How food is grown, harvested, and distributed plays a critical role in the nutrients delivered to the consumer.
Industrial agriculture grows food in depleted soil that is supplemented with chemical fertilizers and sprayed with chemical pesticides. The food is harvested before it is ripe, takes 5–14 days to reach consumers, and is typically limited to a few crop varieties 1.
Plants grown in fertile soil have more nutrients in the edible parts of the plant than those grown in infertile soil 2–4. For example, peas grown in fertile soil contained three times more zinc than those grown in infertile soil, and wheat contained five times more selenium 3–5.
Produce grown with pesticides may not develop a natural defense system which can act as beneficial phytochemicals to us, such as isothiocyanates, present in broccoli 6,7.
A fruit or vegetable separated from the vine or stem (the plant) before it is ripe will begin to decline before reaching its full nutrient profile. Once a fruit or vegetable is harvested, it continues to respire resulting in moisture loss, quality and nutrient degradation, and potential microbial spoilage 8. One study found carotenoid levels increase with ripening 9. Vine-ripe tomatoes have higher levels of lycopene, beta-carotene, and soluble fiber than tomatoes ripened off the vine 10.
Maximizing the nutrient output of farming systems calls for a shift in the type of food that’s grown as well as how it’s grown, harvested and distributed. A focus on growing more nutrient-dense crops in place of the high value staple crops necessitates a shift in the current industrial farming practices4,11. The concept of nutrition-sensitive agriculture, described by Jaenicke and Virchow (2013), aims to “narrow the gap between available and accessible food and the food needed for a healthy and balanced diet for all people” (p.679). Research focused on nutrition-sensitive agriculture shows how sustainable agriculture supports the goal of nutrient-dense food while assuring the stability of the system 4,12,13.
Sustainably grown food has less toxins, nitrates, and does not use chemical pesticides or fertilizers. Therefore, consumption of sustainable foods may reduce exposure to pesticide residues and antibiotic-resistant bacteria 14–16.
How can our shopping habits support nutrition sensitive agriculture?
1. Ramberg J, Mcanalley B. From the Farm to the Kitchen Table : A Review of the Nutrient Losses in Foods. 2002;3(5):1-12. https://www.kwikwap.co.za/health/docs/From the Farm to the Kitchen.pdf.
2. Lauer F, Prost K, Gerlach R, et al. Organic fertilization and sufficient nutrient status in prehistoric agriculture? - Indications from multi-proxy analyses of archaeological topsoil relicts. PLoS One. 2014;9(9). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0106244.
3. Zuo Y, Zhang F. Soil and crop management strategies to prevent iron deficiency in crops. Plant Soil. 2011;339(1):83-95. doi:10.1007/s11104-010-0566-0.
4. Miller DD, Welch RM. Food system strategies for preventing micronutrient malnutrition.Food Policy. 2013;42:115-128. doi:10.1016/j.foodpol.2013.06.008.
5. Welch RM, Graham RD. Breeding crops for enhanced micronutrient content. Plant Soil. 2002;245(1):205-214. doi:10.1023/A:1020668100330.
6. Mattson MP. Hormesis and disease resistance: activation of cellular stress response pathways. Hum Exp Toxicol. 2008;27(2):155-162. doi:10.1177/0960327107083417.
7. Hayes DP, Hayes DP. Nutritional hormesis. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2006;61(2):147-159. doi:1602507 [pii] 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602507.
8. Rickman JC, Barrett DM, Bruhn CM. Nutritional comparison of fresh, frozen and canned fruits and vegetables. Part 1. Vitamins C and B and phenolic compounds. J Sci Food Agric. 2007;87(2):930–944. doi:10.1002/jsfa.
9. Skrede G. Freezing Effects on Food Quality. (Jeremiah LE E, ed.). New York: Marcel Dekker, Inc.,; 1996. https://www.crcpress.com/Freezing-Effects-on-Food-Quality/eremiah/p/book/9780824793500.
10. Arias R, Lee TC, Specca D, Janes H. Quality comparison of hydroponic tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum) ripened on and off vine. J Food Sci. 2000;65(3):545-548. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2621.2000.tb16045.x.
11. Welch RM, Graham RD. A New Paradigm for World Agriculture: Productive, Sustainable and Nutritious Food Systems to Meet Human Needs. Dev Bull. 1999;49:29-32. doi:10.1177/156482650002100404.
12. Jaenicke H, Virchow D. Entry points into a nutrition-sensitive agriculture. Food Secur. 2013;5(5):679-692. doi:10.1007/s12571-013-0293-5.
13. Keding GB, Schneider K, Jordan I. Production and processing of foods as core aspects of nutrition-sensitive agriculture and sustainable diets. Food Secur. 2013;5(6). doi:10.1007/s12571-013-0312-6.
14. Maggio A, De Pascale S, Paradiso R, Barbieri G. Quality and nutritional value of vegetables from organic and conventional farming. Sci Hortic (Amsterdam). 2013;164:532-539. doi:10.1016/j.scienta.2013.10.005.
15. Smith-spangler C, Brandeau ML, Hunter GE, et al. Annals of Internal Medicine | Are Organic Foods Safer or Healthier Than Conventional Alternatives?: A Systematic Review. 2012;(May 2011). http://annals.org/article.aspx?articleid=1355685.
16. Herencia JF, García-Galavís P a., Dorado JAR, Maqueda C. Comparison of nutritional quality of the crops grown in an organic and conventional fertilized soil. Sci Hortic (Amsterdam). 2011;129(4):882-888. doi:10.1016/j.scienta.2011.04.008.
This post was really interesting to read about this topic of nutrition sensitive agriculture. In my class at school I am learning about sustainable food and how to be careful if the food is truly organic or USDA approved. This blog is very useful to enhance my knowledge that I have about sustainable food. I would highly recommend my friends to view this blog if they do not have much knowledge about sustainable food.
ReplyDelete-Christine
Before reading this article, I thought that the food would be less nutritionist if we didn't use or eat it after few days of purchasing it but not even after harvesting until it reaches to the market. Most of people shop their food at the supermarket including me, however, the food there is not as healthy and good as we may think. We can change our shopping habits in order to accessing better food sources, for example going to your local farmers market to buy food is one way. If you want to make sure that they grow them sustainability or not, you can ask the farmers whether they use pesticide or fertilizers so that you can choose the good sources for your food.
ReplyDeleteour culture and our life is usually based on fruit and vegetables that we get from supermarkets which usually have those transported from industrial agriculture because its the easiest thing to do for large amounts. Everyone or mostly everyone still buys fruits and vegetables from these supermarkets which is why these industry still thrive in our day and age. What we need to do in order to get people to stop buying from industrial agriculture is to teach people that these industries are using so many chemical that doesn't let the food mature to its highest potential, which helps us gain more nutritional value from the food itself helping our health better. Now in order for our shopping habits to help we would have to support our local farmers and buy food from shops or farmers from the farmers market because everything sold in these little places are usually pesticide free and grow till ripe and ready to pick which then add to its nutritional value. we need to learn and educate more people about these farmers market and to teach and show people how industrial agriculture is bad for our health and bad for the environment as well.
ReplyDelete-leidy tercero-gio
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DeleteNot all things at the farmers market are grown without chemical fertilizers or pesticides. However, as Van suggested, we can easily inquire about how the food was grown and easily find sustainable farmers to purchase food from without paying the high cost of the organic certification.
DeleteThis post was very interesting. It is very important that we know our information about food. That way we can acquire all our nutrients in everything we eat. It is intriguing to think about those diets that rely heavily on nutrients, yet with this article, it taught me not everything we eat is at its’ optimal potential nutrient wise. If one buys food at conventional market, then we are supporting the industrial agriculture the that uses pesticides and chemical fertilizers. The is why it is important to shop at a farmers market where one can talk to the farmers to be informed on how they grow their produce food. That way we can reduce the intake of pesticides and fertilizers and increase our nutrients. Moreover, one can also shop at a market that is know for selling pesticide free and organics, such as a Sprouts or Lazy Acres. Overall, as a consumer it is important that one is informed to make the change we want to see.
ReplyDelete-melissa tercero
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ReplyDeleteAlthough nutrition sensitive agriculture is a big topic, every one of us can support nutrition sensitive agriculture by changing our shopping habits. I no longer buy raw fruits in the supermarkets in order to let them last longer. Instead, I go to grocery stores only when needed and always buy fully ripped fruits for better tasting and rich in nutrition as well. I also pay more attention to product labeling when buying fresh produce, fruits, or meats or poultry. For example, I had an opportunity to listen from a guest speaker who came from Moonwater Farm, and through her presentation I knew some of the companies are great companies with great products for consumers, therefore I always seek for their products every time I go shopping.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteBrian Nguyen HFHM 370
ReplyDeleteDuring this course, i have learned a lot of amazing information. Thus, nutrition sensitive agriculture is the topic that helps me enhance my knowledge. After this blog, i understand how important of the nutrition to the soil. It makes the plants grow better with more nutrient. The plants are grown on the nutritional soil is better than other soil. Moreover, i would pay more attention to those labels on the food that i am going to buy. Because that will help me making sure that is the non-GMO food for my family.
After reading this article I see that there are benefits to buying sustainably grown foods not just because they are better in nutrients but because they do not contain the pesticides and other chemicals that come from foods grown in the food industry. The mass production that farming has looked towards has made it so that farms would want to use all these chemicals so they have a product as quickly as possible, but this makes it so that the fruits are picked before full ripeness and full nutrients. Some ways that we can influence and support nutrition sensitive agriculture is to support those farms that purposefully look to grow their product in a sustainable manner for this can lead to a growth in their brand and a wider knowledge or more attention to the subject of sustainability. Changing policy can help to influence what happens with the farms growing in a sustainable way for it can force the hand of the mass production farming system into practicing more sustainable farming practices that use less or no chemicals. If there is a way to let the general populace know the benefits of sustainable farming in a way that sticks with them there could be a shift in favor of nutrition sensitive agriculture and this could start in local farmers markets and possibly make its way outward to the farms who put an emphasis on producing rather than nutrients.
ReplyDeleteI learned a lot about how our vegetables and fruits get their nutrients from when they are planted. I definitely think people need to know more about this so that they have the education of how their food is being grown. Almost everyone goes to chain grocery stores to buy their produce because it is easy and convenient since there is one in almost every corner. I am totally guilty of doing that as well but I would love to start shopping or at least go to a farmers market so that I can see the difference in produce in both taste and look.
ReplyDeleteI am a strong believer in sustainable systems for growing food. I also believe that vegetables ripe off the vine taste far better than that of something from the store that has taken 5-14 days to get to the store. With that being said, I think that it will be extremely difficult to implement this on a large scale, and potentially catastrophic to the crops that are growing. An example that I have seen was when Hawaii banned the sale of GM foods and a breed of papaya almost went extinct. Without the use of these different tools that humans have bread into fruit and vegetables, I do not think that we would be able to support the growing population. If the entire population agreed to shift to a seasonal diet, it may be possible. However, after working with different plants grown without these different pesticides and genes that defend against pests, I have seen many crops get lost.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I believe it would be great if we had a system in place that would allow for us to get all of our vegetables fresh, I just do not believe that we are capable of that right now.
-Julian Rodriguez
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ReplyDeleteThis post really opened my eyes into the effects of pesticides on nutrients in agriculture. As of a couple of months ago, when buying produce at the store, I would never think about what it took to get to this place. However, I am starting to see a shift in my priorities and making sure to read the labels and try to purchase only items that are organic and locally/sustainably grown. I am in a class currently called “Exploring Sustainable Food Systems” which really sparked my awareness to this topic, along with research articles and blog posts such as this one. I learned that the second the fruit or vegetable is cut from the vine, it is beginning to die. So, if the product is snipped before it reaches its full nutrients, it will never reach that full potential and only goes down from there. Pesticides are also contributing to the loss of nutrients which only further emphasizes why everyone should be educated on this topic and stick to eating sustainably in order to best fuel your body.
ReplyDelete- Kayla Robbins
I really enjoyed this post and it has enlightened me to become more aware about the food I'm purchasing. I never considered or knew about the terms and certifications that are used to label food products. When I thought about and pictured the term "free range" I thought about chickens running around eating healthy grass. Did you think the same thing? The term really means chickens not in cages, like the photo shown in the post. This is similar to the term "grass-fed". I am currently enrolled in a class called "Exploring Sustainable Food Systems". This class has taught me the true meanings behind our licenses, certifications, and terms commonly found on food products, typically found in the grocery store. For example, in order for an animal product to be labeled as "grass-fed" the animal only has to eat grass once or twice in it's lifetime. In addition, as mentioned in the blog post, our certifications still allow some synthetics, vaccines, etc, from GMOS. This class and blog posting has really opened my eyes. I am becoming more aware of the food I am purchasing, how it's produced or raised, and asking more questions.
ReplyDeleteThis post really helped me gain a better understanding of how our industrial agriculture system affect the food we eat. One thing I have known is that sustainably grown foods are much more nutrient dense than their industrially grown counterparts. How could it be easier for sustainably grown foods to market themselves apart from other companies that do not grow, harvest, and distribute their foods in a good way? There are many misleading labels, like cage-free or grass-fed, that actually sustainable products have a hard time reaching people for what they are. Now, especially after reading this post, I will keep looking to know where my foods come from and make changes when I can.
ReplyDeleteI really liked this post because it opened my eyes to how long it actually takes the food we see in grocery stores to get there. I've never really thought about how the produce has to be picked way before it's fully ripe in order to give it any kind of shelf life at the store. I think some of the best ways to combat the current food system is to simply ask questions about where and how our food is being sourced. Farmers markets are a great place to start buying non-GMO and non-pesticide food that are more nutrient dense, but only if you know how to ask the right questions. For example, asking how long ago the produce was picked, what the farmer uses to fight bugs and weeds, and where the farm is located. By using purchasing power, we, as consumers, tell the market what we want more of.
ReplyDelete-Taylor Eccles
Our shopping habits can absolutely support nutrition sensitive agriculture if we purchase directly through farmers at farmers markets versus purchasing at the supermarket. There are many benefits from purchasing straight from the source because as consumers, we can ask any questions and get our answers directly from the grower/farmer, which is pretty awesome! Also, the products sold at farmers markets will not have been harvested more than a couple days; the produce was probably picked that morning, peak of ripeness and freshness. The products at the farmers market are the most sustainable because in the market, the produce sold at the market has been harvested, 5-14 days prior as mentioned in the blog post, and full of chemicals to ripen it by the time it reaches the store. Market produce will have much lower nutrient levels compared to the produce harvested a day or 2 before being sold at the farmers market.
ReplyDeleteBe sure and ask farmers at the farmers market if they use any chemical fertilizers or pesticides. Not all food at the farmers market is chemical free. You can also ask how they keep the soil fertile and manage pests?
DeleteGrowing crops and animals with sustainability in mind can ensure the continued production of plants and livestock. The blog posting talks about growing plants in fertile soil, increasing edible parts of plants, and reducing consumption of chemicals, ultimately, ensuring the sustainability of crops. I want to introduce sustainable farming of livestock, mainly beef. Farms commonly feed cattle one of two things: feedlot and grass. Cattle fed with feedlot are more susceptible to diseases such as Bovine Respiratory Disease. Such diseases are counteracted with antibiotics that effect cattle reproduction, in addition, we as consumers are in risk of being exposed to it. Thus, grass-fed cattle are healthier to us as consumers and more sustainable. Of course, this is all a moot point if the grass is grown in infertile soil.
ReplyDeleteIt is very intriguing to know that plants have more nutrients in them if the soil is fertile. An important fact to add onto this topic is that significantly higher pH and more nutrients also improved soil fertility. If there is chemical fertilizer, it is then by-passed through the soil and goes directly into the plant, and perpetuates non-living soil. A question that comes to mind is how vital is soil actually to our plant life? I want to inform everyone that soil is extremely critical to plant growth and life, because it takes 1,00 years to rebuild 3 centimeters of top soil. This means that within the next 60 years, our topsoil could be completely gone. With there being a threat to our ecosystems, this could become a serious through to our water. If we do not take care of our ecosystem and use harmful chemicals, this will contaminate the ground water.
ReplyDeleteSara Villalobos - Food Sustainability
This information is ground-breaking! Since most people are not eating enough fruits and vegetables to meet their vitamin and mineral needs, we can focus on increasing the nutrients in the produce they are already consuming. One way to get the most nutrients from your food is to grow your own produce in a back or front yard garden. Using organic seeds and healthy soil to grow such plants guarantees that you can harvest their fruits at peak ripeness and eat, freeze, or refrigerate immediately – and they will be as full of nutrients and free of pesticides as you can get. If, however, you cannot grow your own produce, a farmer’s market is another great place to purchase ripe fruits and vegetables that are higher in nutrients than conventional equivalents. Be sure to ask the farmers about their farming practices so you can find organic, recently picked produce that has been grown without pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Looking for heirloom varieties is another great way to assure your food has high nutrients because they have not been altered by industrialization, as heirlooms are handed down through several generations and are not genetically modified. Making one or more of these steps will not only ensure the nourishment of people, but will help the planet, too!
ReplyDelete- Dani Popovich
(Tiffany Kennedy)
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this inspiring and straightforward post about our fruits and vegetables. Although at first, I was mixing the words"nutrient sensitive" and "nutrient-dense," I can piece together how they are connected. We have to be nutrient-sensitive to have nutrient-dense food. I appreciated everyone's comments about where to purchase nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables and what to ask when I buy them. I would love to know more about making my own nutrient-rich garden. I have read that organic seeds can be saved from when I eat them and put into a garden, but how do I make nutrient-rich soil? Where is the best place to buy fertilizer?
I found this blog post very interesting because there are so many things I did not know about the process of industrial agriculture. I was awestruck when I learned that the majority of our food is grown in depleted soil. The fact that we are only retaining a third of the amount of zinc from peas grown in depleted soil versus fertile soil amazes me because there are so many nutrients we are missing out on. I was aware that we are using chemical pesticides, but it is news to me that we are using chemical fertilizers as well. This cannot be healthy for our bodies and therefore unsustainable. This post brings up a couple of questions that need to be answered: how long can we last using chemical fertilizers and pesticides before all of our soil has been depleted of nutrients? Are there any healthy alternatives that we can use to grow our food naturally?
ReplyDelete- Bryan Oyama HM 370
Our market right now is saturated with so much industrial agriculture food especially in big cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Manhattan. Grocery stores such as food 4 less, ralphs, superior are all stocked up on many foods that I did not know contain such chemicals and after realizing what I was eating it made me superstitious on what I was actually putting into my body that is supposed to benefitting me. It's crazy to think how long it takes for food to reach stores from industrial farms and it made me think on what would happen in case of an emergency and a natural disaster hit. With a little research I found out that it would only take a couple of days for cities like Los Angeles to sustain itself before it ran out of food since most of it comes from out of urban areas. I rarely go to farmers markets but after realizing this reality it made me think about how much healthier food from farms are and it's benefits of creating a relationship with farmers in case of emergency.
ReplyDeleteCommented by Jonathan Abarca
DeleteThis was such an interesting post! It’s quite eye-opening to see how much of an impact industrial agriculture has on the produce we purchase and consume. The way we shop for our groceries has such an impact on the amount of nutrients we are giving our bodies. While I had knowledge of produce being harvest early to prevent spoilage between transportation, it is surprising to see that the harvesting process also affects the nutrition of the produce. This post enlightened me on how shopping at farmers’ markets and locally would be the best way to get the most nutrient-rich produce. This post made me want to create my own nutrient-rich garden, fertilized with compost rather than chemical fertilizers. This would not only be a positive step toward my health but towards helping the environment as well.
ReplyDelete-Lilian Wang
I share many common thoughts with your post about nutrition in industrial agriculture. It's true that industrial agriculture is taking a toll on both the environment and the consumers as well. Industrial agriculture products have both advantages and disadvantages to it, although harvest is faster and maybe easier but the quality of the products can't be compare to sustainable agriculture products. Nor would it be healthier for consumers to purchase industrial product due to pesticides. One thing that I strongly believe that if your vegetables has a worm on it means that there is no pesticides presence.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading this informative post! There is so much that we don't know about our food and the way it is grown. This disconnect is becoming more apparent to me and like Lilian said in her post, we should try to shop locally and at the farmer's market as often as possible. I did know that pesticides are bad for humans to consume but had no idea that they had an effect on the produce as well. It's interesting to think that natural agriculture is beneficial for the plants as well. This blog post seems very applicable to the triple bottom line, where sustainable practices benefit the economy, humans and the earth.
ReplyDelete-Madison Lee
It is both very interesting and alarming with regards to how the nutrients our body needs is being stripped from our foods before it reaches our plates. The time between picking and distribution is concerning and displays a clear imbalance in our food system. According to the Law of Balance principle, no one part of the system can thrive at the cost of another part. In this situation, in order for our produce to reach our grocery stores without "going bad", it must be picked early and stripped of many potential nutrients. One solution to this imbalance would be to purchase produce from a farmers market where there is less transportation time from farm to distributor. This reduced transportation time would generally mean that farmers could leave produce on the vine, in the ground, etc. for longer so that our fruits and vegetables absorb all their potential nutrients before they reach the dinner table.
ReplyDeleteIt is both very interesting and alarming with regards to how the nutrients our body needs is being stripped from our foods before it reaches our plates. The time between picking and distribution is concerning and displays a clear imbalance in our food system. According to the Law of Balance principle, no one part of the system can thrive at the cost of another part. In this situation, in order for our produce to reach our grocery stores without "going bad", it must be picked early and stripped of many potential nutrients. One solution to this imbalance would be to purchase produce from a farmers market where there is less transportation time from farm to distributor. This reduced transportation time would generally mean that farmers could leave produce on the vine, in the ground, etc. for longer so that our fruits and vegetables absorb all their potential nutrients before they reach the dinner table.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this post! What you shared gave me more insight into how food that is grown from industrial agriculture is likely to have less nutrients than local and sustainable farm foods. I knew that infertile soil probably did not produce the best results when it came to produce rich in nutrients, but I did not realize the impact removing a fruit or vegetable from the stem or vine before it is ripe has on its nutrient profile. To be honest, I didn’t make the connection because I figured that a ripe fruit or vegetable contained the average nutrients for that fruit or vegetable, regardless of its ripening process. There is a lot to say when it comes to the benefits of small, local, and sustainable farms and their benefits on their produce versus large, industrial farms, but changing our shopping habits to include more farm-to-table foods is likely to benefit everyone, including the small farms and their prosperity, our own health and our local economy. Not only that but buying from small farmers may reduce our chances of purchasing food that has been genetically-modified to withstand the amount and types of chemical fertilizers and pesticides used on them.
ReplyDeleteThroughout the course, we have learned that food is grown on mechanical farms. The blog post further proved we don't even know half of it. Our food is grown in soil that has been manufactured to produce the most crops, quantity is more important than quality - and sustainability. We are losing out on nutrients when we eat crops from robot farms. I would like to see a study on what specific vitamins are found in organic, well kept, crop-rotating fields rather than ones that produce GMO crops of the same type manufactured to survive any weather. I think it would be a good insight into the difference. When vegetables are picked for mass consumption, I doubt they are looking at the individual crop like a smaller farm would - not only could this lead to large amounts of waste. The nutrients are also kept to a minimal amount when picked too early. There needs to be more attention to our fruits and vegetables. I think moving forward, if we are more considerate of our choice, the business will see organic and sustainable options as not only profitable avenues but something they should include and expand upon.
ReplyDeleteyou forgot your name!
DeleteWhen considering the 4 Pillars of Food Security, this post can relate in regard to Utilization. More specifically, nutritious food. Why, if easily attainable, would we not maximize the nutrients offered by our agriculture? Could it possibly be an imbalance in the Triple Bottom Line? The statement made urging for a shift in agriculture speaks to producers asking them to put effort forth to bridge the gap between profit and people/planet. This post does a great job showing us the effects of the failing and unsustainable system of how our food is cultivated and harvested prematurely in order to gain more profits.
ReplyDeleteNutrition-sensitive agriculture implies the system of farming which encompasses the ideals of dietary diversification to counter the threat of micronutrient deficiencies, over nutrition, as well as under-nutrition. The paradoxical dimension of this topic lies in the fact that the class of people in society who are often faced with the threat of under-nutrition are those who engage in active agriculture as part of their livelihoods. Yet, such persons still have to circumnavigate the risks associated with nutrition insecurity. The commercialization of agriculture, even in the cases where it is done on a small scale explains part of this phenomenon. Individuals in these places who carry out farming activities often sell a significant portion of their produce, and are left with nothing spared for their consumption. As a result of these factors, the adoption of a nutrition-sensitive model of agriculture is imperative in the creation of a stable society, in which individuals living in it are not faced with the perpetual threat of nutrition deficiency.
ReplyDeleteI love this idea of nutrient-sensitive agriculture because it not only benefits of the health of humans but improves the overall taste of the produce. I want to be eating the freshest possible food and people need to prioritize this same principle in their own diet. There are numerous health concerns since the adoption of these farming practices that are solely for a larger profit. When it comes to food being ingested by humans, money should not be the priority. In order to achieve food security for society, it is vital that the utilization of crops is increased. I am curious, is there any food brands that promise traditional farming practices that can be found in major grocery stores? – Enrique Haro
ReplyDeleteInterestingly enough, a bulk of what this article informs us of seems like something that should be considered common knowledge, and yet I found myself being shocked after every sentence. One would readily assume that a plant removed from the ground before ripe would decline before reaching its nutrient profile, even if I wouldn’t be able to properly describe it that way. It’s unfortunate just how much capitalism has affected industrial agriculture. Simply put, the commercialization of food crops and growing produce has created a need for quantity over quality, and the introduction of pesticides and various other methods that rapidize the output of food continues to minimize the nutritional value that should be present in all agriculture. As noted above, maybe the craziest part is the fact that we are mostly aware of the negative results of using such methods, yet have been conditioned to understand and value the ease of availability of products. Thankfully, there seems to be no stopping to at least attempt to educate the general public of this information.
ReplyDeleteIt is without a doubt that education is a crucial factor to improve human sustainability. Prior to reading how food is grown, harvested, and distributed, I was unaware of the chemical effects the food we consume are causing our bodies and the planet. Studies conducted throughout the years have provided substantial data providing information that proves plants grown in fertile soil have more nutrients than those grown in infertile soil. Further investigation reveals that the farming industry failed to account for the nutritional values of growing food and opted for higher yields that would generate more income. Since then, we are now capable of foreseeing what bad eating habits and a bad sustainable agriculture system could do to a society. Thanks to education and research, the shift towards a more sustainable agricultural has commenced. Some advancements towards a more complete balanced sustainable agriculture include using non-GMO products, learning how to regrow certain vegetables after they are eaten to help food waste improvement, learning to grow produce without soil by replacing with rockwool, understanding how plants grow and how to efficiently water/aero produce for better yields. An example of this can be a method called topping, which tricks the plant into having higher yields. (Look at “tomato plants” or hemp.. for an example. Other advancements include vertical farming in areas were sunlight and weather conditions are an issue, leading to having fresh produce nearby and dealing with insane transportation costs. Another interesting fact about replacing soil with rockwool is protecting the planet’s soil erosion, as studies have shown that we have been constantly abusing our motherland.
ReplyDeleteOscar Miguel Gomez
HM-370
The produce available at general supermarkets seems less appealing after learning of how poor their nutrient content can be. Though they are still better than most processed goods, the fact that peas grown in infertile soil have been shown to contain three times less zinc than those grown in fertile soil in a way makes it a processed food. The issue here seems to be the emphasis on profit over people and the planet. If the three parts of the triple bottom line--planet, people, and profit--were in balance, then this issue wouldn't exist. With the amount of topsoil in the world capable of growing crops decreasing daily, one can only wonder what the food we grow in the next 20 years will be like. Will we be eating oranges that contain only traces of vitamin C? Perhaps we already are.
ReplyDelete-Jackson McCants
After reading the blog, I have a new view on Nutrition-sensitive agriculture. In the current eating habits, most people only consider the taste of food, and do not choose food because of higher nutrient density, which leads to The main reason for the current industrial farming methods. I think people need to learn about Nutrition-sensitive agriculture in order to promote the market of organic agricultural products more. We can let the public know how to choose the more nutritious agricultural products correctly through systematic teaching and guidance. First of all, we need to pay attention to the growing environment and soil conditions of agricultural products, because better soil conditions mean that agricultural products are rich in nutrients. And to choose agricultural products that do not use chemicals, because chemical products can affect our health and reduce the nutrients in crops. I think that the development of Nutrition-sensitive agriculture can be promoted only if the public raises the nutritional requirements for agricultural products, and only more market demand can change today's industrial agriculture.
ReplyDelete-Shaofeng Li
HM 370
This is a great share on nutrient density and farming methods. In my own academic research earning a Bachelors in Nutritional Science, I have come across a great deal of evidence supporting improved nutrient quality with use of organic and sustainable methods. The use of circular methods like biofuels, livestock grazing, and others support natural carbon cycles yielding better quality foods and preserving the ecosystems within the soil. Soil preservation is vital for carbon storage, which again is very closely correlated to the outcome of crops.
ReplyDeleteThere are recent Planetary Health Diets such as the one recommended by the Lancet Commission which suggest consuming a majority plant-based diet in addition to minimized meat and dairy consumption. This is due to the significant difference in emissions, and land conservation used by farmers. These diets have also been shown to reduce risk for obesity and diabetes, which makes me wonder why they aren’t more discussed by both the nutrition community and further expressed in dietary guidelines throughout the world. It would take a great deal of reform for industrialized farming, but I definitely think it would make a great impact on the environment and limit risks for future generations adapting.
I find this post to be very interesting when it comes to focusing on the importance of what we input into our bodies, especially when it comes to nutrition and health. At first, I never knew that nutrition levels of fruit and vegetables after being harvested deplete. I can't believe this is something people don't talk about! You can eat healthy and right all day and yet, not be properly nourished due to those foods being 2 weeks old because of distribution. Not only are we reduced of nutrients, but pesticides are also greatly involved into our diets. When involving the four pillars of food security, utilization has been denied to us because the foods we eat do not provide us with an adequate diet! Access to healthy foods is also denied to us when the only thing provided at super markets near to our neighborhoods are these exact ones I am talking about. The way that our shopping habits can help support this nutrition sensitive agriculture would be by shopping at farmer's markets rather than supermarkets. This is because foods from farmer's markets are directly sourced to the consumers and don't have that middle gap of distribution where then, these fruits and vegetables lose their nutrition value. However, this is only one solution when in fact, we need to tackle the bigger issue to be able to provide sustainable, nutritional food to everyone.
ReplyDeleteLuz Zuniga HM 370 Fall 22
ReplyDeleteBefore reading this information, I was not aware that picking a fruit or vegetable before it is ripe intervened with its nutritional value. I knew several fruits were harvested before they were ready to make them available in the supermarkets, yet I did not think there were any consequences to these actions. I also did not know it was grown in infertile soil. Our food is being filled with pesticides and fertilizers which is decreasing our food’s nutrition. This only emphasizes how the current industrial food system only has profit in mind while ignoring the planet and its people. Food that is grown today does not have the same nutritional quality that it had fifty years ago. Our health is declining as well as the health of topsoil used to produce these large quantities of food. Fertilizer and pesticide use is killing off the natural defenses that plants have and making them vulnerable to super bugs. Information on how our food is grown and how this process affects the harvest must be more readily available. We are meeting the needs of our current population, yet we are compromising those of future generations. Sustainable farming methods must be implemented into the system to save our resources. Buying at farmer markets and stores that offer sustainably raised produce does not only help the planet but also our health as they are nutrition sensitive. After reading this post I am more determined on learning where my food comes from and how it is raised.
Brittany Smith
ReplyDeleteI find this article interesting and helpful because the new trend is eating "healthy" and trying out the new fad diets. Some of these diets are not good for you and take a toll on your health. Eating Whole Foods with plenty of nutrients is what it's going to make your body healthy. On the other hand, people like to eat what tastes good and sometimes it's not full of nutrients to fuel their body. I currently don't buy my fruits and vegetables at the farmers markets because I don't have enough time because of going to school and work full time. I tend to make something quick and easy because I'm tired and with this I have gained 20 pounds because the food I was eating did't have any nutrients. I want to start talking to the direct farmers and ask questions about the produce. I want to change my lifestyle for the better. I want to feel healthy and strong.
This post has really opened my eyes to nutrient sensitive agriculture and its connection with sustainable agriculture. As mentioned above, the condition of soil is essential to producing nutritious agriculture. Topsoil, the soil on the surface of Earth, is typically only six inches deep. Its condition is vital to the present and future development of nutritious agriculture. Although filled with so much life, topsoil can be used and abused, specifically by industrial agriculture. This industrial way of producing crops has relied heavily on manipulating the conditions of the topsoil such as the use of pesticides to keep away insects. Sustainable agriculture and nutrient sensitive agriculture go hand and hand and their methods promote rich and fertile soil for generations to come. For example, in its effort to encourage sustainable agriculture, the USDA has been promoting organic farms. These farms must verify that genetically modified organisms, irradiation, prohibited pesticides, sewage sludge, and synthetic fertilizers were not used. As far as our shopping habits promoting nutrient sensitive agriculture, to me its quite simple, buy organic, buy local. Its best not to buy from big produce companies who rely upon harmful industrial agriculture. Buying fair trade as well is a good way to ensure that you are promoting sustainable agriculture. My question is how can we get this precious produce to become more affordable for the general public? I'm optimistic that our consumer culture will change its ways and begin to buy into nutrient sensitive and sustainable agriculture so that future generations can also produce nutritious foods.
ReplyDeleteI was very aware of the over-chemicalization of pesticides and how unnatural our food ends up when we use it, and I also knew that a lot of farms pick plants before they even have all of their nutrients. This information is very useful when you are feeding yourself from your own garden, and I know that this is true information from personal research. What I wasn’t aware of was the loss of development in defense mechanisms in plants and how they are beneficial to us. I also find it interesting how pesticides can cause harmful effects on our antibodies allowing us to get sick easier. I knew that eating sustainable food was better for the environment, but I had no idea how harmful it is to our immune system when we consume processed and chemicalized plants. What are some natural pesticides I can use on my plants in order to maximize nutrients but also keep harmful pests away? This was a very informative article! For me, I will take this information and use it on my own garden and try to educate others on helpful, sustainable tips.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this post, I gained a better understanding of the difference between industrial agriculture and sustainable agriculture. Based on what I learned from one of my class about the sustainable food system, not only do the products that are produced by industrial agriculture shows fewer nutrients compared to organic farming, but it also sometimes cause damage contamination to the soil and water source with toxic chemicals. It is catastrophic to the local ecosystems, which will be a price that will be paid by future generations. I do believe that this information should be educated with the product on the markets for the consumers to have a better understanding of related costs behind the ‘higher price’ they are paying for a sustainable or organic product to help them make their decision when they purchase.
ReplyDelete-Hanqi Lin
ReplyDeleteThere are many labels and certification on produce but what does it all mean? As a consumer myself, I don't understand the labels that are put on food and sometimes labels can be misleading. Labels like organic, Non-GMO, Pasture raised, grass feed, free range and so much more can be overwhelming for a consumer. There are companies that promote themselves as environmentally friendly by having these labels but are using loopholes in the system that say otherwise. In my suitability class I’m slowly learning what some of the labels mean. For example, ‘organic labeling' means that the product must contain at least 95% of the non synthetics growth hormones, antibiotics, and pesticides. Non-GMO is another label that is most commonly seen and it means that it has gone through annual testing on ingredients and facilities. There are labels that can get confusing for example grass fed is great in perspective but if a chicken is only grass fed than that is bad. A chicken eats everything and in order to eat healthy poultry, one needs to raise healthy chickens. With this blog you get to understand the many more labels and the misleading of those labels.
After diving into the nitty-gritty of how our food is grown and harvested, it's clear that the choices we make at the grocery store can directly impact our health and the health of the planet. First off, opting for locally grown, organic produce is a great step. When we choose organic, we're not just avoiding harmful pesticides and fertilizers, but we're also supporting farmers who prioritize soil health and biodiversity. This means we're getting more nutrient-rich food and helping to preserve the environment for future generations. Paying attention to labels like USDA Organic or Non-GMO Project Verified can also help guide our choices towards food that's free from harmful chemicals and genetic modification. Plus, seeking out farmers markets or farm-to-table programs allows us to connect directly with growers who are passionate about sustainable farming practices.
ReplyDeleteBy making these conscious choices in our shopping habits, we're not only nourishing ourselves with healthier, more nutritious food, but we're also playing a part in creating a more sustainable and resilient food system. So let's vote with our wallets and support nutrition-sensitive agriculture every time we hit the grocery store!
Before reading this post I didn't realize how nutrient density in food and mass distribution systems were interconnected. Since produce must be shipped and stocked within stores, the fruits and vegetables are picked weeks before they can fully ripen, which does not allow for them to reach their maximum nutrient density. Modern agriculture also relies purely on synthetic fertilizers which do not provide as much nutrients as organic practices and composting. I can clearly see why organic farming is such a healthier option for consumers. Not only can organic farming lead to healthier foods, but it can also help restore the local ecosystems by not using pesticides/herbicides that kill off local species of insects and plants that are beneficial to the environment.
ReplyDeleteZhiqing Jiang - Sustainable organic local agriculture can provide higher levels of nutrient dense produces for people, promote environmentally friendly, and stability. I always choose to buy USDA certified produces. Due to the produces grown in organic fertile soil without chemical pesticides, the produces will contain higher levels of phytochemicals for providing more health benefits such as antioxidants to anti diseases. I always eat the produces in season and the produces from locally grown both can reduce the food waste caused by spoilage or low quality during long time transportation on distributed and delivered. The produces get harvested before it ripe, either be vine ripe or ripened off the vine. I also prefer to buy tomatoes on the vine because vine ripe tomatoes will have better quality and higher nutrient density. I engage and promote growing foods at home or yard that this individual behavior also considers sustainable, promote to eat the ugly or the imperfect fruits and vegetables, harvest after it ripened, and can enough to enjoy the freshness of the fruits and vegetables.
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