The Human Population
Do you know where your food comes from? Throughout history, self-sufficiency 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 1 of the foods from the following link that you may have in your fridge or pantry. Determine where this food came from, either from the label or from the information provided on the Web site.
Click here for the list of foods and food information.
Complete the following:
- Describe the food item, where it came from (check the label or Web site), and determine how far it has traveled to reach your table.
- List the food item.
- Where did it come from?
- How far has it traveled?
- How does this vast movement of food from one nation to another benefit developing nations? Are there benefits to developed or wealthy nations?
- 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?
- Use the Internet and the library resources to help you form your opinion.
- Can you live without the food item you chose? Is there a local substitute available?
- 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.