Conventional And Alternative Food Systems

A food system is defined as all developments implicated in feeding a population from beginning to end. These processes include growing and harvesting, all the way to the consumption and disposal. A food system also requires physical labor from humans, starting with the farmers who grow the food. Food systems are classified into two categories, conventional and alternative.

Food systems are present in every social origin in the world. Since ancient times, conventional food systems were present. Conventional food systems led to the development of other civilizations as well. When a surplus of food was created, it helped pave the way for other colonies to develop and expand. This surplus was also used for countries to trade with each other. This way, a country would have something to offer another. In the end, both gained the resources they needed and grew stronger. Eventually, throughout the centuries, this food system led to what is known as global trading. Food systems are also credited with a larger food variety and reduced food costs.

Conventional food systems are dependent on the amount of fossil fuels that are available. Fossil fuels are necessary for the first steps in the food system, growing and harvesting. Fossil fuels are needed for the production of the fertilization of crops. The processing and packaging steps of the food system also require fossil fuels to be productive in the food system.

Conventional food systems throughout the world rely heavily on each other. If one country doesn’t have enough fossil fuels to run their food system adequately, other countries could feel the effects from it. The particular kind of food that the suffering country normally produces would not be readily available for the rest of the world.

Tough economical times around the globe can also affect conventional food systems. With the need to reduce the cost of production, some food system manufacturing could be moved to a third world country, where laws and standards are more lax. This practice can provide a lower quality product for usage in the rest of the world.

Examples of alternative food systems include local and organic. Local food systems involve a farmer who grows and produces food strictly for their community. Some examples of this could be a farmers market or a produce stand set up on the side of the road. There have also been local programs where the farmers grow crops directly for the consumption in schools. Utilizing alternative food systems in this nature can help rejuvenate a community.

Organic food systems are used to help lower the need for fossil fuels. They use no chemicals on their crops. There are also no hormones or antibiotics given to livestock for organic sale. Although some fossil fuels are needed for other steps in the organic food system, the amount is greatly decreased.

Food systems affect all communities throughout the world. Knowing how they work is one step in furthering knowledge and evolving with the changing times.

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