The globalization has driven the mass import of food products around the world, providing access to a wide range of foods for world population. Although the transportation of these products fuel environmental issues further, I believe it a largely positive development as it supplies ‘food desert’ region with sufficient nutrition.
Admittedly, the rise of transportation of food products has put massive pressure on environment. Unlike other goods, majority of foods are susceptible to climate conditions and tend to expire within relatively limited periods. The need to deliver them within highly short period requires the use of fast mode of transportation such as plains. Being fuel-hungry, plains consume tons of petrol to travel long distances, thereby producing massive amount of greenhouse gas emissions. This exacerbates an already pressing climate change issues, which is leading to irreversible consequences.
However, I largely consider it to be a positive development, as it supplies the essential food resources for regions with food scarcity. Despite the improvement in agriculture systems, majority of lands remain infertile due to harsh climate conditions such as drought, water contamination, and unstable weather, which strains local food production. In the past, regions solely depended on local agriculture, which was insufficient to provide for its population. However, globalization enabled food businesses to enter global market, ensuring access to sufficient and rich-in-nutrition food products, even in such ‘food deserts’.
In conclusion, the increased import of foods products provides access to people a variety of food options. While it puts pressure on environment, further driving climate change, I believe that it is largely a positive development, as it ensures accessibility of food in ‘food deserts’.