FoodBy: Rebecca Carden

Yaneisy Ginebra

There are two popular Categories in our diets today which also happen to be the two most costly

Meats Including Chicken, Pork, beef, ect. Seafood including fish, shell fish, ect.

Our diets today

In 2006, farmers production of meats was about 276 million tons

Four times as much than in 1961

Meats

Demand increased A need to fatten animals faster

◦ The addition of antibiotics to feed Time to raise a chicken decreased in half

Gestation crates

Changes

Endangering people’s health◦ Avian Flu

Threatening the Earth◦ Fertilizers running into the Gulf of Mexico,

creating a “dead zone” Government Funding

◦ Given subsidies for growing only certain crops and livestock Encourages chemical usage to fatten animals.

Problems

Creating Self staining system◦ Manila-raising livestock and fish together

Manure from animals fertilizes that algae need for tilapia and rice to grow.

Sows(female pigs) raised in Hoop houses (Iowa State University)◦ Pens that allow the pigs to walk around

Cut down of veterinary costs More Live births Reduce costs by 11 percent

Solutions

Raising Fewer animals in more natural environment◦ Using different grasses as feed ( University of

Wales) Reduce amounts of Methane released Less digestive problems

Reducing or eliminating subsidies◦ New Zealand eliminated subsidies

dairy farms turned to more protein-rich milk. Cross breads, Cows cost less, Producing more leaner

lambs

Solutions Cont.

Harvested about 141 million tons of seafood in 2005

Eight times as much as in 1950

Seafood

Fishing fleets became larger New technology

◦ Satellite navigation systems◦ Detailed maps of the ocean floor◦ Bigger nets

Changes

Costal pollution ◦ from waste and excess feed◦ Chemicals from treating diseases ◦ Salmon escaping and spread those diseases

Bottom Trawling◦ Destroys Habitats

More Sustainable fish◦ Fish that are lower on the Marine food chain ◦ Have lower levels of Mercury

Problems

Pure Salmon Campaign◦ Advocate closed-container farms so water can be

reused and any pollution can be treated.◦ Introducing cleaner fish

Norway is introducing a species that cleans parasites and leftover food.

Reduces lice, a major disease in farming Salmon. Use Shellfish to eat algae and filter water

Solutions

Changing Restaurants◦ Darden Restaurants (Red Lobster) plans to certify

all its farm raised shrimp ‘to ensure it is grown in a a sustainable way with minimal impacts on the environment,”

◦ Wal Mart 3-5 years to certifying all its seafood from the North American market was raised sustainably.

Solutions Cont.

There are many species that grow in these farms like tropical fish, alligators, tilapia, catfish, shrimp, and others. At the same time aquaculture corporations had record earnings in excess on 100 million dollars, the environment had suffered the consequences.

First, aquaculture requires a significant amount of clean water and land. At this moment there are around 500 farms that use between 3 to 5 acres of land, which comes to a total of 2500 acres in Florida.

Second, broken septic and storm water systems have contaminated the water in Cedar Key.

In addition, some oyster’s farmers were forced to close because they contaminated the Gulf of Mexico.

Other environmental impacts are oxygen depletion in surrounding waters, degradation of benthic ecosystems, and harmful effects from pesticides and herbicides used to control aquatic weeds and algae in aquaculture areas.

Local level

“Today in South West Florida population is soaring, and rapid development is jeopardizing our water, land, wildlife, and our source of quality of life. We must act now to prevent our extraordinary resources from disappearing forever”. Conservancy of Southwest Organization (2008). In this particular area animals have been vulnerable to the effects of growing human population. Furthermore, the development of new areas had impacted the quality of our water.

Local Level

Organic Farms◦ Worden Farm in Punta Gorda, uses an electric

cultivating tractor on crops. The organic farm is dedicated to producing organic foods, cultivating community connections to the farm and promoting viability of family farms.

◦ By growing food without chemicals, Southwest Florida farms can help reduce the amount of pollution put into the water and the air.

Local level