Discussion Board Unit: The Human Population
Deliverable Length: 300-500 words
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:
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. Answer the following questions (use the Internet and CTU library to form your opinions):
• 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?
• 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?
• 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.