Nowadays, globalization has profoundly influenced numerous aspects of life, especially the delivery of products across countries. While some people argue that importing food is of paramount importance, others still maintain that countries should independently produce their food. In this essay, I will discuss both views and demonstrate that the disadvantages of food importation outweigh the advantages.
On the one hand, some individuals believe that importing food from other countries has its own distinct merits. One of the most significant benefits is that residents can have access to the diversity of food. Not all countries are suitable for some types of food, especially vegetables or herding cattle, which necessitates suitable weather and natural conditions. To illustrate, without importing food, people in Africa may not have the opportunity to try grapes, which are unique fruits in temperate regions. As a result, cross-border trade offers a diverse range of food and culinary experiences for residents in different countries, offsetting domestic agricultural deficits.
On the other hand, I still think that the importation of food may impose detrimental effects to the environment and the society as a whole. First and foremost, the transportation of food across countries can contribute to environmental degradation. The importation and exportation may require air freight or maritime transport, which use up hundreds of tons of non-renewable resources and emit an astronomical amount of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. In the long-term, the cultivation of cross-border trade may result in threatening the environment, directly affecting people’s overall well-being and quality of life. Secondly, overreliance on importing products from other countries may risk exacerbating food security. If a country excessively depends on others’ production, when unexpected circumstances occur, such as incited political conflicts or higher taxes imposed, it can immediately face a food crisis. Therefore, relying on other countries for essential products can deprive a country of their autonomy and power to cater to their citizens’ demand, gradually leading to the erosion of trust for governments and the widened gap between the affluent and the disadvantaged.
In conclusion, although importing food from other countries can broaden people’s horizons and experiences, being independent of producing food for a country’s requirement is more remarkable in light of environmental impacts of delivery food and the food security. Consequently, I believe that the advantages pale in comparison with disadvantages, encouraging governments to implement eligible policies to ensure sustainable food provision.