Food and Greed: Implications for Human Health and Sustainability

This course provides a comprehensive exploration of the complex relationship between food and greed, focusing on its implications for human health and sustainability. It examines the dark side of industrialized agriculture and poses simple yet powerful interdisciplinary solutions. The course highlights problems associated with affluence and the resultant expectation of any food at any time. We investigate market distortions, health risks, government subsidies making processed food cheaper than healthy food, fair trade, ethics and equitable distribution of food, alternative farming techniques (integrated pest management and permaculture), corporations and big agriculture (Monsanto and Cargill), climate change and carnivores, factory farming and animal feed, habitat destruction and land use conversion including prioritization based on ecosystem services to humanity, agrochemical and pesticide biomagnification, high density farming techniques (vertical farming), fast food, and genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Emphasis is placed on US and global food subsidies, including origins and underpinnings. Participants solve a problem within the industrialized food system by critically analyzing how the pursuit of profit, excessive consumption, and unethical practices within the global food system impact both individual well-being and the long-term viability of our planet. By examining case studies, research findings, and policy frameworks, students gain a deep understanding of the multifaceted issues surrounding food and greed, and develop the knowledge and skills necessary to address these challenges.