A couple of years ago Danny Boyles portrayal of the slums in Mumbai in Slumdog Millionaire bought the plight of families living in abject squalor to the eyes of the world. It was a moving film and anyone who has seen it will undoubtedly have been touched by some of the sequences. For those of us living in the Western world treating people like this seemed a long way from home.
But what if situations, not too far removed from this, existed on our doorstep. How would we react then?
Food Inc. may not be the next Hollywood blockbuster, but it has already been hailed as one of the top 10 most important documentaries ever made and it has received an Academy Nomination. That is quite an accolade! It is an expose on the American food system, highlighting the fast food attitude that first hit America with chains like McDonald’s but which now sees such a phenomenon worldwide.
In order to meet global food demand, large companies are dominating the way farmers are having to produce food, using more fertiliser and pesticides in order to increase production. The problem with all of this is that it is leading to more and more unhealthy food, new strains of deadly bacteria are forming – with lethal consequences. The conditions that animals are being kept, reared and slaughtered are truly disgusting – a kind of American Mumbai for animals (and the human ‘farm’ workers).
The problem is not isolated to meat production, wheat, corn, fruit and vegetables come under similar scrutiny. Vast swathes of America are becoming dust bowls incapable of supporting any form of living organism without a constant application of expensive fertilisers and crop control. The distance food travels to reach our plate is also staggering as supermarkets do away with seasons and make all foods available all year-round meaning food travels many miles to reach your table. The cost is huge and is of global significance particularly as much of this food movement relies heavily on oil prices and oil availability.
Ah but we are in the UK I hear you say, not Mumbai or America, food production in this country isn’t like that! Sorry but we are now part of a global food economy. There are fast food outlets on every street corner and they control the way we eat and how the food is produced!
Now this isn’t aimed at scaremongering it is simply drawing attention to something that the food production companies and governments would rather you didn’t know about.
As an individual you may think you have no power to make any sort of change – but pressure of a similar nature has completely changed the face of the tobacco industry after attention was brought to the public attention about their practices. You and your families have the right to vote three times a day on what you choose to eat. That’s pretty significant and something that food companies will take notice of!
There is plenty else you can do to, firstly go and see the film yourself – take your family but be warned it is PG rated for a reason. Secondly follow some or all of the tips provided by the Soil Association.
One of those tips is to plant a garden with your own fruit and veg (even a small one). If you are new to gardening and need help there is plenty available. You can join the Garden Network for ongoing help, support and advice, join Garden Organic’s One Pot Pledge campaign and join the Soil Association and get their book Stuffed which has plenty of ideas for change.
You can make a difference particularly when you see the damage that food production is doing to the world. As a garden designer and gardener I am keen to promote this. I will openly admit that as a family of 6 with both husband and wife working we certainly have many changes to make and that isn’t going to be easy!
I recently ran a garden question and answers session in the local pub – I was encouraged that many of the questions related to growing your own and at least a couple of people were sufficiently enthused to give growing their own a go.
So please, take the time to at least find out about the issues, and perhaps do something positive that will save the human and animal tragedy that could very easily be closer to home than we might imagine.
Tags: blog · Food Inc. · garden design · Garden Organic · gardening · grow your own · Hungry for Change? · lifestyle · One Pot Pledge · Plant · Soil Association1 Comment
I have for a very long time been concerned about the food processing industry. Wherever I can I buy organic, particularly where meat is concerned. Obesity,junk foods, processed meals, over packaging have One thing in common : The food manufactuters !! Why is the government forcing legislation on them ?.