Environmental Science
Do you know where your food comes from? Throughout history, selfsufficiency has been the norm for acquiring food such as grains, meats, fruits, and vegetables. People and nations grew their own food and traded only on a local level. Today, food trade between nations has intensified, food is shipped thousands of miles across the globe, and world trade in agricultural products exceeds $1 trillion annually.
Choose a food item from your fridge or pantry. All fresh items should be labeled with a sticker that states the country of origin. If you need help finding that information, use the following link:
Click here for the list of foods and food information.
Complete the following:
List and describe the food item, and include where it came from (check the label or Web site). Use this calculator to determine how far it has traveled to you. You should enter your current location in Step 1 and the country of origin for your food item in Step 2. Lastly in Step 3 enter in your food item. Answer the following questions (use the Internet and CTU library to form your opinions): 1. How does the vast movement of food from one nation to another benefit or potentially harm developing nations? Are there benefits of importing food to developed or wealthy nations? 2. There is an “eat local” initiative developing throughout the United States and Europe. What are the benefits to buying fresh, local foods? Are there drawbacks? Do you buy local? 3. Can you live without the food item you chose? Is there a local substitute available? 4. Knowing what you do of how global food trade affects the global market and the economies of individual countries, explain your position on buying this food item in the future.
Responses to Other Students: Respond to at least 2 of your fellow classmates with at least a 100word reply about their Primary Task Response regarding items you found to be compelling and enlightening. To help you with your discussion, please consider the following questions:
Did your peers’ food travel further than yours? Do either of your foods require international trade? How did the benefits and drawbacks of eating local that you discussed compare with your peers’ observations?
