Nowadays, due to the widespread availability of imported food from across the globe, it has become an increasingly common feature of modern consumption in many countries. While this trend has both pros and cons, I firmly believe the benefits outweigh the drawbacks because of the following reasons.
On the negative side, buying transported items can heighten the risk of environmental issues and health problems. Long-distance transportation, particularly by air and sea, is responsible for high carbon emissions and increased pollution, thereby contributing directly to climate change. Also, fuel-powered ships can affect thousands of marine species and exacerbate ocean pollution. In addition, those imported products need to be treated with chemicals and preservatives, which make them less healthy to consume.
Notwithstanding these detrimental impacts on the environment, I believe that global food transportation brings more significant advantages than disadvantages. First, customers can benefit from unprecedented variety and year-round convenience. For instance, regardless of local growing seasons, Vietnamese people can enjoy cherries which hardly grow in Vietnam’s harsh weather conditions. Moreover, the global food trade creates significant economic opportunities and market expansion. This trend not only supports local farmers but also generates substantial national revenue. For example, coffee exported from Brazil has occupied from 35% to 45% in the large-scale coffee market in recent years, resulting in a more stable economic foundation for the community.
In conclusion, while there are some merits to consuming products transported globally, like the diversity and better economy, there are undeniable downsides such as environmental damage and health issues. In my opinion, I still strongly argue that the positive sides outweigh the negative aspects.