Threats to Food Security

Transcription

1 Food Security Malnutrition: Being deficient of essential nutrients such as or vitamins and minerals. Examples: Goiter- lack of iodine Lack of protein and other key nutrients causes: weakness, susceptibility to diseases, hindering of physical and development.

2 Food Security Chronic hunger and under-nutrition Most live in countries Causes mental retardation, stunted growth, death from infectious diseases such as measles and diarrhea.

3 Threats to Food Security Population Growth Malnutrition Food Loss and Waste Developing Countries: Most losses occur during production and Developed Countries: Large amounts are wasted at the phase of food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted

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5 Food Insecurity in the US Food insecurity in the US is on the rise. By percentage of population with food insecurity, counties are often highest. By numbers, have the most people with food insecurity ~27% of food insecure people are ineligible for (must be at or below 185% of poverty line) High unemployment, 2013 cuts in food stamps, and cuts in the 2014 Farm Bill have made food insecurity increase.

6 Food Security Preference

7 Overnutrition Overnutrition: Food energy intake exceeds energy usage. 1 of every people in the world is overweight (Body Mass Index, BMI, greater than 25). 1 of every Americans are obese (BMI over 30). 1 in 3 children are predicted to develop diabetes in the U.S. There is a high correlation between obesity and in the US. Often, fast food is cheaper and more available than healthy options.

8 Industrialized Crop Production Monocultures: Single crop produced using commercial fertilizers, pesticides, and large amounts of fossil fuel and water. Goal is high yield (food per unit of land). Mostly used in countries. Produces about of the world s food. Plantation agriculture: crops primarily in tropical countries. Often involves slash and burn techniques. Products usually exported to developed countries. Examples: bananas, soybeans, sugarcane, coffee, palm oil.

9 Traditional Agriculture Uses mostly and draft animals. Food mostly used by the farmers themselves. Often : Diversity of crops, reducing loss from pests and bad weather. Practiced by 42% of the world in developing countries. Produces 1/5 of the world s food crops

10 Industrial Crops in the US Selective or genetically engineered Produces more food on less land Costs less to the consumer* *Cost does not include taxes for government subsidies, pollution and environmental degradation, and health costs. Generates of the nation s gross domestic product.

11 Food Distribution spent 35 billion US dollars in importing food in It is projected that it will be110 billion US dollars by (CNBC)

12 The US grows a lot of food, but also imports food from many countries Food Distribution Countries with a lot of arable land but with small populations (i.e. Canada and Australia are net

13 Genetically Modified Foods (GMOs) Inserted genes produce desirable traits or eliminate undesirable ones. Some modifications include: Resistance to heat, cold, herbicides, insect pests, parasites, viral diseases, drought, and salty or acidic soil. Since 2008, GMO s have accounted for more than of maize and soybean crops planted in the U.S. Maize seeds are modified with two genes: one kills that eat the seed and one allows the seed to tolerate glyphosate, an herbicide like. Soybeans are modified with only glyphosate-resistant gene.

14 Genetically Modified Foods (GMOs) In a nation-wide study conducted on 10,000 farms from : GMO Maize required ~11.2% insecticide and ~1.3% less herbicides than non-gmo Maize. GMO Soybean crops used 28% herbicides than non- GMO s. This increase is attributed to the proliferation of glyphosate-resistant (GR) weeds. GMO-maize has been adopted more recently and herbicide resistance in Maize is on the rise now too.

15 Genetically Modified Foods (GMOs) Glyphosate use by 29% for soybean farmers and 21% for maize farmers between Decrease is due to farmers using new chemicals as weeds become resistant to Roundup. Insects have not developed the same resistance because of (non-gmo crop areas) that farmers are required to use See Figure on p. 291: Pros and Cons of GMOs

16 Pest Management Pest- A species that interferes with human welfare, competing with our food, destroying building materials, spreading disease, and invading ecosystems. Pesticides- Chemicals that kill or control pests. -Examples: Insecticides- kills insects Herbicides-kills weeds -kills fungus Rodenticides-kills rats and mice

17 Types of Pesticides First generation pesticides -borrowed from nature: Example: Nicotine sulfate from tobacco Second generation pesticides - developed by First highly used pesticide: Used in the US from (banned) Contained fat-soluble toxins which biomagnifies (becomes more concentrated) up the food chain severely affecting top level consumers such as owls and hawks. wrote Silent Spring in 1962 bringing public awareness to the problem.

18 Alderin and Dieldrin Formula: C 12 H 8 Cl 6 O, mild odor Sources: Insecticides used for, etc. Created as alternative to Alderin breaks down to dieldrin in the body and in the environment Widely used from the 1950 s until 1970 Concerns/Health Effects (affects hormones in animals) Can also affect the liver, immune system, and neurological system Linked to Parkinson s, breast cancer Persistent Organic Pollutant ( ) Reducing Exposure: Banned in 1974 by EPA, except to control termites Banned in 1987 for all uses Still used in Malaysia, Thailand, Venezuela and parts of Africa. Case Study: High levels found in breast milk in Australia (before it was banned), and Uganda (current) due to household pest control

19 Pesticides and Bees While the decline of bee populations is poorly understood, pesticides are thought to be one of the causes. See Trade-offs on Chemical Pesticides in Text

20 Herbicides Reduce unwanted weeds. Glyphosate (known as Roundup) most popular. GMO crops have been made by to be resistant to glyphosate GR Glyphosate resistant (GR) makes up the majority of GMO crops ~80% Pros of Glyphosate Seems for animals or insects Stays in the soil and doesn t into aquatic system Degrades into harmless substances in No plowing needed, which stops tilling and decreases soil erosion.

21 Herbicides: Glyphosate-Roundup Cons: Weeds have become (12 known varieties) Dominates the market so little in the use of herbicides making it easier for an epidemic of GR weeds. Possible loss in productivity and large to seed companies and farmers. More topsoil could be lost due to the return of tilling. Could force the use of more herbicides

22 Reducing Exposure: Banned in EU in 2004 in 2006, EPA found no risk to US population eat organic crops, do not drink well water on farms Atrazine Sources: herbicide to kill weeds in crops, especially corn increases crop yields by 1-6% or 5.7 bushels/acre compared to other herbicides, tons applied each year in the US half life in soil is days gets into Concerns/Health Effects LD 50 : 750 mg/kg in rabbits to 3090 mg/kg in rats Endocrine disruptor: link to in males, suspected teratogen in frogs (hermaphrodites, demasculinized frogs, etc. potential carcinogen

23 Pesticides have not reduced U.S. crop loss to pests Data from over 300 agricultural scientists and economists: Use of synthetic pesticides has increased since 1942 Losses due to insects have over since 1942 Environmental, health, and social costs estimated to be $5-10 for every $1 spent on pesticides.

24 Pesticides Broad-spectrum agent: Effective against a wide range of pests but also kill beneficial species. Chlorinated hydrocarbons: such as DDT, dieldrin - persistent - biomagnfy Organophosphates: such as malathion and parathion - not persistent and do not biomagnify - but are highly toxic Narrow-spectrum agents: toxic to a more selective group of organisms.

25 Pesticide Regulations Federal Insecticide and Fungicide Regulation Act (FIFRA), 1972 Overseen by EPA, USDA and FDA. EPA to assess new pesticides, but inadequate funds Food Quality Protection Act, 1996 Reduce levels of pesticide residues if inadequate information on pesticide s safety. Labeling requirements

26 Integrated Pest Management IPM Alternative pest management practices could halve the use of chemical pesticides without reducing crop yield (on 40 major U.S. crops).

27 Alternatives to Pesticides crops Keeps specialists pests away. Provide homes for pest enemies- use of polyculture (plant diversity). GMO s with genetic resistance Natural enemies ( ) Lure into traps Use of pheromones Disrupt their life cycle Use of Use of hot water and soapy water

28 Alternatives to pesticides, p See Figures: Reducing Exposure to Pesticides 12-9, p. 286, Food Production p. 307, Sustainable Agriculture 12-33, p. 310, Sustainable Organic Agriculture

29 Industrialized Meat Production Densely packed and fed grain or meal (from fish). Supplies of the world s meat. As income grows in a country, so does the demand for meat. Takes more resources to produce (for 1 lb of beef, gallons of water and lbs of grain) See Fig , p. 306 for grain needed per kg of meat

30 Industrialized Meat Production Issues: Poor of animals Runoff of animal waste ( /dead zones) hormones given to animals (can affect humans) Antibiotics given to animals (breeds )

31 Aquaculture Raising marine and freshwater fish in ponds and underwater cages. Accounts for of fish and shellfish consumed in Aquaculture production occurs under controlled feeding, sanitation, and harvesting procedures primarily in ponds, flowthrough raceways, and, to a lesser extent, cages, net pens, and closedrecirculation tanks.

32 Aquaculture Issues: Concentrated fish can cause eutrophication Chemicals, growth hormones, introduced through fish food Escapees might introduce species to an area Water usage ( of freshwater use in US 9420 million gal/day) See Fig , p. 293-Tradeoffs

33 Top 4 safest fish to eat 1. Salmon- Great source of Omega fatty acids. Wild is best. Atlantic farmed salmon has higher levels of PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) due to their feed. 2. Rainbow trout- Farmed inland and contain less PCBs since their diets are from soybeans and wheat. 3. Tuna- Especially albacore. Look for how they are caught, troll and pole-and-line gear. Avoid longlines. Avoid bluefin tuna, known as maguro in sushi, due to depleting population and high levels of heavy metals. 4. Tilapia Feeds on waste and algae. Available year round. Farmed is safe from this country.

34 Sustainable