Food we eat is eating us- How and Why

EARLY FOOD RELATED PRACTICES

Foods we used to eat earlier were less processed, more or less home grown, produced without lesser technical influence including lesser use of machinery in agriculture.

Cattle dung was main source of bio-manure.

Irrigation was dependent upon monsoons and active irrigation was facilitated via cattle-operated wells.

The agriculture was more of a survival practice rather than a business venture.

For the general public, the food was given the significance of medicine and cooking practices were based on use of minimal resources.

WHAT CHANGED?

Industrialization boom led to promotion of processed foods. We now have readily available food for purchase and consumption.

Green revolution in India apparently  addressed the food shortage in country but with a very high price, on inputs, soil health and eventually, food consumption became a leisure activity for the masses which could afford food.

There has been change in the cropping patterns due to environmental weather fluctuations and choice of crops mainly after green revolution and identification of commercially beneficial crops.

Technical influence changed the methods of cultivation, with dependence on machinery for cultivation, irrigation and harvesting.

Concurrently, boom in mass production of food grains like wheat and rice brought with it the huge burden on environment and natural resources- rapid depletion of ground water due to motorised irrigation mechanisms and water guzzler crops, soil contamination with pesticides, emissions from tractor and other machinery, increased production of crop stubble leading to poorly planned waste management, air pollution and much more.

Map of Disturbing Ground Water levels in Panjab

(Ground Water Year Book of Punjab State 2020-2021.pdf)

Healthwise, technological dependence leading to reduction in physical activity; mal nutritive effect of imbalance in energy requirement and energy consumption in body leading to surge of non-communicable diseases. Ultimately, we have food groups giving us obesity and nutrient deficiency at same time.

Studies report pesticide induced DNA damage leading to metabolic disturbances and increased risk of cancer development due to DNA injury.  In today’s state of world health, we are fighting bad health outcomes, there is much burden on health systems and individual pockets- majority of the people are taking medicines for one or the other illness.  There is increase in incidence of people falling sick due to consumption of pesticide laden foods, even the farmer deaths have been reported due to exposure to pesticide spray and toxicity.

Journey towards  organic farming in pesticide laden soils and air: Switching to organic farming is affected by multitude of factors but is very much possible. However, the already compromised soil health hinders with its success. In this case, identification and cultivation of ‘eco-friendly crops’ using ‘eco-friendly cropping techniques can help in reversal of environmental problems associated with conventional Agri-practices.

Push for Natural and organic farming can be backed by research and positive evidence of holistic health outcomes at national and state level and by agricultural universities. At this juncture, strong policies and intervention strategies are required which can address agro-ecological and health crisis and promoting  organic farming to restore soil health.