Why sustainable food and how you can change your

eating habits.
Most countries are still tackling the problem of food security, given their
increasing population and land constraints. This is a challenge that Singapore
has fared relatively well Singapore is ranked the second most food secure
country in the world. But how sustainable is our food?
Most of our imported food is produced on large scale industrial crop and livestock
operations. Industrially produced food might seem inexpensive but the price tag
does not reflect the true costs to our society. These operations have little to no
regard for the environment, animal welfare, soil and water quality, or food safety.
To prevent widespread diseases, in confined and unsanitary factory farms,
farmers routinely feed their livestock small doses of antibiotics. According to the
FDA, 80% of all antibiotics used in the United States is used to feed farm animals
for nontherapeutic purposes. This could lead to more serious problems such as
promoting antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which can make the medicine
administered to treat human diseases far less effective. Air pollution is also a
severe side effect due to the improper disposal of immense amounts of manure
from the large number of animals being cooped up in tiny cells.
These industrially produced food have severely limited the ability for future
generations to grow food. Over the last 40 years, one third of the worlds arable
land has become barren because of such industrial farming operations. This is
why we need to make the switch from industrially produced food to sustainable
food sooner rather than later, before the point of no return. Eating sustainably
means consuming food that has been raised in an environmentally and ethically
responsible manner.
Eating sustainably has a number of benefits including decreased exposure to
harmful pesticides, antibiotic resistant bacteria and unhealthy food additives.
Also, sustainable foods are healthier. Free-range chickens have 21% less
saturated fats than their factory famed counterparts. By eating locally produced
sustainable foods, you will be supporting an environmentally responsible food
system and be healthier. Its a win-win situation. Locally produced sustainable
foods are making their way to shelves soon. For instance, Agri-Food & Veterinary
Authority (AVA) has invested $10 million to transform Singapore into a selfsustainable country in food production. Also, startups such SmartGrow, are using
aquaponics farming which will be able to provide 48 percent of Singapores fresh
vegetable needs by 2030.
You can also try to incorporate more vegetables (especially greens) and reduce
meat and dairy products in your diet. Lamb, beef, cheese and pork generate the
most greenhouse gases as they need the most resources chemical fertilisers,
feed, fuel and water. Such red meats increase the risks of a variety of health
problems such as heart failure and have the worst environmental impacts.
Instead, try to go for locally produced white meat such as fish and other seafoods
which are healthier and produce much less greenhouse gases. You can also try to
go vegetarian once a week and gradually increase the frequency and progress to
a more sustainable diet. Legumes and beans are good substitute for proteins
found in meats.

Remember that you do not need to switch to a plant based or vegan diet
permanently. Just reducing the consumption and waste or red meat will go a long
way. While sustainable foods might be more expensive, in the long run they are a
much better price to pay compared to the ill health and harmful environmental
effects that industrially produced foods bring about.
Check out delicious recipes using sustainable foods here:
http://www.sustainabletable.org/921/cook-sustainably

http://www.sustainabletable.org/270/public-health
http://www.sustainabletable.org/271/food-personal-health
http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/10m-boost-to-help-singapore-becomeself-sustainable-in-food-production
https://www.ida.gov.sg/Tech-Scene-News/Tech-News/Startups/2015/1/Sowing-theseeds-of-sustainable-food-production
http://www.ewg.org/meateatersguide/a-meat-eaters-guide-to-climate-changehealth-what-you-eat-matters/