The food travels thousands of miles from farm to consumer some people think it would be better to our environment and economy if people only ate local produced food. What extent do the advantages outweigh disadvantages?
In the age of globalisation, where most commodities are available worldwide, our food consumption habits have also changed. With easily available imported foods at every supermarket, it has been for some time a topic of debate whether local foods are a better option than imported foods. In this essay, I will elucidate how local food consumption should be encouraged.
With different varieties of food items, people have got a wide range of options to choose from. Increasing imports have enabled people to try different foods and cuisines from all over the world. But there are several reasons why this practice has several disadvantages.
Here are several benefits of consuming local food-
Healthier than imported foods – Imported foods are packaged, shipped and then delivered. The time between the packaging and consuming the food is so much, that the food loses most of its nutritional value by the time it’s cooked.
Good for the environment – Importing food across the world has credited to the increase in global warming. The energy, gases and pollution caused are enormous. Also, the popularity of local foods encourages local farming, which in turn increases open space and healthy environment.
Beneficial for the economy – Buying homegrown food supports the local farmers and businesses. A majority of the money given to purchase imported food goes the supplier and the manufacturer. It doesn’t help the local farmers.
Preserves genetic diversity in plants – A plant or a crop is grown in a particular area can be preserved only through local farming. In case, where imported foods become dominant, the plant species found in the particular area might face extinction.
In conclusion, even though the import and export of foods open up the economy, local foods are still a better alternative than foreign food for a healthy living and a safe and prosperous society. The benefits of homegrown food surpass any other.
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