Food, Agriculture

Research has shown that fair-trade transactions — in which relatively wealthy global consumers purchase goods produced by less affluent producers — appeal to consumers’ ethical and altruistic impulses and can provide much-needed resources to producers. Inquiry has been limited, though, on the extent to which overall living standards among producers are truly improved. Marketing claims about the purported benefits of fair trade and its contribution to “ethical globalization” rest on related premises.

While the full impact of climate change has yet to be felt, agencies such as NASA, the EPA, and NOAA have chronicled its initial effects over the last 30 years. In addition to rising sea levels and shrinking glaciers, evidence includes modifications in species habitats. Coral suffer as temperatures rise, while other less welcome species can flourish.

At the 2009 U.N. Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, concern focused on the global climate impacts of land-use changes such as deforestation. While the conference sought to establish regulations on emissions resulting from land-use changes only for rapidly growing countries, growth and urbanization in more developed nations also plays a role.

Previous attempts at quantifying the scope of food allergies among U.S. children have produced a wide range of estimates, from 2% to 8%. From a public health standpoint, getting more details on the main causes of causes of food allergies, and precise demographics of those afflicted, is crucial.

Though fad diets and new “miracle” techniques for weight loss are regularly touted in American popular culture, health professionals have consistently maintained that eating moderate portions and exercising regularly is the only sure way to ensure a trim waistline and good health. However, exactly what kinds of foods and lifestyles produce the best outcomes remains the subject of debate.

Scientific studies have suggested that two chemicals used in food packaging, Bisphenol A (BPA) and Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), can disrupt human endocrine systems and cause birth defects, autism and hyperactivity. While the adverse effects of BPA have been studied, the contribution of dietary exposure to total intake has not been fully investigated.

With obesity on the rise across America, particularly among lower-income individuals, it has been suggested that part of the problem may be lack of access to healthy foods. Many low-income housing areas are inundated with fast food restaurants and often lack a regular supermarket that offers fresh fruits and vegetables. The term “food deserts” is increasingly used to characterize such areas, but it is not clear if this oversimplifies the problem of obesity for certain communities.

Childhood obesity has more than tripled in the last 30 years, and its causes appear to be a complex mix of genetic, behavioral, and environmental factors. Many assume that the consumption patterns and marketing relating to sugary drinks —  a well-known target in recent years for those campaigning to end childhood obesity — might have changed because of sustained scrutiny.

Economists studying rural Africa have found that as income-generating activities shift from agriculture to more diverse types of employment in other sectors, personal income and national economic indicators rise. Few large-scale studies, however, have tested this finding.