationalization of production processes mirroring Taylorist/Fordist trends in manufacturing, transforming the agricultural base from small family farms into big corporate business0
Mexican Government wanted to legitimize itself on global stage and to domestic audience
Impact of Science : Professionalization of the agrónomos (along with other fields such as education, medicine, law, etc)
Rockefeller Foundation pursuing program of agriculture, new seeds, chemicals for fertilizers and pesticides
Science of agriculture took over from traditional methods of breeding, planting etc….
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Advantages of Traditional Methods
Crops bred over centuries were well adapted to climate without need for many chemicals, and seeds were available from prior years’ crops
Planting a variety of strains of a crop had many benefits
One pest could not wipe out total crop
Different harvest times
Smaller yields than costly new hybrid seeds which required a lot of costly chemicals
But traditional methods were devalued and thrust aside in the Green Revolution
New seeds judged to be better by those in power
Agricultural miracle to export to many nations
Yields increased dramatically
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Unintended Consequences of Green Revolution: Social Costs
Peasants could not afford the seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and irrigation required for the green revolution.
Many women lost their traditional positions as foragers for medicines and food as little land was made available
Agricultural by-products not used to enrich and restore soil after each harvest
Aid to large factory farms undercut competition from small growers
Small growers who did buy into green revolution often could not repay debt
People were replaced by machines and moved into cities, slums grew around cities
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Unintended Consequences of Green Revolution: Costs to Crops
Crops more vulnerable to disease. An entire crop could be wiped out by one pest
Cycle of supply disrupted, only one harvest time for a crop
Monocropping drains soil of the nutrients it most needs, leaves soil dependent on chemical fertilizers
Costs of irrigation, transportation, fertilizers and pesticides rose rapidly with oil crisis of 1970s
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Unintended Consequences of Green Revolution: Environmental Costs
Heavy irrigation depleted underground water supplies
Aquifers and fresh water supplies became polluted
Quality and capacity of soil diminished
Runoff of fertilizer promotes algae growth, creating dead zones in oceans killing coral reefs, and with parallel impacts in fresh water resources (e.g., accelerated eutrophication of lakes and rivers)
Some environments may have been destroyed beyond repair
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Global Food Crisis
Prices of food rose dramatically in 2008 and in 2009, 2010, 2011
Using grain to feed cattle
Using grain for ethanol
Severe weather events (including natural phenomenon such as La Niña)
Commercial production for export rather than food stuffs
Rising food prices not only send people to food banks and result in increased death due to hunger but popular rage--- one of the triggers of Arab Spring
Drew greater attention to climbing farmer suicide rates in India. “The suicide rate among Indian farmers was 47 percent higher than the national average, according to a 2011 census. Forty-one farmers commit suicide every day, leaving behind scores of orphans and widows”(http:// www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2015/05/india-shocking-farmer-suicide-epidemic-150513121717412.html)
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Livestock Revolution
Resource and Energy Intensive
80% of grain grown in US goes to feeding cattle
Half of water used in US goes to cattle
Water for ten pounds of steak is equal to one family’s annual consumption
Poultry produced using factory model
Maquila model of poultry production in Mexico
component parts—chickens, feed, incubators, etc-- are imported to the factory. The product—chickens and eggs—are created and shipped back. In Mexico, only about 30% of poultry comes from traditional producers
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Real-Cabello 2003, 136
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Environmental unsustainability of meat-based versus plant-based diets (from Pimentel and Pimentel, 2003, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition)
The US food system is heavily dependent on fossil fuels, across both meat- and plant-based sectors. Food production (in 2003) used about 50% of the land area, 80% of the fresh water, and 17% of the fossil fuels
The US livestock population consumed (2003) more than 7 times the grain of the US human population
That much grain would feed 840 million people following a plant-based diet
Producing 1 KG of animal protein requires 100 times the water of producing 1 KG of grain protein
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A New Revolution??
1980s Food became part of environmental movement
Heath risks associated with food production recognized
Concern for heathy food, hunger, the environment connected
Local food movement (e.g., http://hubcity.coop/about)
World Food Programme: Purchase for Progress (P4P):
WFP already buys large amounts of food in developing countries. P4P harnesses this purchasing power and uses it to help poor farmers connect to reliable markets where they can get competitive prices for their produce. With secure markets, farmers will be encouraged to produce more and innovate. The knock-on effect is more food security for everyone.
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Global Horticultural Revolution
Low consumption of fruits and vegetables is among the 10 top risk factors for death
In 2002, the fruit and vegetable supply was 173 kg per capita
In some areas of Eastern Europe, Latin America, and South Asia, consumption is as low as 54 to 75 kg for young women.
The horticultural revolution increased the production of fruits about 3.6% a year and vegetables about 5.5% a year from 1980 – 2004.
Fifty-eight percent of the increase came from China, 38% from all other developing countries, and only 4% from the developed countries
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Return for Horticulture
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The New Green Revolution in Africa
Suggestions for Improving Agriculture in Africa
Correct mistakes of first green revolution
AGRA
1. establish grassroots network of farmers to help assess research and development needs
2. concentrate on improved varieties of traditional crops
3. moderate zeal for scientific progress with concern for social and environmental priorities
4. Small farmers would be the focal point rather than being
5. funding through government and private sources
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Other Concerns
Find ways to invigorate small farming… many rent their land and would be left out if funding only went to landowners.
Pay attention to agriculture as a social not just technical process
Traditional farming has no waste… non food materials used as fodder, fertilizer, fuel and fiber
If small farmers have to buy substitutes this can price them out of the market
Farm labor is an important source of employment. Opportunities are limited in urban areas. Job loss has serious ramifications
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The GM (genetic modification) Controversy (also BT—crops with Bacillus thuringiensis genes)
1930 Plant Patent Act
1970 Plant Variety protection Act
1980: Supreme Court live, human-made organisms could be patented
What happens if GM seed blows onto non GM fields?
What happens to traditionally bred seed that GM producers slightly modify?
Multinational corporations are establishing proprietary rights to traditional remedies and medicines.
Monsanto’s “Bt corn” is equipped with a gene from the soil bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), which produces Bt toxin—a pesticide that breaks open the stomach of certain insects and kills them. There is also BT cotton by Monsanto.
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GM Safety
Are they toxic
Do they encourage resistance to antibiotics
Should GM foods be labeled
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Threats to the Natural Environment
Environmental degradation
Resource – air, soil, and water depletion
Encroachments into natural environments and epidemics
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Threats to global and national security
Conflict over water exacerbates international conflicts.
Depleted land strains global food supplies
Synergy among environmental problems may threaten human security long after the original sources have diminished (in this case threats to the earth’s protective ozone layer) have been
Climate change intensifies weather events leading to humanitarian emergencies
Existing problems– poverty, social tensions, fragile states and institutions will be exacerbated
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Dennis Blair 2010, 39.
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Water
2010:
880 million people lack access to safe drinking water
2.5 billion do not have basic sanitation
1 ½ million children die every year because of water and sanitation issues
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Water Scarcity
Ogallala aquifer diminishing rapidly
Water table in China lowering
Aquifers in North China plains may be drained in 30 years
Few laws govern the use and misuse of aquifers
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Land
Deforestation
1990 – 2005 forest lands diminished at an average annual pace of 13 million hectares.
Forest equal to 18,100 soccer playing fields is lost daily
Desertification
12million hectacres and
24 billion tons of fertile soil lost yearly
Industrial Waste Discharge
Over grazing
Rising ocean levels
Nuclear waste disposal
Land fills
Land mine fields
Losses
Forests exacerbate water issues
Forests absorb greenhouse gasses
Forests house the world’s biodiversity
New infectious diseases are emerging from the forests
Potential of 20 million tons of grain lost when land lost
Environmental refugees put pressure on new areas
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Climate Change
Lower income countries
More vulnerable
More dependent on natural environment
Physically and economically precarious
Exacerbate threats to water and food resources, urban infrastructure, political systems
Governmental collapse?
Humanitairan crises
Higher Income countries
Less vulnerable
More able to adapt food production and living conditions
Increase immigration to Europe
More resources and attention will go to North Africa
Parts of US will be hit hard
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Extreme Weather Events
Average # of extreme weather events up to 400 per year from 200
Double number of people suffering from such disasters– 211 million directly affected yearly
1998 – 2007: 2.2billion people affected
1987 – 1998: 1.8 billion people affected
As people escape environmental disasters, their migration heightens environmental degradation elsewhere.
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Traditional Knowledge
Many Indigenous people want to live in ways compatible with their heritage
Most of these are environmentally sustainable.
Building materials, heating and cooling, are eco friendly
Example: adobe architecture
Women and indigenous groups need to be involved in development planning
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Globalization Effect
Aid workers, scientists, educators, diffused the green revolution globally
The glow of modernity—rationalized business practice, scientific products and techniques, and the promise of food abundance— had near universal appeal.
Small scale subsistence farming and traditional seed, crops, and methods seemed antiquated.
Even the best intentioned people were blinded to the detrimental effects of green revolution polices on the social structure of these societies and the long term costs to food security.
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