https://alumni.berkeley.edu/california-magazine/winter-2009-food-thought/locavores-dilemma is a source reporting on the possible problems of relying on locally grown food and the flaws in locavore beliefs. For example, locavores, people whose diet consists of locally grown food, believe that they're helping the environment by eating locally. However, this website argues that distance isn't as relevant as the mode of transportation used when transporting food across the country. The author uses the example of cows, which are grown by both large corporations and small farms, to demonstrate that both producers are generating greenhouse gases through their raising of cows. Therefore, locally produced food doesn't necessarily reduce environmental damage. Another instance of the article revealing flaws in locavore ideas is when it mentions that more resources would be needed to grow food compared to the current way of producing food. This is because not all places are properly suited for growing certain crops. If we were to grow crops in poorly suited areas, then resources would have to be diverted to those areas to compensate for the lack of suitability. With such limited space in our world, it would be inefficient to use unsuitable land for food growth. Finally, the article brings up the question of whether locally grown food could sustain the world. This is especially concerning considering that there are countries that rely on industrial food growth in other countries, such as the U.S. and Europe, to maintain their standards of living. The article is effective in emphasizing the flaws in a local food growth system, however puts little attention on the benefits of such a system so further research into the topic would be necessary.
-Jaime Izabal
I agree that relying solely on local products is a solution that can only be accomplished in a wonderland. Soil around the world, and even just within our country, varies immensely in nutrients, dryness, and other factors. While it isn't impossible to live off of locally grown food, it limits your choices by a ridiculously large percentage to the point of only being able to choose from a shelf's amount of products. However, that brings up the question of what is considered "local?" Never mind, I looked it up just now and local is considered food grown within a hundred miles of where you purchase it from, but still, a hundred miles really isn't that big. If you live in some desert or just a place with bad farming soil, there are not going to be too many farms that are producing great produce to pick and choose from. It seems to me like the idea of eating only locally grown food will only end up hurting locals instead. Of course this is purely based on guessing and where you happen to live. Like you said, more research would be needed to be done on this topic in order to find out the true effects of this type of diet and behavior.
ReplyDelete-Brendan Stilwell