In recent years, people have been exposed to a wide selection of food and ingredients which have been transported across the world. In my perspective, this trend brings more significant benefits over drawbacks.
One of the most glaring downsides of transporting goods across the globe is high food mileage. It refers to the distance foods travel from where they are produced to where they are consumed. Such long distances can translate to an excessive amount of gas emissions emitted from vehicles required for transportation, resulting in large carbon footprint and environmental degradation. For example, fuel-powered ships used to send exported goods to different countries over a long distance may change water temperature, affecting thousands of marine species and exacerbating ocean pollution. However, I believe that this issue can be mitigated by the enforcement of stricter marine regulations regarding water transportation.
Notwithstanding these detrimental impacts on the environment, I opine that the benefits of global food transportation can outweigh the drawbacks. On the individual level, people can gain access to various types of food around the world, which may improve their health by diversifying their diets and providing essential nutrients. On the societal level, food exportation and importation will possibly boost the economic development of both countries and strengthen their bilateral cooperation. For example, the high demand for rice in European countries has boosted employment and provided stable income for rice producers in the exporting countries, namely Thailand and India.
In conclusion, despite the environmental concerns, I subscribe to the view that the advantages of global transportation of food and ingredients are considerable. Access to diverse nutrients positively impacts people’s health, and economic gains from global trade can foster the mutual development and relation of participating countries.