Globalization of Processed Food
Over the years, there has been massive increase in the international trade of processed foods. Sales from foreign investors involved in food manufacturing have been recorded to exceed the sales on agricultural commodities. Globalization has brought about increased movement of people and goods from one place to another. This has facilitated invention of products that could be available in the market at any time. Developing countries have enhanced the adoption of widespread exportation and growth strategies, which has in turn promoted the economic potential of their food processing sectors. Many people even in the rural areas are quickly adopting the consumption of processed foods, soft drinks and bottled water (Hedberg, and Hirsch, 2006). This method has enhanced the transportation of these products over long distances, which have changed the demand chain. Retail businesses in this sector have become the key players in the global markets, as they are involved in the production and distribution areas. Similarly, farmers have intensified the activities, which have incidentally changed the markets. Scientists have also developed food products, which are fast growing in order to meet the huge demand of processed foods (Hedberg, and Hirsch, 2006). Globalization of processed food has various effects, both positive and negative.
On the same point, however, it is largely argued that globalization of the agribusiness in terms of processed foods has brought about huge implications in the development and health of people in developing countries. Some of these implications range from: small farmers have been engaged in more commercialized agri-food systems across the globe where the marketers and retail industries portray significant changes in the trade as they define the emergence and evolution of agribusiness across the world (McCullough, et al, 2008). The other effect derived from globalization of processed food is that it has enabled availability of food in the regions that are affected by calamities. It has also created opportunities for the participation of small firms where greater inclusion of individuals within networks has increased the diversity of participants. This has facilitated the aspect of eliminating the barriers of physical distance and social standing. Developing countries have been given the opportunity to participate in the free trade zones that are more efficient and enable them to make better decisions in terms of integration into the markets (McCullough, et al, 2008).
Another positive effect is brought out in the way globalization of processed foods has brought about innovations and inventions in technology, which have expanded extensive research for enhancing production in the agricultural sector. This aims at developing and enhancing the needs of poor farmers and consumers developing countries (Hedberg, and Hirsch, 2006). It has also enhanced the rates of food security, nutrition and health. Foreign investors have facilitated the research and invention of genetically modified foods, which can adapt to the climatic conditions in the developing conditions. These factors have enabled industrialization of food products as most nations have engaged in the adoption of the global structures that increase their participation in the free market. The direct foreign investment policy has enabled more concentration of the controlling food and agriculture. The major inputs such as energy, fertile, seeds, involved in food processing activities have been made available to farmers and producers in this sector (Hedberg, and Hirsch, 2006).
Despite the positive effects characterized by globalization of processed foods, there have been increased competitions in the markets, where organizations have intensified their activities to capture the markets. This has brought about many negative effects that bring about losses and deaths of people. Some of these negative effects include spread of diseases across the world, processing of food products that are harmful for human consumption, just to mention but a few (Levin Institute, 2013). It is a great thing that globalization of processed food has led to increased participation in the markets but it is also important to consider the effects that emerge. Many of the processed food products have brought about the spread and outbreak of diseases as they are infested in the foods. People transporting these products have also carried diseases from one place to another. For instance, globalization has led to the spread of diseases such as the mad cow disease that affected people in Europe (McCullough, et al, 2008).
Similarly, there have been other negative implications, where processed food has been found with diseases as they are being transported across the world. Seafood has in many instances been identified to carry cholera bacteria during the transportation from Latin America to Europe and other regions (Levin Institute, 2013). This occurs because government food safety agencies have failed in their part to regulate the products that are transported to other regions. Another occurrence brought about by globalization of processed foods is that there is an increase in diseases acquired from consuming these foods. Many people have been diagnosed with disease such as obesity, diabetes after consuming processed foods. Competition in the processing of food products has led to the massive use of input substances that enable the foods to grow at a faster rate. These substances are ingested in the plants and animals and once they are, mature enough they are processed for consumption. After humans take the food, the input substances take effects on them (Levin Institute, 2013).
On the other hand, competition in the globalization of processed food is a negative effects s it has led to people using different types of products. For instance, in Europe there have been many cases of horse meat used in beef burgers. This affects the developmental gesture of development purported by globalization in processed foods. Research has indicated that most of these products sold to people have shown products made up of about 29.1% non-bovine meat (Workshop Globalization of Food Systems). This has brought about fear because people doubt what is contained in the processed foods. These incidents have brought about the decline in accountability and transparency in the processing of food products. Similarly, another challenge that emerges is the fact that the globalization of processed foods only favors the key players involved in the production and processing aspects. The other areas that are not involved still remain poor as the challenge of food insecurity remains a problem.
In addition, corruption in the market has increased significantly as the firms meant to cater for assessing the quality of the products are tipped off to allow products to venture into the business. This may lead to illegal activities as terrorists may utilize this opportunity to attack other nation. The widespread interaction activities had brought about many cases of immigration where traders move to one country in the name of global business and end up relocation there. Many markets have been perforated as foreigners bring about many changes in the economy that affect the exchange rates (Workshop Globalization of Food Systems).
However, regardless of these effects there is still hope that the globalization of processed foods can bring about positive implications. This can be achieved through changes in the market and the activities carried out by the key players. It would also involve implementation of domestic policies that would elevate the negative effects and ensure growth. These effects include the provision of extensive research and extension of products that would diversify the potential for growth. It would also require intense strategies that promote the coordination in the agro-business and the retailers in terms of the processes of supply and purchase of the products (Levin Institute, 2013). It would also require incentives put in place by the governments where cooperatives and contracts would be assigned to farmers and producers. On the other hand, the institutions involved in this sector should be strengthened to ensure food quality and safety. This is where the food safety agencies play their role in ensuring that the food produced is quality and meets to the terms and conditions given.
Similarly, farmers and producers especially in the developing countries should have facilitated access to credit and incomes in order to allow them manage their resources effectively. This would also allow management and regulation of prices, which would eliminate risks (Ruane, 2013). In addition to this, developing countries should facilitate the ownership of land by small producers and landless workers, which would in turn bring about effective policies and schemes that would allow increased production. International investors should also invest in these sectors in order to increase the productivity and eliminate the over-reliance in developing countries. The global industries should increase their social policies and employ more people in order to curb the issue of poverty and food insecurity (Ruane, 2013). Technology should be embraced widely across all sectors especially in the production process to ensure quality products that reach the market.
In conclusion, globalization of processed foods has led to the increase in transportation of goods and services from areas across the world. This has led to the wide spread of infectious diseases through increased global travel, food-borne diseases, disasters in the public health systems and so on (Levin Institute, 2013). These changes from domestic farming to industrialized activities have increased changes in the cultural and social amenities. It has enabled the modes of urbanization in many areas and increased trade in many sectors. However, these activities have led to the spread of diseases to many people and promoted the transfer of medical activities across the world. HIV/AIDS have spread more to other regions because many people travel more in the name of trade (McCullough, et al, 2008). These factors have also boosted the health sectors across the world. Apparently, the negative effects seem to out-weight the positive ones, which lead to the conclusion that globalization of processed foods, has led to severe effects on people as well as the industry at large. It has led to the emergence of diseases across regions that are far away from the original habitant.
References
Hedberg, Craig W. and Hirsch H.N. (2006). Annotation: Why Food borne Disease Surveillance is Critical to the Safety of our Food Supply. American Journal of Public Health. 86(8), 1076-1077.
Levin Institute (2013). How Does Globalization Relate to Health | Globalization101. Retrieved from http://www.globalization101.org/how-does-globalization-relate-to-health-2
McCullough, E. B., Pingali, P. L., Stamoulis, K. G., & Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2008). The transformation of agri-food systems: Globalization, supply chains and smallholder farmers. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
Ruane, Lauren G.; Ruane, Daniel M (2013). Producing & Consuming Processed Foods: A Critical-Thinking Exercise. American Biology Teacher,, 75(3), 220-221.
Workshop Globalization of Food Systems (n.d). Impact on Food Security and Nutrition (2004).Globalization of food systems in developing countries: Impact on food security and nutrition; Workshop "Globalization of Food Systems: Impact on Food Security and Nutrition" in Rome, Italy from 8 to 10 October 2003. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
