Got Food? - the Scientia Review

Chapter 12
Sustainability and Food
Dennis Giaya, Eric Williams, and Rohit Satishchandra
Introduction
The high population density of many countries raises questions about there are enough resources
to support the growing population. With a growing amount of people to feed and a finite amount of
exploitable food sources, the agriculture industry is striving towards more efficient and ultimately more
sustainable methods of food production. Sustainability as a concept is rooted in a social context, and as a
term is loosely defined. There is no mathematical equation to give the sustainability of any particular
system because sustainability is dependent on multiple factors, many of which are rather subjective. There
are two main categories discussed under the title of sustainability: critical limits and competing
objectives. There exists a scientific procedure to determine the critical limit of earth to sustain human life.
However, considering competing objectives is a multifaceted problem. This involves balancing the
resources available in a manner best suited to serve the human population for an amount of time deemed
acceptable. For this method to work, items must be prioritized so that fair compromises can be made to
ensure maximum desired output (Fricker, 2000).
The sustainable agriculture movement embraces methods that are designed to maximize the food
production in a given area while minimizing the environmental impact. Practices such as rotating crops,
using less harmful chemicals, and recycling are all embraced under the sustainable movement. Another
critical focus is the processing and transportation of goods. Processing consumes energy, and current
transportation methods are fueled by depleting natural resources that also release harmful pollutants into
the atmosphere. For example, milk production is an energy intensive process from raising the cows to
transporting the milk. It is important to get as much milk per cow as possible in order to maximize profit
and reduce environmental impact. Focusing on retrieving more milk per cow leads to better treatment of
the cows and a more effective production process that is less wasteful. Dairy farmers are beginning to reuse
water from the milk cooling process, harvest rainwater, and install boreholes in an effort to minimize
water consumption. By increasing efficiency by 27%, dairy processors have prevented as much as
270,000 tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere annually. This is a joint effort between the
processors and the retailers to use less energy and reduce emissions in the production and distribution
process (Tasker, 2011).
Unfortunately, helping the environment comes at a cost. Adhering to sustainable agriculture
practices is difficult for many farmers who are struggling economically. Although sustainable practices
are better in the long run, the operating costs can be impractical for some smaller farms. Additionally, the
cost of decreased output from using fewer chemicals is ultimately passed on to the consumer. Growing
crops in a sustainable manner is better for the environment, but in some cases it may mean a decrease in
volume. It all goes back to balancing the factors that contribute to sustainability. A decrease in output
would mean increased competition that leads to increased prices for the consumer. However, these initial
challenges are insignificant when compared to the result once devastating irreversible environmental
damage has occurred.
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