Enviromental Impacts of "The Big Meal"

In this weeks' post, I will focus on the spaghetti portion of my "Big Meal" and it's primary ingredient, wheat, and break down some it's environmental impacts. 

Spaghetti noodles are made primarily of wheat, which in the United States is grown mostly in the mid latitudes, Great Plains, and the North Carolina Plain. More of the earth's surface is covered by wheat than any other food crop, which means that it contributes largely to agriculture. In the U.S., wheat is used more extensively as feed for livestock rather than human consumption. There is a possibility that the wheat used in this meal came from Asia or China, where high yields of hybrid varieties are grown.

Industrialization and other technological revolutions led the way to increased productivity and population growth in today's developed and developing countries. Larger quantities of wheat can be produced with machinery than through the use of human labor. Machinery contributes to air pollution due to use of fossil fuels and the fumes emitted from farm machinery, such as tractors.

Agriculture also contributes to environmental issues such as soil erosion.  Soil erosion is the world's single largest source of water pollution due to the amount of pollutants such as pesticides and fertilizers that infiltrate the soil. In many parts of the world, agriculture affects groundwater supplies because water is pumped from aquifers faster than it can be replenished.

On the other hand, the advancement of the agricultural industry reduced the need for farm labor and afforded members of society new opportunities to explore other trades and areas of interest. Without these advancements, our days would consist of farm work, as we would still rely on subsistence farming. This form of agriculture does not provide much profit, and basically yields enough food for us to feed our own families.

This exercise gave me a new appreciation for the advancements in technology that came way before my time. Because of these breakthroughs, many of us in the U.S. are able to enjoy the fruit of commercial agriculture, as we work in diverse professions, attend schools and college, and enjoy various forms of recreation.

Felicia