Food Globalization

How does globalization affect food production?

"The world agrifood system is becoming increasingly globalized. As the majority of the world moves into cities, and as people who remain in rural areas adopt more urbanized lifestyles when they are better connected to infrastructure, consumption of food is changing to a more varied composition yet also to greater similarity around the world. The time-saving instant noodle soup in a plastic cup in Asia, as well as the hamburger and the prepared sandwich worldwide, are indicative of this tendency. Consumption of processed foods, soft drinks, and bottled water is expanding, and foods and beverages are increasingly transported long distances, catering to changing demands. The food processing and retail industries have become global players. Farmers increasingly specialize their production as a consequence of these changing markets, which requires change upstream in the food chain—that is, in such production inputs as water, seeds, feeds, and technical equipment, which has in turn created new organizational arrangements in the food system." (Joachim von Braun and Eugenio Díaz-Bonilla)

The paragraph above is the standard explanation about globalization and food production and can be easily found in a lot of textbooks. However it does not even mention the problems behind this process. Food production has changed a lot recently and we have not even noticed that. Animals and plants have become merely goods on market shelves. Enthusiastic farmers and happy animals are constantly exhibited in advertising however that image does not reflect the real conditions in the globalization process behind food production.

The documentary FOOD, Inc tries to demonstrate what happens in the hidden world of food production and how multinationals has controlled this process. The documentary demonstrates the unbelievable condition that workers, animals and environment are being exposed to. Besides, we can see the effects in people's health with the fast increase of 'fast food culture' lately and how dangerous that has been to humans.

FOOD, Inc shows how unhealthy modern meals has become and makes us reflect about our daily acts. Simple things that can change the world begining with our opition. After all...

"You can change the world with every bite".