Human Practice of Science

Human Practice of Science

The meal given to me in this case has components that are sourced from a variety of locations both within and outside the country.

Chicken

To begin with, it is highly likely that the chicken was sourced from a broiler farm in any of the south-eastern states as this is currently the region leading in poultry production. For easy handling, the said component of my meal was most likely slaughtered, defeathered, and inspected on site before being packed for delivery to the market. Broiler farms have been criticized for their negative impact on the environment, especially with regard to their high levels of ammonia emission.

T-Bone Streak

This particular food item was most likely cut from beef originating from Texas. With regard to beef cattle farming, it is likely that beef cattle in this particular case were kept in grazing farms. Like broiler farming, beef cattle farming also has a number of negative impacts on the environment. For instance, it is not uncommon for farmers to convert natural habitats to faming land thus causing deforestation. Livestock farming has also been associated with increased green house gas emissions. For me to be able to purchase the product, cattle with the appropriate market weight had to be sent to a processing facility from where they are harvested, inspected, packaged, and delivered to the market.

Mashed Potatoes Made With Red-Skin Potatoes

The red-skin potatoes in this case most likely came from Colorado where we have a well-developed breeding program and several certified potato growers. With regard to the farming methods, this particular potato variety could have been grown in a large potato farm using a variety of farming techniques including but not limited to hilled rows. Most of the negative impacts on the environment could arise from the utilization of pesticides which amongst other things contribute to air, soil, and water pollution. For me to be able to purchase this particular food component, it must have been harvested from the farm using partially mechanized harvesting methods, transported to storage, sorted, and packed for distribution.

Sweet Potato Souffle with Marshmallows

Sweet potatoes in this case could have been sourced from south Louisiana which according to data from the National Agricultural Statistics Service produces approximately 20% of all the sweet potatoes available nationally. Like red-skin potatoes, sweet potatoes are commonly grown in large tracts of commercial farms. Pest control chemicals used could contaminate soil and water. Further, it is possible that natural habitats are destroyed to create room for additional land space. To be ready for the market, sweet potatoes are first harvested from the farms, inspected for quality, sorted, stored, and then packed.

Asparagus

Asparagus could have come from China which happens to be the world's largest producer of this particular food item. Asparagus (in China) is commonly produced in commercial plantations mostly via crown planting. Given that weed control remains one of the main challenges faced by asparagus growers, herbicides are commonly used. Herbicides have been known to cause water and soil contamination. Exposure of humans to herbicides (i.e. via spray drift) could also adversely affect their health and well-being.

Macaroni and Cheese

Wheat used to make macaroni could have been sourced from the large wheat farms in North Dakota while cheese could have been produced in any of the large daily processing farms in Wisconsin. While daily cattle are reared in large farms, wheat is cultivated in fields whose acreage could vary widely. In both cases, large areas of natural habitat could be cleared to create room for commercially utilizable fields. The fertilizers used in wheat farming and the pesticides used in the control of ticks in dairy farming could have a negative impact on the environment. Cheese is made from one key ingredient -- milk. To start the cheese making process, a number of ingredients including starter cultures and clotting enzymes are added to the milk. The mass that is formed thereafter is then cooked to achieve firmness after which it is pressed to achieve the desired shape. It is then packed and delivered to the market. Macaroni on the other hand is made form wheat which after being sifted is mixed with water to form dough. This dough is then kneaded mechanically and processed to form macaroni.

Peach Cobbler

The peach fruit in this case could have been sourced from China. Like asparagus, peach is commercially grown in plantations. It is also important to note that peaches, more than many other fruits, require fertilizers that are rich in nitrogen. In most cases, it is the nitrogen that is not absorbed by plants that ends up running off to streams from where it deprives waterways of oxygen, thus killing off aquatic plants and animals. On being harvested, peach is sorted and immediately packed for distribution.