Reasons for Lack of Revolt Against US Food Industry
Fear of Corporations
What reforms did the farmers' revolt of the late nineteenth century seek?
The farmers' revolt of the late nineteenth century moved from protest to politics as the farmers aimed to address their economic hardships with protective legislation, such as tariffs. As reported by the Lumen Learning website (on lumenlearning.com, 2019), this effort also included a platform of monetary reform, direct election of Senators, and other reforms. In 1896, the Populist Party was created to advocate for these political changes.
What caused the Peasants' Revolt of 1381?
The Peasants Revolt of 1381 was the first great popular rebellion in English history, caused by the imposition of the unpopular poll tax of 1380 and the growing economic discontent since the middle of the century. Mentioned in Britannica.com, it drew support from several sources and included well-to-do artisans. It had an impact on the labor movement in England as it shifted the balance of power between laborers and landowners.
What is causing the global worker shortage?
Experts are warning of a global worker shortage that is set to worsen in the coming years, with significant impacts on economies in the US, UK and the Eurozone. Cited on CNBC (2021), a combination of an aging population, lack of immigration and increasing automation are contributing to the labor shortages. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the US alone will need to fill 7.5 million new jobs by 2026.
Lack of Education
What weaknesses of the "just in time" manufacturing model have been revealed by the current global shortage of essential goods?
The global shortage of essential goods during the coronavirus pandemic has revealed the weaknesses of the "just in time" manufacturing model, according to the New York Times. When the first wave hit, countries like the US were unable to quickly produce enough ventilators due to lack of capacity. In addition, this shortage has caused a ripple effect across global supply chains.
What factors are causing the food and drink industry's labor shortage?
The food and drink industry is facing a long-term shortage of around half a million workers, according to the Food and Drink Federation (FDF), on bbc.com (2021). This is due to a combination of factors such as Brexit, increased demand, and a lack of migrant labor.
How will the Covid pandemic affect student learning?
The shortage of teachers due to the Covid pandemic will have a negative impact on student learning in the long run, according to experts. President Biden has proposed a US$9bn (£6.8bn) plan to address this crisis, as reported by BBC News in 2021. In 2019, the US Department of Education estimated that there were over 200,000 teacher vacancies across the country.
Low Public Awareness
What can we do to reduce food waste and loss?
The International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste is an opportunity to raise awareness of the issue and to call for collective action to reduce the amount of food waste and loss, according to the United Nations. This day is an opportunity for both public and private sector actors to come together and take steps to reduce food waste and loss. Recent studies have shown that up to one third of all food produced is lost or wasted.
How has poor nutrition affected the health and wealth of the economically disadvantaged?
Poor nutrition caused by food subsidies, which favour processed and industrial meat over fruits and vegetables, has had a dramatic effect on the health and wealth of the economically disadvantaged. An info from the Food Revolution Network (foodrevolution.org), the price of processed foods and industrial meat has decreased by 20-30% over the last four decades, while the price of fruits and vegetables has increased by 40%. This discrepancy in pricing has had a major impact on health outcomes for those with limited economic resources.
Do consumers have the right to expect safe food?
Consumers have the right to expect safe and high-quality food, and to voice their opinions about food control procedures, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in 2018. Governments and industry must work together to ensure that the food supply remains safe and of a high quality.
Cultural Norms
What role do social and cultural norms play in governing behavior?
Social and cultural norms are important for governing appropriate behavior and shared beliefs in a specific group or culture. As reported by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, these norms offer standards for appropriate and inappropriate behavior among people, and are highly influential in interactions. Understanding the underlying social and cultural norms can help create strategies to address them.
What characterized America during the 1950s?
The 1950s was a defining period in American history due to the post-World War II economic boom, the start of the Cold War, and the civil rights movement. Mentioned in HISTORY.com, "America at this moment" was characterized by a strong sense of optimism and progress. This decade also saw the creation of the Interstate Highway System, which allowed for increased mobility and travel across the United States.
Cultural norms play a vital role in shaping individual behavior, with expectations and rules that differ across cultures often leading to misunderstandings. Via Global Cognition, cultural norms are learned and reinforced from parents, friends, teachers and others while growing up in a society. Understanding the impact of cultural norms can help to foster better communication, understanding, and respect between cultures. Research has shown that these norms are associated with outcomes such as trust, cooperation, and economic growth.
Undersupply of Healthy Food Options
What is food insecurity?
Food insecurity, defined by the UN FAO, is a situation of lacking secure access to sufficient amounts of safe and nutritious food for a healthy life. According to Our World in Data (2020), 15 percent of the world's population is affected by this issue, which can be caused by the unavailability of food, unaffordable food, and unequal distribution. Data also shows that the highest levels of food insecurity are in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
Do you eat a balanced diet?
A healthy diet consists of at least 400g of fruit and vegetables per day, excluding potatoes, sweet potatoes, cassava and other starchy roots, as well as legumes, nuts and whole grains, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2020. Eating a balanced diet is essential for good health.
What are the environmental and public health impacts of industrialized farming in the US?
Industrialized farming practices in the US have been shown to have significant negative impacts on the environment and public health, as evidenced by FoodPrint's research. As stated by a report by the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future, released in 2018, the industrial food system is responsible for the majority of greenhouse gas emissions from the US food system. It can lead to soil degradation, water contamination, and air pollution.
Limited Access to Information
What initiatives does the USDA support to reduce global food insecurity?
USDA supports global food security through various initiatives in order to reduce the amount of people without access to a sufficient supply of nutritious and safe food. Attributed to the USDA website (on usda.gov, 2020), they provide support for improved market information, statistics and analysis, as well as basic and applied research and in-country capacity building. A recent study found that in 2020, 870 million people around the world still do not have access to a sufficient supply of nutritious and safe food.
What is the fundamental principle of food safety?
Consumers have the right to expect safe and high quality food, and they should be able to voice their opinions regarding government and industry food control procedures. As reported by the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization), this is a fundamental principle in ensuring the safety of the food supply. Recent surveys have revealed that consumer confidence in the food industry is higher when there is an open dialogue between consumers and food producers.
What factors contribute to social revolutions?
The study concluded that economic development, regime type, and state ineffectiveness are the three most important factors that explain the onset of social revolutions, according to a research conducted by SAGE Journals in 2014. These findings confirm that social revolutions are often caused by a combination of factors within the state, such as levels of economic development, the type of regime, and the effectiveness of the government. It is important to note that these revolutions can have a wide range of outcomes, from peaceful reforms to violent and destabilizing upheavals.
Economic Inequality
What policies have led to the rise of economic inequality in the US?
The rise of economic inequality in the US is due to policies favoring the wealthy and inadequate protection for workers, according to a report by the University of Michigans LSA Department in 2021. This has resulted in an increase in unemployment rates and a decrease in wages for the majority of workers. The issue is compounded by tax policies that allow the wealthy to pay less than their fair share.
What causes hunger?
Hunger is caused by maldistribution, poverty, and a lack of democracy, according to Real Food Media on realfoodmedia.org. In today's world, even after diverting much of the worlds grain and soy to animal feed and non-food uses like biofuel, the world still produces about 50 percent more calories than is needed to feed every person on the planet.
What impact does the wealth gap have on America?
The wealth gap in America could lead to a revolt, as demonstrated by the recent nationwide fast food worker strikes in 2013. Forbes reported on this issue, noting that the increasing disparity between the rich and the poor is a major cause for concern. Mentioned in a 2017 report from the Federal Reserve, the top 10% of Americans now control 77% of the country's wealth.
Poor Nutrition Education
How can poor nutrition among children in developing countries be addressed?
Poor nutrition among children is the primary health problem in developing countries due to the existing social and economic inequalities. As reported by the study published by the National Institutes of Health in 2011, this issue can be addressed by reducing unemployment and urban migration through rural and village level development. It is essential for such programs to be tailored to the needs and desires of the local community.
Does poor nutrition in childhood affect health?
Poor nutrition in childhood is associated with a range of short-term and long-term adverse consequences, according to a study conducted by the National Institutes of Health in 2000. This study found that lower incomes are correlated with poor nutrition in all stages of life, from lower rates of breastfeeding to higher intakes of saturated fatty acids and lower intakes of antioxidant nutrients. Access to healthy foods and nutrition education can help reduce the effects of poverty on nutrition.
How is the lack of nutrition education in medical schools impacting doctors' ability to advise patients?
Medical schools are failing to provide adequate nutrition education, with most students spending less than 1 percent of lecture time on the topic, according to a report published by the Harvard Food Law and Policy Clinic. This lack of attention to the importance of nutrition for health and wellness is impacting medical students' ability to understand and advise patients about the power of food as medicine. Studies have shown that nutrition education can improve patient outcomes, especially in cases related to chronic diseases.
Unregulated Advertising
What economic challenges did American farmers face in the late nineteenth century?
American farmers faced significant economic challenges in the late nineteenth century due to domestic overproduction and foreign competition, which caused agricultural prices to steadily decline. This led to a revolt of the farmers, who complained about the high rates charged by grain elevator operators and railroads for storage and transportation of crops. (CliffsNotes, 2021) These issues were further compounded by the lack of government intervention, leading to further economic hardship for many farmers.
What changes did the Industrial Revolution bring to the US?
The Industrial Revolution in the United States was a period of major changes in transportation, manufacturing, and technology that lasted over a century and changed the way products were produced. According to Classroom Materials from the Library of Congress, this revolution saw a move from home businesses with handcrafted goods to machine-aided production in factories. Recent studies have shown that this period of industrialization had a lasting impact on American society.
What are the drawbacks of the Industrial Revolution?
The Industrial Revolution brought about radical modernization and mechanization, however it also had some drawbacks, such as the exploitation of workers, pollution, and a widening of the wealth gap. An info from Investopedia (on investopedia.com, 2021), the Industrial Revolution has been linked to child labor, poverty wages, and overworking of employees. The rise in industrial activity has caused a significant increase in air, water, and land pollution. Finally, the Industrial Revolution has contributed to a widening of the wealth gap between those involved in industrial production and those who are not.
Social Pressure
How is the energy and food shortage affecting global stability?
The increasing social unrest caused by energy and food shortages is a major threat to global stability. Via Forbes, the U.S. oil industry is 1 million barrels of oil per day short, contributing to this issue. The World Bank estimates that over 124 million people are at risk of extreme poverty due to rising food prices.
What caused the Peasants' Revolt?
The Peasants' Revolt of 1381 was the first great popular rebellion in English history, caused by the imposition of the unpopular poll tax. It was fueled by economic discontent that had been growing since the middle of the century. As reported by Encyclopaedia Britannica, the rebellion drew support from several different classes of society and quickly spread across much of England. It ultimately led to the repeal of the tax and other concessions from the ruling class.
How will global worker shortages affect economies?
Experts are warning that global worker shortages, caused by an aging population and lack of immigration, will have a negative impact on economies in the U.S., U.K. and euro zone, according to CNBC (Oct 20, 2021). This is further compounded by the global pandemic which has also caused labor shortages in many industries. Real data shows that in the U.S., job openings outnumbered hires for the first time in July 2020.
Source:
- Lumenlearning : the Populist Era.
- Nytimes : Global Shortages, Coronavirus, Failings.
- Un : Food Loss, Waste Reduction, United Nations.
- Nih : the Social and Cultural Norms, That, the.
- Ourworldindata : Hunger, Undernourishment, Our World, Data.
