Food Security

I think one of the biggest problems in our society today is the commodification of food; the idea that a necessity of life be leveraged for profit. 

Commodifying food creates a threatening environment in terms of food security.  Industry utilizes means of larger scale production which separates consumers from food sources, which I believe has reduced food literacy among recent generations.  Large scale farming methods deplete the soil of nutrients, decreasing the level of nutrients found in produce over the past few decades.  These large-scale farms are also input intensive, with water needs that deplete aquifers and chemical runoff that pollutes waterways.  Large industry animal farms often keep animals in unnatural conditions, increasing health risks for the animal and decreasing nutrition in the animal products.  The industry takes part in these practices so that they can produce food as cheaply and quickly as possible for as great a profit as possible.  Food is processed and stripped of nutrients and then fortified with other nutrients and marketed as being healthier.  Scientists discover a new antioxidant and all of a sudden there is a new marketing campaign for a superfood.  Big players in the industry lobby governments to protect these practices.  Like any other commodity, there is an elitism surrounding food where brands matter and the upper class has better access to healthy food.  We accept this system because it is convenient, or affordable, or we feel powerless to change it; while diseases of affluence like cardiovascular disease and diabetes strain the medical system in some parts of the world, and starvation ravages others.

But neglecting our health is not economical or sustainable in the long-term, and it is a reality too bleak for me to accept.  Hopefully, you feel the same way because there is a lot you can do as an individual.  We need to start focusing on the quality and availability of our food.  I think smaller scale farming with a large diversity of plantings and care for the multitude of nutrients and microbes in our soil, not just the N-P-K, could solve many of our food troubles.  Local-scale food production increases resilience because food sources are close to the communities they serve, crops adapt to local conditions and require less input through seed saving, diversity creates a buffer against crop failure because others will still flourish, and care for the soil increases nutrition and yields over time.

That is a nicer picture, right?

You can take action yourself by increasing your food literacy, fighting food waste, voting with your dollar, cooking from scratch, growing your own food, and helping others do the same.

A great and exciting way to increase your food literacy is to grab a wholefood you are unfamiliar with at the grocery store (a fruit, vegetable, nut, grain, meat – something that is not processed or adulterated); look up where it came from, how it grows, and how it is traditionally prepared, then try using it in a dish you prepare yourself.  If you are lucky enough to speak with the people who grew or prepared (ex. Butcher, baker) your food; ask them about the food and how they recommend the food be stored, handled, and prepared.  Schedule a tour of a nearby farm.  Learn how to read a food label.  If you have a favourite food product, research the production process and its ingredients.  Any way you can learn about food is a plus here, get as involved with your food as possible.

Fight food waste by making sure the food at your house doesn’t go into the garbage. Planning meals can help you use what you have on hand. Use up things that are about to go bad with an impromptu stir-fry, stew, or casserole, or give those items to a neighbour or friend, and, if all else fails, compost your food waste. If you go out to eat don’t be afraid to ask that items be excluded from your meal if you won’t eat them (ex. no side of slaw for me please), try no to order more than you think you can eat, and take any leftovers home if you do.

Let your money do the talking for you by supporting local food production.  Remember that farm you visited?  If you liked the farm – animals looked happy, vegetables were vibrant, no one was wearing a hazmat suit while tending to pest prevention, food was flavourful – spend some money there or see if they are willing to trade food for labour. Buy whole foods and try to buy them in season. Don’t buy processed foods, the money you don’t spend says just as much as the money you do.

Learn to cook if you don’t know how already.  All these incredible wholefoods will have to be prepared, but once you get your footing in the kitchen it is so worth it.  There are a lot of things you can do to cut down the time you spend in the kitchen so don’t feel like cooking is a luxury you are too busy to afford.  If you don’t feel confident in the kitchen try to find a cooking buddy; you can share skills, save time, bond, and make something delicious and nourishing.  Cooking gives you the power to create absolutely endless flavor combinations, take part in cultural traditions you might not otherwise have the chance to, and take control of what is in your food.

If that is something you want to take one step further, growing your own food is about the most powerful thing you can do for your own food security.  Whether you start a farm, grow a summer garden in your backyard, have a few plants in containers on your balcony, an herb garden on your windowsill, a jar of sprouts on your kitchen counter, a mushroom log under your bed, or a grow light and lettuces in your closet; anyone can grow food if they want to.  You don’t need a lot of skill, special equipment, or time to start growing some of your own food, and once you do, a whole world of variety opens up to you.  You can even save seeds and trade them with others.  If money talks then buying and saving seeds is the ultimate middle finger to the commodification of food.

And if all of this makes you want to raise your fist in the air and shout “Hell yeah!”, then share your action with others.  Help a friend plant their garden, teach someone how to make a meal, bring someone to that farm the next time you go, make an extra loaf of bread and give it to the widow down the street, donate time or money to an organization that supports food security. 

Food security falls on everyone’s shoulders because everyone needs to eat, so take your role seriously.  Your actions do make a difference and you kick ass!