Has the United States’ response to the global COVID-19 pandemic proven just how insecure its food supply chain is? Among other countries around the globe, the United States has become an example for why the current agriculture industry has created an unsustainable system that falls apart when put under stress. Through the COVID-19 pandemic, food supply chains have become increasingly strained to the point of near collapse. Similarly, factory farm practices increase the risk for food security and increase the risk of the emergence of a new infectious disease. While boasting many benefits to humanity, industrial agriculture and the modern food supply chain in its current form pose a serious national security threat to not only the United States but the entire global system. Other more sustainable farming practices and food supply chain avenues must therefore be explored and adopted widely, in order to boost food security.
Continue reading “Pathogens and produce: how COVID-19 shook the global food supply chain”Coronavirus and sustainable smart consumption
During the past month the coronavirus pandemic has caused billions of people to reset their daily lives and has given people the opportunity to begin living a more sustainable life. In the midst of this pandemic, we have seen shortages in products such as toilet paper, paper towels, meat and extremely important items like masks, gloves, and sanitizers. These shortages are caused by people buying too much of these products that they do not necessarily need, causing others their basic necessities.
Continue reading “Coronavirus and sustainable smart consumption”Pandemic highlights the unsustainable nature of our globalized economy
What lessons has the COVID-19 pandemic taught us? On the smallest level, washing our hands and maintaining good hygiene are now in the front of our minds. I’m sure many of us are now more grateful for the lifestyles we were able to live before this calamity happened and we have had to isolate. Lessons can also be drawn from how our country and society as a whole have reacted to and handled the pandemic.
Continue reading “Pandemic highlights the unsustainable nature of our globalized economy”Time for change: COVID-19’s fracturing of the global supply chain
The COVID-19 pandemic has spread to almost every nation impacting the trade of resources and commodities. Supply chains and distribution channels have been damaged or forced to change because of the virus. There have been shortages of goods including food, protective equipment, and toilet paper due to supply issues. The world has been faced with the effects of a globalized economy in which manufacturing has been exported to regions afar. Vital supplies for a pandemic such as masks and gloves are only produced in certain regions of the globe, making the response to such diseases more challenging. A globalized trade system directly increases environmental issues related to the production of greenhouse gases from transportation. Lessons must be learned from this pandemic in order to attempt to fix the structural trade problems that threaten our environment and national security.
Continue reading “Time for change: COVID-19’s fracturing of the global supply chain”Strained food systems exposed by COVID-19
Food and capitalism. It’s not something we consider every time we shop at the grocery store. Nor do we consider the farm in which each item we place in our cart came from. But now more than ever, the connection between food and capitalism is evident as the coronavirus threatens workers, strains our food system, and keeps food off the shelves.
Continue reading “Strained food systems exposed by COVID-19”