Food Production

History

• 2020
|

2020 Western American Wildfires: California, Oregon, Colorado

Throughout the second half of 2020, wildfires ripped across the American West, specifically California, Oregon, and Colorado.

• 1916
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Estate Tax

In the modern political debate, perhaps no tax provision has generated as much controversy as the estate tax.

• 1933
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Farm Subsidies

Farm subsidies are payments and other forms of support extended by the U.S. federal government to certain farmers and agribusinesses.

• 2018
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Agriculture Improvement Act

In 2018, President Trump signed the bipartisan Agriculture Improvement Act, generating praise and backlash from both sides of the aisle.

Introduction

The production, transportation, and distribution of food, in addition to the storage of food waste, leave a significant carbon footprint. Researchers estimate that food production and waste are responsible for over one-third of human-made carbon emissions. However, food production also comes down to a philosophical and political debate around localism, farmer subsidies, and taxes.

Food Production

Rebound Tech

The debates around food production policies can be traced to forest management, taxation, and welfare. Right-leaning individuals argue that politicians are pursuing climate policies that harm farmers. Tariffs and estate taxes had traditionally been the primary sources of federal revenue, both of which disproportionately burden farmers, leaving the wealth of industrialists relatively untouched. As for wildfires, the California Committee on Agriculture estimated that direct economic losses totaled about $70 million and caused an additional $100 million in loss of farm dwellings. Lastly, the debate surrounding farmer subsidies continues to fuel division and unity, depending on whether a politician has a rural or urban constituency.

Climate Activism

Climate activists argue that food production, from beginning to end, has substantial environmental consequences. They point to land conversion, which includes methods like deforestation, is necessary to create sufficient land for farming and ranching and has been a significant driver of global warming since the invention of agriculture. The actual production of food releases various levels of carbon, depending on the type. Red meat products are responsible for the most carbon emissions, with 17.7 kilograms of carbon dioxide created per 50 grams of beef. Lastly, food waste alone is responsible for 8 to 10% of global carbon emissions. The collective release of carbon emissions from food production globally will reportedly result in a 1.5°C increase in 30 to 40 years and nearly 2°C by the turn of the century.

SSL

The Green New Deal marked the first major discussion around food production's links to climate change in Congress. In general, both producers and consumers of food products must be a part of the solution. For example, some nations are beginning to protect carbon-rich peatlands that farmers often convert for agricultural purposes. Sustainable farming methods are necessary to tackle the carbon footprint of food production. These methods include stopping the use of chemical fertilizers and minimizing land conversion. Supporters of this movement change their diets to include climate-friendly products to minimize adverse effects on the environment. Studies have shown that through buying less meat and dairy and eating locally sourced food can reduce an individual’s carbon footprint by roughly 66%.

NPR

Climate policies with regards to farming are often pushed by left-leaning politicians to reduce the impact of farming practices. However, these policies can cause notable distain from farmers who often see themselves as being painted 'problems' that needs a 'solution'. When he Dutch government said in 2022 that it aimed to reduce the country's greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 to 49% of 1990 levels by cutting livestock herds, Dutch farmers began a nationwide protest arguing for their livelihoods. The protests eventually led to police officers firing targeted warning shots at the tractors and protesters.

Tysons Meat Shortage

Time

During the Covid-19 pandemic, labor shortages in meat production staff began to cause price increases due to heightened demand. However, this would not be the end of price increases from large meat distributors like Tyson: between July and September (Q3), inflation increased by 14%. When inflation occurs, the price of goods increases to match the value of the dollar. Tyson increased its average price for pork by 39.3% in Q3, while it raised beef and chicken prices 11.6% and 15.6%, respectively. Due to these increases, Tyson increased prices for restaurants, meaning that dining out at your favorite restaurant became more expensive as well (Cost-push inflation).

The Biden administration responded to these price increases by campaigning against “anti-competitive” behavior by “Big Meat” businesses. They believed inflation in the meat market was due to the price increases of Tyson’s products, and reducing the control of the meat industry by Tyson would remedy inflated prices. On the other hand, Tyson stated inflation was forcing them to increase costs to keep their business running. Tyson’s problems were only been compounded by their chickens underperforming. With fewer chickens being born, the supply of chicken was reduced, but the demand for chicken remained the same; this causes prices to increase as even places like McDonald’s could not give their customers chicken.

1. How realistic is reducing red meat and dairy intake to reduce one’s carbon footprint?
2. How should local farming be promoted as a solution to food transportation and waste?
3. List the ways you can reduce your own food waste.