Scoones, Ian. “Economic Chaos Is Causing a Food Security and Humanitarian Crisis in Zimbabwe.” The Conversation, 29 Jan. 2020, theconversation.com/economic-chaos-is-causing-a-food-security-and-humanitarian-crisis-in-zimbabwe-124791.
In this article it talks about the economic chaos in Zimbabwe. 5.5 million people are estimated to be at risk of hunger. Researchers are exploring how people have fared since getting land, asking who is doing well and not so well, and why. Some of our key findings include: The food insecurities are more complex. Crop production is higher in the land reform areas compared to the communal lands. Farmed by younger people without independent homes. Zimbabwean economy continues to decline. Economic and infrastructural collapse is threatening food security in Zimbabwe.
This article is related to Environmental Science because the food insecurity is more complex than headlines and many people are starving because of this. Zimbabwe’s food economy has been transformed over the past 19 years. This article is important because it brings the attention to society that millions of people are at risk of hunger. There was no production in Zimbabwe this year and its people are barely surviving from this situation.
Muller, Mike. “Not All Droughts Are the Same: Here’s What’s Different about Them.” The Conversation, 27 Jan. 2020, theconversation.com/not-all-droughts-are-the-same-heres-whats-different-about-them-127238.
In this article it talks about how there’s a growing concern in South Africa about what’s being portrayed as a “national drought disaster”. There are suggestions that this drought could see many cities and towns facing their “Day Zero”. People don’t understand South Africa’s climate, or how it affects the way the country’s water supply systems work. For example, the article talks about how dry periods can devastate agriculture without necessarily affecting water supplies to cities and industries. The Plants in fields and livestock grazing on natural pasture depend on moisture in the top layers of the soil. Cities and towns either have large reserves of water in dams or tap it from aquifers, which are effectively underground reservoirs.
This article is related to Environmental Science because some parts of the Northern, Western and Eastern Cape are officially in drought conditions. This means that officials acknowledge that the dry conditions are now seriously threatening farming activities. Therefore, many farmers are battling to stay in business.
JH Bloomberg School of Public Health. “Food Distribution.” Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 4 Aug. 2016, http://www.foodsystemprimer.org/food-distribution/index.html.
In this article, it talks about Food Distributors. Many large businesses, supermarkets, food service providers for schools, hospitals, chain restaurants, and other institutions rely on food distributors to help acquire the foods and ingredients they need. A distributor brings together goods from many different producers and processors so that they can be sold. Food Distributors also one of the main reasons on how foods are transported long distances.
This article is related to Environmental Science because the food distribution chain includes several stages involving storage, transport, and handling, where food is often exposed to varying temperatures. Since temperature is one of the most important environmental factors that influence quality attributes in foods, it is critical to know the temperature exposure of a food delivered to someone during storage and distribution. I think this article is important because I didn’t realize how important food distributors were until I read this article and how much of an impact it has.
Kalaba, Mmatlou, et al. “South Africa’s Carbon Tax Matters — for the Economy and Tackling Climate Change.” The Conversation, 19 Aug. 2019, https://theconversation.com/south-africas-carbon-tax-matters-for-the-economy-and-tackling-climate-change-120116
In this article, it talks about how carbon tax is likely to be an effective way of mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, which leads to climate change. Greenhouse gas emissions come from human activities such as Carbon Dioxide which gets trapped in the atmosphere. This results in increasing our global temperatures and bad weather. This is referred to climate change, and has led to many mortifying conclusions such as droughts, heatwaves, flooding, and wildfires. The carbon tax is a tax on energy as most of South Africa’s carbon emissions are from energy generation and the industrial use of energy. The carbon tax has an impact because it will be good for jobs and production in the agriculture and food sectors. The carbon tax is important for human life as well as the environment for the South African economy. Another betterment, could be better air and water quality.
This article is related to Environmental Science because Climate Change is a huge topic that is discussed between everyone and it is studied in the Environmental Science department. I think this article is important because climate change affects us humans, our agriculture, water resources, ecosystems, and energy. The carbon tax would be a great opportunity because it would apply to all producers and sellers. One way to adjust is to reduce food wastage. South Africans waste approximately 10 million tons of food per year, which is one third of all food produced in the country.
Caputo, Silvio. “Three Ways Cities Can Help Feed the World, without Costing the Earth.” The Conversation, 28 Aug. 2019, https://theconversation.com/three-ways-cities-can-help-feed-the-world-without-costing-the-earth-112186.
In this article, it explains to us that 25% of the global carbon emissions comes from food production. This causes weather change, and more frequent extreme weather events which not only does it result in climate change but it also puts the world’s supplies of food at risk. Food Production causes deforestation, which means there are fewer trees to absorb carbon dioxide, which leads to the greenhouse effect. one third of this food is wasted because of distorted supply systems, unjust food distribution and unhealthy and unsustainable diets. Urban agriculture and sustainable cities recommended three main areas where effective changes can be made. Recycling food waste, urban farming, and changing diets.
This article is related to Environmental Science and is important because it refers to climate change and the greenhouse effect. It teaches our society that we all need to contribute to these three changes, more effective policies for food justice and dominance can establish fairer food supply chains and more just distribution of food around the world.