Impact of Agricultural Practice on Health, Environment and National Security

The authors discuss the impact of agricultural practice on health, environment and national security. They suggest changes to the farm bill to prevent obesity and improve food safety.

Running head: FOOD AND COMMUNITY 1
Food and Community
Author
Institution

FOOD AND COMMUNITY 2
Food and Community
The authors demonstrated that agricultural practice has an influence on the people's
health, environment, and national security. The agriculture systems create a substantial health
impact, both indirectly and directly. The US farm policy has established a farm system that is
usually damaging to health. The three major health issues are environmental health, food safety
and rising cases of obesity. Due to this, the farm bill was established to secure and supplement
farm incomes, support of the American farm and ensure there is food supply (Jackson, Minjares,
Naumoff, Shrimali, Martin, 2009).
There are several ways that the farm bill has been changed to prevent the rise of obesity
in the US. First is the elimination of farm subsidies. The U.S Department of agriculture should
offer subsidies to farmers and make consumers have an access to the affordable and ample food
supply that is responsible for growing number of children and adults facing the challenge of
obesity (Muller, Schoonover, Wallinga, 2007). Secondly, is increased funding to support
vegetable and fruit production. This will be facilitated by removing planting restriction in the
commodity food program.
In the case of improving the food safety, there are various changes can be done to the
farm bill. There should be transparency in food production. Also, there should be an increase in
federal research on essential interventions that lower the health impacts of existing systems of
food production and ensure access to healthy calories.
Moreover, to reduce the exposure to toxic substance and pesticides in food production
there are various measures that can be initiated. Ensure access to reports or information by the
governments concerning the application of agricultural inputs such as antibiotics, fertilizers, and

FOOD AND COMMUNITY 3
pesticides as it a requirement in California. Furthermore, there should be support of human body
burden of biomonitoring food toxicants and antibiotics.
It is essential to state that improving the effectiveness and reducing the cost of sustainable
farming. This policy can have a major impact on agriculture. This is to reduce the production of
chemical-laden produced foods have devastating consequences for the health and the
environment.

FOOD AND COMMUNITY 4
References
Jackson, R. J., Minjares, R., Naumoff, K. S., Shrimali, B. P., Martin, L, K. (2009). Agriculture
Policy Is Health Policy. Retrieved from:
https://www.rwjf.org/en/library/research/2009/12/special-supplement-of-the-journal-of-
hunger-environmental-nutrit/agriculture-policy-is-health-policy.html
Muller, M., Schoonover, H., and Wallinga, D. (2007). Considering the Contribution of US Food
and Agriculture Policy to the Obesity Epidemic: Overview and Opportunities.
Minneapolis, Minn: Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy. Retrieved from:
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/19320240903321367