Based on my own personal food audit, my three chosen food items have traveled more than the average distance of most food as noted above by the Worldwatch Institute. The bananas were imported all the way from Guatemala (Figure 1.1), the grapes were grown in California (Figure 1.2), and the rice was grown all the way from Thailand (Figure 1.3). This is not sustainable at all, as my food had to be transported over long distances and even longer supply chains to reach me. This choice to consume food from far-away sources means I am actively supporting a powerful industry that has consequences on local growers, regional economies and global environmental conditions.
Who actually has authority over the food industry? Generally, only a small handful of companies control a large percentage of the market. This tight hold on the industry gives little room for independent and family farms to thrive. An example is Monsanto …show more content…
As most of my energy usage is communal, it is important to take note of where I am consuming electricity. Colgate University states that our electricity is obtained from hydroelectricity (Colgate University, n.d.). While environmental-friendly sources of electricity are often lauded as ‘cleaner’, they also have their own environmental downfalls (Lehigh University, n.d.). For example, hydroelectricity has serious ecological impacts. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists (n.d.), construction of hydroelectric dams often floods the surrounding areas, resulting in habitat loss and fragmentation. A loss of habitats will also mean a loss in species diversity, as this can lower population numbers. While all forms of energy production have effects on every scale, energy consumption at Colgate is more evident in the environment regionally, especially within the areas surrounding the hydroelectric