Category Archives: Topics

“Essential Workers”: Heroes or a Sacrifice to Capitalism ?

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In the face of major shifts and/or unrest both global and domestic, the US has historically relied on the most marginalized groups to uphold the status quo; an aspect of our history that is too often left out of, or skewed within, popular narratives. An example ringing with familiarity, was the onset of WWII (when swaths of the agricultural labor force migrated into war production factories) the 1942 Mexican Farm Labor Program Act systematically promoted the exploitation of immigrant labor as a means to keep meeting food demands on the backs of “cheap” labor. Our immigrant workers are a labor force that has been consistently condemned, ridiculed, and cast out. And again, today, in the face of a global pandemic, we are turning to the numerous undocumented immigrants that make up our 2.4 million farmworkers to continue to supply us with our demands (Honig, 2020). They are essential to keeping America fed.

Yet, as the choir of bells ring through our cities in gratitude to those who are on the front lines, these essential workers continue to work unprotected in close quarters, high risk conditions, and extremely limited access to testing or health care. And when calls are made to solve these issues, and to provide adequate provisioning, they are too often being met with no answer. Ultimately, they are being ignored. Still though, the faces of leadership turn to the media to give praise and show appreciation of our essential workers… our “heroes.”

Is this the way to treat our heroes? Do we truly believe that these people put themselves at risk everyday, in-spite of the love of their families and own lives, to be our “heroes?” Or have they been given no other choice, no other option to sustain themselves, or their families? And, in knowing this well, the faces of leadership can chose to tend to their need or not. The migrant workers, who have always been an essential labor force, are treated as if they are disposable. This pandemic is not an independent actor, it is constantly being fed by the conditions that were already established, long before it’s outbreak. Vulnerable living conditions, limited access to health care, muted voices, and insufficient ground to establish self-determination are the by-products of our capitalist structure that continues to sustain itself through the most marginalized people, who tend to fill our most essential positions.

 

This blog post was inspired by the FERN article: https://thefern.org/2020/04/as-pandemic-spreads-and-growing-season-ramps-up-farmworkers-deemed-essential-but-still-largely-unprotected/

Migrant workers are the backbone of our food system, why don’t we treat them better?

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Myself, like many other Americans, never think twice about where my food comes from, how it is grown, or whom harvests it. This was true for me before I enrolled in Environment 385, and throughout much of the global pandemic, COVID-19. It was not until I read an article from The Fern that I fully contextualized how inner-connected politics and the food system really is and how complex the process was from sprout to table.

After reading the article Migrant farmworkers feed America, and they’re at a high risk for a coronavirus outbreak, I was overcome with emotion. With over 2.7 million farmers in the United States, undocumented workers make up 70%. I learned that every single day, millions of people are subjected to long hours in the blistering heat, live in horrible conditions, and lack basic quality healthcare. With the growing burden of COVID-19, migrant workers are disproportionately at risk of becoming inflected and exposing others to a virus that has already claimed thousands of lives in the United States alone. We rely on them to grow our food, tend our crops, and entrust them to feed and keep us healthy, yet we do little in return.

"Migrant workers harvest sweet potatoes (BELOW) and weed rows of tobacco (ABOVE) in eastern North Carolina. Often, pickers are paid by the bin instead of by the hour" - Brain Barth

“Migrant workers harvest sweet potatoes (BELOW) and weed rows of tobacco (ABOVE) in eastern North Carolina. Often, pickers are paid by the bin instead of by the hour” – Brain Barth

Gross and Honig highlight reasonable pleas on how to make life better for the undocumented workers. But, why do they go ignored? Why do things never seem to change? One thing that has been made clear is that the power and safety is still held within the in-group and no one wants to share the spoils with the out-group. Everyone should be afforded the same rights on American soil, especially if they are providing such an essential service.

References

Migrant farmworkers feed America, and they’re at high risk for a coronavirus outbreak

Photo: https://modernfarmer.com/2017/02/migrant-farm-workers-the-high-cost-of-cheap-labor/

https://who.sprinklr.com/region/amro/country/us

Tons of Hungry People and Tons of Wasted Food

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It is the age of a global pandemic and for many Americans, it is a time of heightened economic vulnerability. The services of food banks are in increasing demand from both old and new customers as food insecurity explodes as unemployment skyrockets amid the COVID-19 crisis. At the same time, experts predict that we will be seeing a stark increase in our already high levels of food waste. In a good year, America would see 40 percent of its food wasted – 63 million tons. 

Source: Getty Images

This is not a good year. This is a year of panic buying and closed down markets and cafeterias, meaning that we can expect to see more than 40 percent of our food go to waste. The interconnected problems of food insecurity and food waste are certainly not new, but with the rise of COVID-19 they have gained higher visibility and have more far reaching impacts than ever before. 

Food waste management stretches from farm to table. With farmers leaving up to half of their crops unharvested due to cosmetic imperfections and American households representing the largest source of food wasted, food and money are lost at every step of the food system. While it may be tempting to think that our individual choices about how we consume don’t matter within the larger food system, it is this type of thinking that yields high volumes of food rotting in refrigerators and leaves misshapen foods in grocery stores to go to waste.

By changing our individual behaviors, we can dramatically decrease the waste we contribute and thereby improve the food system. And instead of allowing imperfect foods to go to waste on farms, we should be supporting infrastructure that enables these foods to be transported to food banks. If we make change now, we will save lives.

 

Examining the impact of carbon sequestration and the extent to which the actors involved actually care about fighting climate change

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I read an article that examined carbon sequestration, a practice in which farmers alter their cultivation methods to store harmful carbon and other greenhouse gasses in the soil on farms instead of letting them out into the air. Wealthy organizations began investing in farmers to adopt these methods, however, the author highlighted data that shows carbon sequestration efforts may not be very effective in combating climate change, which made me question which of the actors involved in this process genuinely care about doing everything they can to stop climate change. One quote from a farmer who adopted carbon sequestration stated “he didn’t adopt ‘carbon smart’ practices like cover-cropping to fight climate change. He did it to build soil, retain water, and make money.” (Popkin). This view is likely representative of many farmers, because while some of them may genuinely care about combating climate change, so much of their life is tied up in competition and making profits, which would understandably be a higher priority for them over fighting climate change in our capitalist economy.

Article: https://thefern.org/2020/03/is-carbon-farming-a-climate-boon-or-boondoggle/

Further, affluent consumers are drawn to climate friendly solutions such as carbon sequestration, but do they care to look into how effective it actually is? Or do they simply commend themselves for doing a good deed while their money could be spent more effectively elsewhere. Leaders in carbon sequestration such as Nori have built their organization around carbon sequestration investment, but will they admit the need to revamp their methods, even at a financial loss to achieve their mission? Eschewing profits to face truths about effective methods to fight climate change is an extremely hard thing to do across every industry in America, it is clear it needs to be done by powerful, wealthy actors. But will anyone care enough to do it?

 

Food Waste & Food Insecurity: COVID-19

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Since beginning the Political Ecology of the World’s Food System course, I find myself awakening to the way I, my family, my nation, and the world contribute to this planetary system. In the wake of COVID-19, one consequence of our current system that has been more apparent to me is food waste.

Due to the shutdown of bulk buyers like restaurants, the disruption of the food chain has led to farmers struggling to find the demand for their perishable products. As food banks are being overwhelmed by government-bought surplus donations, dairy farmers dump thousands of liters of milk. The abundance of food does not match my individual experience in the grocery store midst COVID-19 where food products appear limited.

The lack of food on the shelves is driven by fear buying and the shortage of labor that cannot keep up with new demands. Fear buying is cited to be a substantial contributor to the current exacerbation of food waste. While the US maneuvers surplus and food hoarding, other nations fear a food crisis due to job shortages and the halt of open trade.

A Call to Action put out by The Food and Land Use Coalition calls on world leaders to maintain open trade, strengthen social programs, and invest in domestic farming. This letter focuses on countries where food insecurity heavily affects their population, such as countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Although this letter was written for and during the pandemic, the issues addressed such as malnutrition and access to healthcare have spanned long before Coronavirus.

Food waste and food insecurity are both products of our current system and with COVID-19 disrupting the ability of grocery store workers and trade, this pandemic has magnified pre-existing infrastructure deficiencies.

The Dangers of Biodiversity Loss in Africa

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Before the emergence of COVID19, there was a common misconception that the “era of infectious diseases” was history due to technological advances and the widespread use of antibiotics and vaccines. However, recent studies have pointed to the growing emergence of zoonotic pathogens, specifically in Africa. 

Key causes of new viral infections stem from areas with high population densities and frequent human interaction with wild animals. The food and agriculture system is increasingly impeding into wildlife, putting global health at risk. Rising populations in Africa are accelerating the expansion of agricultural lands and human settlements into wildlife, while simultaneously fueling the growing bushmeat market. Wet markets for these bushmeats are commonly found in Africa with limited regulations and/or resources leading to overexploitation, hunting and poaching.

Transmission of Wildlife Zoonotic Pathogens

Livestock farmers face severe pressure to meet the market demands and are highly vulnerable to potential infectious diseases. The most common emergence of pathogens from primates are known to come from bats. But, we are seeing more frequently that amplifier hosts, such as pigs and other livestock, are increasing the transmission rates to humans. With overall meat production being at an all time high, this is highly problematic.

Bushmeat has been hunted for centuries by communities who relied on it for subsistence. Bushmeat remains a vital source of food for many impoverished areas in Africa, so it is unrealistic to ban the consumption of these animals altogether. However, bushmeat is often used today to feed Africa’s wealthy urban population, shifting its original purpose of subsistence to a highly profitable commodity. 

To address the growing concern of zoonotic pathogens, there must be effective enforcement of hunting quotas. Cultural preference for the “exotic” bushmeat must also be shifted. Implementing educational programs linking bushmeat practices to zoonotic pathogens could be a start to reducing the number of wildlife animals hunted.

Website: https://www.ifpri.org/blog/africas-growing-risk-diseases-spread-animals-people

The Difficulties of Being a Young Farmer in the New Climate Change Era

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Young and beginning farmers in this day in age are grappling with ways to adapt to climate change under challenging circumstances. Weak finances and lack of governmental support to help them with this new climate change era, young farmers are fighting to survive in the agricultural industry. 

Economically, young farmers are in a sensitive position. Two-thirds of young, beginner farmers were found to have less than $10,000 in revenue and are facing serious financial constraints with paying off their student debt. These financial hardships are no help when these farmers are experiencing rising land prices, and unpredictable climate patterns. 

New patterns in inconstant weather conditions have been at the forefront of many farmer’s worries. In the past year there has been the smallest harvest in decades due to unstable weather conditions including intense storms, irregular rainfall, and frost. The only way to curtail the ever present issue of climate change and it’s devastating effects on farmers is through governmental action. 

Culturally, our society is divided on beliefs on the legitimacy of climate change. The combination of powerful corporations and climate change disbelievers are ceasing any governmental action. The big question is: How can we gain momentum for governmental support? I think we need to demonstrate urgency for political action by contacting our representatives, supporting climate change charities  (Clean Air Task Force or Sandbag are great options), and participating in climate change activist groups. 

What this article fails to realize is that a majority of existing farmers in the US are 57.5 years old (US 2017 Census of Agriculture) and are aging out. It is deeply important to set our young farmers for success so they continue the agricultural industry for future generations. If we continue placing financial and environmental burdens on young farmers the future implications for future food supply will be costly. 

Sources:

(Original Article) Douglas, Leah. “Climate Change Is Making It Harder to Be a Young Farmer.” Grist, Grist, 1 Feb. 2020, https://grist.org/food/climate-change-is-making-it-harder-to-be-a-young-farmer/.

(Image) Parker, Michael, and Holly Rippon-Butler. “U.S. Department of Agriculture.” U.S. Department of Agriculture, Land Access Team, National Young Farmers Coalition, 18 Sept. 2019, https://www.farmers.gov/connect/blog/farm-life/finding-farmland-resources-support-land-access.

 

Today’s Special: Grilled Salmon Laced with Plastic

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A lot of plastic garbage inevitably ends up in our waterways and oceans. Bottle caps, toys, plastic bags, and jugs are just some of the things that get washed into our oceans. But these aren’t the only source of oceanic plastic trash. Consumer products like toothpaste and facewash contain plastic microbeads that are used to provide scrubbing power, but they are too tiny to be filtered out by water treatment plants after they’re washed down the drain. Salmon and other creatures than feed on these microplastics by mistaking it for food or by feeding on zooplankton that have eaten the plastic.

Researchers once thought that microplastics ingested by fish remained in their guts. Removing their entrails before serving appeared to eliminate the risk of eating plastic. But new research is beginning to suggest that these tiny bits of plastic might actually move into fish flesh.

Plastic is now part of our food system and seafood is the third largest contributor of chemical-laden microplastics. What consuming all this plastic means for human health is hard to say, but it’s probably not good. Persistent chemicals like PCB’s and other contaminants in our waterways glom onto particle surfaces and carry endocrine-disrupting bisphenols, phthalates, and other toxic additives.

So, who is responsible and what can we do about it? These are not easy questions to answer but some of the things we can do is stop using products that contain plastic microbeads. Encourage governments to ban the sale of products that contain microbeads. Promote plastic take-back programs for plastics that are currently not recyclable. Use reusable bags and containers, not throwaways.

It remains to be seen whether or not we will successful wean ourselves off of disposable plastics but it’s a problem we should make every effort to combat.

Sources:

Article: https://thefern.org/2019/09/todays-special-grilled-salmon-laced-with-plastic/

Image: https://www.multipure.com/purely-social/science/dangers-microplastics-drinking-water/

A HARDIER RICE FOR A WARMING WORLD

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Rice is a very common food source for the world’s population, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations stated that more than 16% of the worlds consumed calories comes from rice. As populations continue to increase the rice yields also need to increase to offset the rapid urbanization and growth. Unfortunately, rice needs specific temperatures to grow, as the world temperatures continue to rise, it is an immediate threat to the rice industry.

Distribution of rice production in the world

Though there is potential for a solution. Jane Langdale, a professor of plant development at Oxford University has taken on the role as coordinator for a project called “C4 Rice Project.” This project has received funding from the Bill Gates Foundation; he gave them an initial grant in 2008 and then another $15 million for Phase 4 of the research. The goal of this project is to transform rice from a C3 mechanism to a C4 mechanism. What does this mean? C3 is the process that many plants follow to extract carbon from the carbon dioxide molecules it absorbs. Though there are a few plants that use a process called C4, this process allows plants to be more resistant to extreme heat and drought, they would be much easier to grow in different climates.

This is an interesting topic to think about. Initially I was thinking, “Wow, this sounds amazing, a new rice that is easier to grow and could potentially help support the growing population, sound perfect!” Though as I continued to think about this topic, I felt like there were a lot of uncertainties too. Could there be negative impacts in introducing this new type of rice? After all, it is a genetically modified organism. I think that the potential negative impacts need to be further explored so that I can understand the whole story, because this is a very promising solution to the problem rice is facing with climate change.

What are your thoughts on this issue?

Original Article Link: https://www.ozy.com/around-the-world/a-hardier-rice-for-a-warming-world/300425/

Image from: http://chartsbin.com/view/1009 

The Hoarders, The Hungry, and the Problem with Individualism

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Above: Shoppers Stockpile Supplies in response to Covid-19 Pandemic                                                 Below: People Wait in Line at a San Antonio Food Bank

With the recent lockdowns due to the Covid-19 pandemic and news stories dominated by pictures of empty grocery store shelves it is easy to feel like we will soon run out of food. Beans, medicine, and toilet paper are flying off the shelves and not just paranoid citizens are starting to stockpile, nations have also begun to hold on tighter to their resources.

Meanwhile, now more than ever the world’s hungry are in need. In the United States, food banks are being overwhelmed, and globally the World Food Programme estimates that 5.5 million people in central Sahel alone will be facing severe food insecurity in the coming months. The hoarders and the hungry; an epitome of a global food system that never seems to have enough to go around.

Yet, when you look closer into how that food is being used, there is an even more insidious note. Every year the United States wastes 40% of its food; 63 million tons a year. When 63 million tons of food a year is left to rot in one country alone, it is clear that the global food system doesn’t have a shortage issue, it has a distribution issue; a distribution issue exacerbated by rampant western individualism. People are, and have for a long time, purchased only with their own perceived needs in mind, without thinking about the larger scale implications that these actions have on others around the world. We live on a finite planet, with finite resources. Every meal you throw away is food that could have eased the hunger of someone else. It is time we wake up to the manufactured food crisis we have created, and in compassion, work toward a more equitable food distribution system, that decreases waste by calming the hoarders and feeding the hungry.