Impact of Globalization on Food and environment

Food & The Environment
Summary
Globalization has an impact on all aspects of our lives from the environment to food. Foods that are produced in one country are a favorite in another country. This has resulted in food like quinoa being a favorite for health fanatics (Yu, 01/22/2019). However, this has led to quinoa not being readily available to the local community as they cannot afford to buy it yet it is their staple grain. Bolivia has a good climate for the growth of the grain and this means that a majority of farmers have planted the grain for export to Western countries making it scarce and pricey for the locals to buy. Globalization has led to food from different cultures and countries to be enjoyed in other countries. Nowadays, we find whole cuisines being available in different countries across the globe and people can enjoy the variety of food found in the world in the comfort of their homes. Immigrants tend to relocate with their traditional food cultures and they introduce them to their new country. Travelers have been known to seek out new flavors, which they will then bring back with them when they return home.
Globalization has had an impact on the environment through climate change. Economic losses in one country have a ripple effect on other countries across the globe. This has affected the environment as well. Due to globalization, there is a need for industries to increase their production and this leads to an increase in carbon emissions that affect across the globe (MaClean, JUNE 11, 2016). What most people do not know is that as temperatures rise above 27 degrees Celsius, there is a reduction in the productivity of workers. Tackling climate change is vital if we are to continue to enjoy the fruits of globalization. It is for this reason that climate change was the main focus of the 2018 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). IPCC indicated that to fight the crisis there is a need for public-private partnerships all intending to look for avenues to reduce the global impact of industries (Schwab, 14 Jan 2019). It is vital that global warming is kept within 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Personal Reflections
It is interesting to note that some of the things we have taken for granted like the availability of foreign food and cultures are all due to globalization. In the past, one would have only thought of globalization in terms of economy and not on food and the environment. The movement of people due to globalization has resulted in the movement of their culture and food as well. This is interesting as it explains how we have food joints across the States where one can find foreign cuisines. However, it is discouraging to note that due to globalization the Bolivians are not able to enjoy their staple grain and they are forced to use cheaper alternatives (Yu, 01/22/2019). This should not be the goal of globalization, instead, there should be a way for the locals to still enjoy the grain as they export it to other countries.
The impact of globalization on the environment has been noted and while not so shocking it is interesting to note that the actions of one country will have direct effects on other countries. The environment is affected by the mining activities in one country and the carbon emission by another country. This makes me think about how interconnected we truly are to one another. While we are miles apart, we still breathe the same air, and pollution in one country will affect us at some time in the future. With governments and private companies working together to overcome climate change we can rest assured that global warming can be maintained at 1.5 degrees Celsius.


References
MaClean, J. (JUNE 11, 2016). Globalization is worsening the effects of climate change, study says. from https://www.cantechletter.com/2016/06/globalization-worsening-effects-climate-change-study-says/
Schwab, K. (14 Jan 2019). Globalization 4.0 will help us tackle climate change. Here’s how. from https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/01/globalization-4-0-will-help-us-tackle-climate-change-here-s-how/
Yu, L. (01/22/2019). Superfoods’ Dark Side: Increasing Vulnerability of Quinoa Farmers in Bolivia. from http://web.colby.edu/st297-global18/2019/01/22/superfoods-dark-side-increasing-vulnerability-of-quinoa-farmers-in-bolivia/