Local food efforts respond to urban health crisis and industrial agriculture’s harm

Evidence

These local efforts are directly addressing the severe public health issues plaguing urban areas as well as the social violence inherent in an economic system that leaves impoverished communities to starve, or exist on cheap processed sugar and fat. Further, this localization of the agricultural system directly addresses the adverse effects on the land and animals of conventional agriculture. It may not yet be enough to thoroughly change or stop the huge corporate power behind our current food system, but it is demonstrating that people can successfully say no to processed food, return to ancient methods of feeding themselves, their neighbors and their families, and live much more healthy and happy lives. — Rebecca A. Martusewicz, Jeff Edmundson, and John Lupinacci, EcoJustice Education, 1821

Categorization

• XREF: Ties directly to the ch. 35 critique of industrial monoculture agriculture and to food-security threads across the Eco-Justice course. — connects to: North American produce travels an average of 1,500 miles to consumers. — Rebecca A. Martusewicz, Jeff Edmundson, and John Lupinacci, EcoJustice Education: Toward Diverse,…, 1429; Agriculture harmed health yet spread because it fed more people.; Early farming worsened health yet sustained larger populations than foraging did. — Norenzayan, Ara, Big gods - how religion transformed…, 390

Broader Connections

• Agriculture harmed health yet spread because it fed more people. #corroborates (0.75)
• Early farming worsened health yet sustained larger populations than foraging did. #corroborates (0.75) — Norenzayan, Ara, Big gods - how religion transformed…, 390