Chapter 1 Food Affects Life
19
Economics
Economics has a great effect on the food supply. A basic economic concept is the law
of supply and demand. This means if consumers are willing to pay for a product, producers
will provide it. An example of this is a food store in an ethnic neighborhood. Some people
in this neighborhood will probably want to buy certain ingredients needed to make ethnic
dishes. Therefore, the manager of the neighborhood store will stock these ingredients. In
another neighborhood where the people are of a different ethnic group, these ingredients
may not be in demand. Stores in this neighborhood are less likely to carry these items.
Consumer demand for some food products affects much more than local stores.
Some foods, such as coffee, sugar, and cacao beans (used to make chocolate) are
grown in faraway places. Many of the countries where these foods are grown have
large populations of poor people. These people often have trouble getting enough food
to feed themselves and their families. However, land that might be used to grow nour-
ishing grains and legumes is instead used to raise crops for export. The money made
from the exported crops often goes to wealthy landowners. The poor farmers who grow
the crops do not earn enough to lift themselves out of poverty. In this way, food choices
made by consumers in the United States can have an impact on world hunger.
Many other factors affect the problem of world hunger. People with little money
cannot afford to buy quality seeds to grow hearty crops. They are not able to purchase
fertilizers and pesticides that will increase the size of their harvests. They do not own
modern farm equipment. Poor farmers often lack education. They may be unknowingly
using farming methods that lead to shrinking crop yields. All these factors work together
to limit the amount of food poor people can produce.
Global Perspective
Malnourishment
About half the
world’s people do not
always earn enough
money to buy basic
foods. The number of
people who cannot
afford adequate food
is threatening to soar due to a global food crisis. Higher
fuel costs and a growing demand for food have caused
food prices to rise sharply. Natural disasters and
increased use of crops for biofuels and animal feed
have also affected food prices.
Most people who do not have enough to eat are
malnourished. However, malnutrition is caused by a
lack of variety in the diet as well as a lack of food. This
is because the body needs a range of nutrients, which
must come from different foods. Therefore, people
striving to meet the needs of the hungry must focus on
food quality as well as food quantity.
Compassion International
These children receive nutritious food through an
organization that is working to release them from a
cycle of poverty.
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Chapter 1 Food Affects Life
19
Economics
Economics has a great effect on the food supply. A basic economic concept is the law
of supply and demand. This means if consumers are willing to pay for a product, producers
will provide it. An example of this is a food store in an ethnic neighborhood. Some people
in this neighborhood will probably want to buy certain ingredients needed to make ethnic
dishes. Therefore, the manager of the neighborhood store will stock these ingredients. In
another neighborhood where the people are of a different ethnic group, these ingredients
may not be in demand. Stores in this neighborhood are less likely to carry these items.
Consumer demand for some food products affects much more than local stores.
Some foods, such as coffee, sugar, and cacao beans (used to make chocolate) are
grown in faraway places. Many of the countries where these foods are grown have
large populations of poor people. These people often have trouble getting enough food
to feed themselves and their families. However, land that might be used to grow nour-
ishing grains and legumes is instead used to raise crops for export. The money made
from the exported crops often goes to wealthy landowners. The poor farmers who grow
the crops do not earn enough to lift themselves out of poverty. In this way, food choices
made by consumers in the United States can have an impact on world hunger.
Many other factors affect the problem of world hunger. People with little money
cannot afford to buy quality seeds to grow hearty crops. They are not able to purchase
fertilizers and pesticides that will increase the size of their harvests. They do not own
modern farm equipment. Poor farmers often lack education. They may be unknowingly
using farming methods that lead to shrinking crop yields. All these factors work together
to limit the amount of food poor people can produce.
Global Perspective
Malnourishment
About half the
world’s people do not
always earn enough
money to buy basic
foods. The number of
people who cannot
afford adequate food
is threatening to soar due to a global food crisis. Higher
fuel costs and a growing demand for food have caused
food prices to rise sharply. Natural disasters and
increased use of crops for biofuels and animal feed
have also affected food prices.
Most people who do not have enough to eat are
malnourished. However, malnutrition is caused by a
lack of variety in the diet as well as a lack of food. This
is because the body needs a range of nutrients, which
must come from different foods. Therefore, people
striving to meet the needs of the hungry must focus on
food quality as well as food quantity.
Compassion International
These children receive nutritious food through an
organization that is working to release them from a
cycle of poverty.

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