To meet high production requirements, the use of pesticides, fertilizers, fungicides and insecticides become part of a food demand system which leaves nothing to natural systems. The constant chemical infusion on crop land has resulted in resistance among pests. Currently over 500 pests have developed resistance to pesticides. Farmers are often forced to increase pesticide applications or turn to harsher, stronger chemicals to protect crop yields. Our Happy Meal appetite also drives farmers worldwide away from growing crops for localized consumption.
Growers begin to grow food for shipment to processors instead of providing food for local outlets.
We also support agricultural methods that are ecologically unsound, deplete the soil, waste energy, and leave harmful chemical residues on our food and water. There is an intimate connection between food and the quality of our lives. Food security is the foundation of this connection. It is food security that allows for all types of access to food, access that may take more than four minutes. There is food that sustains productivity, encourages biodiversity, conserves our finite resources, and supports life.