A Foodie’s Perspective on the World
by Maria Kamenetsky
Charles C. Mann,is a devout “locavore” who not only has his own garden, but also works with a local farmer to get his produce. Mr. Mann, however, has taken a unique macro-level approach in his daily decisions and believes that when it comes to food. “Buying local” is more complex than we make it out to be. Tomatoes are not local to Italy, nor oranges to the U.S. or chili peppers to Thailand. Most food is not “local” and was actually transferred throughout the world via eras of exchange. Important to that age was the “The Colombian Exchange”, when Christopher Columbus set forth a trade route with North America, setting the stage for today’s food to start the journey over.
This sets the stage for a greater debate on globalization. Every country/region has their woes over globalization. From Brazilians denouncing the rubber barons of the 19th century that exported the rubber ( a large reason the Industrial Revolution revved up so quickly) to China’s introduction to maize and sweet potatoes leading to erosion which flooded their rice paddies. Not to mention, the diseases, bacteria, and viruses that were spread all over the world and cost thousands of lives. The costs are high and it completely unfair who globalization gets to target. Although it is a more normative measure, it is important to keep this in mind. However, despite such high costs, Mr. Mann concludes that the benefits for the greater whole are far greater.
Globalization and trade, which have been occurring for 40,000 years back at the time of homo sapiens, will not end. It has continued to increase exponentially and will do so. The debate is difficult to analyze unless costs and benefits are outlined side by side. In the end, as Mr. Mann points out, it is beneficial. Countries have tried to stay out of it (China in the 16th century, the Soviet Union, many Latin American countries that used import-substitution industrialization in the 1980’s,m etc), but they are then left behind. Catch-up is a difficult game to play in international political economy and is not worth it. If countries, rulers, people as a whole have had plenty of examples to learn one rule, it is that globalization is here, it is here to stay, and it is futile to stay out. Of course the fate of winners and losers in such a high-stakes game of Russian Roulette is uncomfortable. The best is to be flexible, adapt, and hope you are in favor with the fates of globalization.
Globalization has its price, but Mr. Mann (our locavore from above), still believes in it. “The Columbian Exchange” is mainly responsible for radically improving the European diet (including brining over potatoes) and health. Brazil was introduced to sugar and soybeans which are originally from Asia. So HOW does this relate to eating locally?
Local is not local. We are reaping the benefits of globalization and earlier trades and exchanges that made it possible for us to have tomatoes amongst other food. Therefore, although buying local is certainly good to support the concentrated economy, it is important to think about the world in a bigger picture – of ancestor’s that paid the price, reaped the benefits, but ultimately created for us a pathway so that we can eat oranges for breakfast.
For more information on Charles C. Mann and his unique views, please check out his latest book, “1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created.”
For more information on the history of trade and globalization, please check out “Bound Together: How Traders, Preachers, Adventurers, and Warriors Shaped Globalization” by Nayan Chanda.
EAF member Maria Kamenetsky is a recent graduate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, with a BA in Economics, Political Science, International Studies. Her interests include international development, behavioral economics and foreign affairs.