Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-g7gxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-08T05:26:38.619Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The role of sustainable agriculture in improving the safety and quality of the food supply

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 October 2009

Katherine L. Clancy
Katherine L. Clancy
Affiliation:
Associate Professor, Department of Human Nutrition, College for Human Development, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13210.
Get access

Abstract

Agricultural and health policies are not integrated in the U.S. despite their obvious similarities and linkages. Sustainable agriculture can undoubtedly play an important role in joining the two sectors; however, before this can occur research is needed to answer questions in many areas. Some consumer concerns regarding the safety of the food supply can be abated through the use of sustainable practices in food production and processing which can lessen exposure to toxic contaminants and conserve resources. Among the farming issues considered here are pesticide toxicities and their synergistic interactions, yields, storability, nutrient quality, nitrates, mycotoxins, and antibiotics used in meat production. The manipulation of commodities during processing is also addressed, including the intense refining of grains, fortification and vitamin supplementation, imitation food, and food additives. Analogies between production and processing operations are drawn and specific research needs identified.

Type
Articles
Information
American Journal of Alternative Agriculture , Volume 1 , Issue 1 , Winter 1986 , pp. 11 - 18
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1986

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Ahrens, E., Elsaidy, S., Samaras, I., Samaras, F., and Wistinghausen, E.. 1983. Significance of fertilization for the post-harvest condition of vegetables, especially spinach. In: Environmentally Sound Agriculture, Lockeretz, William (ed.), pp. 339–246. Praeger, New York, NY.Google Scholar
2.Allaway, W. H. 1975. The effect of soils and fertilizers on human and animal nutrition. USDA-ARS Agriculture Information Bulletin No. 378, Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
3.Allison, R. G., Carr, C. J., and Campbell, T. C.. 1980. Guidelines for safety evaluation of nutrients. LSRO-FASEB Report, Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
4.Archer, Michael. 1982. Hazards of nitrate, nitrite, and N-nitroso compounds in human nutrition. In: Nutritional Toxicology, Vol. 1, Hathcock, John N. (ed.), pp. 327–381. Academic Press, New York, NY.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5.Berger, S., Pardo, B., and Skorkowska-Zieleniewska, J.. 1980. Nutritional implications of pesticides in foods. Biblioteca Nutritio et Dieta, 29:1–10.Google ScholarPubMed
6.Binger, H. P. 1981. Food research: What next? Lebensmittel-Wissenchaft und Technologie, 14:346.Google Scholar
7.Blanc, Denise, Gilly, G., Leclerc, J., and Causeret, J.. 1984. Appreciation de l'effet a long terme de la nature organique ou minerale de la fertilisation sur la composition de la laitue et de la pomme de terre. Sci. Aliments 4:267–272.Google Scholar
8.Brody, Jane. 1985. America leans to a healthier diet. The New York Times Magazine, October 13, 1985, pp. 32–34, 38, 78–81.Google Scholar
9.Butler, L. S. 1984. Issues and perspectives in plant breeding. In: Food Security in the United States, Busch, Lawrence and Lacy, William B. (eds.), Westview Press, Boulder, CO.Google Scholar
10.Calabrese, Edward J. 1980. Nutritional and Environmental Health: The Influence of Nutritional Status on Pollutant Toxicity and Carcinogenicity - Volume 1 - The Vitamins. John Wiley and Sons, New York, NY.Google Scholar
11.Calabrese, Edward J. 1981. Nutrition and Environmental Health: The Influence of Nutritional Status on Pollutant Toxicity and Carcinogenicity, Volume 2 - Minerals and Macronutrients. John Wiley & Sons, New York, NY.Google Scholar
12.Clancy, Katherine L. 1984a. The Federal Trade Commission rulemaking on the term “natural” in advertising. In: Alterations in Food Production, Knorr, Dietrich W. and Watkins, Tom R. (eds.), pp. 208–212. Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, NY.Google Scholar
13.Clancy, Katherine L. 1984b. Can sustainable agriculture engender a sustainable diet? Paper presented at the Second Conference on Sustainable Agriculture, Pomona College, Pomona, CA. April 16–17.Google Scholar
14.Clancy, Katherine L. and Helitzer, Deborah. 1984. Food advertising. In: Nutrition Update, Vol. 1. Weininer, Jean and Briggs, George M. (eds.). Wiley-Inter-science, New York, NY.Google Scholar
15.Conning, D. M., and Lansdown, A. B. G.. 1983. Toxic Hazards in Food. Raven Press, New York, NY.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
16.Coye, Molly Joel. 1984. Occupational health and safety of agricultural workers in the United States. In: Food Security in the United States, Busch, Lawrence and Lacy, William B. (eds.), pp. 183–206. Westview Press, Boulder, CO.Google Scholar
17.DuBois, Kenneth P. 1972. Interaction of chemicals as a result of enzyme inhibition. In: Multiple Factors in the Causation of Environmentally Induced Disease. Lee, Douglas H. K. and Kotin, Paul (eds.), pp. 97–107. Academic Press, New York, NY.Google Scholar
18.Duvick, Donald N. 1984. The influence of plant breeding and the farm seeds supply industry on food security. In: Food Security in the United States, Busch, Lawrence and Lacy, William B. (eds.), pp. 115–127. Westview Press, Boulder, CO.Google Scholar
19.Eggert, F. P. and Kahrmann, C. L.. 1984. Response of three vegetable crops to organic and inorganic nutrient sources. In: Organic Farming: Current Technology and Its Role in a Sustainable Agriculture, pp. 97–109. Agronomy Society of America, Madison, WI.Google Scholar
20.Fine, D. H., Rounbehler, D. P., and Ross, R.. 1977. Human exposure to N-nitroso compounds in the environment. In: Origins of Human Cancer, H. Hiatt, J. D. Watson, and J. A. Winsten (eds.), pp. 293–308. Cold Spring Harbor Conference on Cell Proliferation, Vol. 4.Google Scholar
21.FMI. 1985. Trends: Consumer Attitudes and the Supermarket. Food Marketing Institute, 1985 Update, Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
22.Food and Drug Administration. 1980. Bureau of Foods Research Plan. U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
23.Food Chemical News. 1985. Evidence of danger from animal antibiotics “inconclusive,” committee says. 27:20, 09 30, 1985.Google Scholar
24.Friend, Gil. 1983. The potential for a sustainable agriculture. In: Sustainable Food Systems, Knorr, Dietrich W. (ed.), pp. 28–47. AVI, Westport, CT.Google Scholar
25.Gartrell, Marcia J., Craun, John C., Podrebarac, David S., and Gunderson, Ellis L.. 1985. Pesticides, selected elements, and other chemicals in adult total diet samples, October 1978-September 1979. J. Assoc. Off. Anal. Chem. 68:862–876.Google ScholarPubMed
26.General Accounting Office. 1981. Emerging Issues from New Product Development in Food Manufacturing Industries. GAO-CED-81-138, Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
27.Gussow, Joan D. 1980. What corporations have done to our food. Business and Society Review No. 35, pp. 19–25.Google Scholar
28.Gussow, Joan D. 1983. Food: wanting and needing and providing. Food Monitor (July/August): 12–15.Google Scholar
29.Gussow, Joan D. 1984. Food security in the United States: a nutritionist's perspective. In: Food Security in the United States, Busch, Lawrence and Lacy, William B. (eds.), pp. 207–230. Westview Press, Boulder, CO.Google Scholar
30.Gussow, Joan D. and Clancy, Katherine L.. In press. Dietary guidelines for sustainability. Journal of Nutrition Education.Google Scholar
31.Hadwiger, Don J. 1982. Nutrition, food safety, and farm policy. In: Food Policy and Farm Programs, Don Hadwiger and Ross Talbot (eds.), Proc. Acad. Pol. Sci. 34:79–88.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
32.Hall, Ross Hume. 1974. Food for Nought. The Decline in Nutrition. Harper and Row, Hagerstown, PA.Google Scholar
33.Hathcock, John N. 1982. Nutritional Toxicology, Vol. 1, Academic Press, New York, NY.Google Scholar
34.Hathcock, John N. 1985. Standards for pesticide residues in foods. Presented at the Thirteenth International Congress on Nutrition, Brighton, England. August 18–25.Google Scholar
35.Hayes, Johnnie R. and Borzelleca, Joseph F.. 1982. Biodisposition of environmental chemicals by animals. In: Animal Products in Human Nutrition, Donald C. Beitz and R. Gaurth Hansen (eds.), pp. 226–259.Google Scholar
36.Hayes, Wayland J., Neal, Robert A., and Sandstead, Harold H.. 1972. Role of body stores in environmentally induced disease—DDT and lead. In: Multiple Factors in the Causation of Environmentally Induced Disease. Lee, Douglas H. K. and Kotin, Paul (eds.), pp. 135–164. Academic Press, New York, NY.Google Scholar
37.Hightower, Jim. 1975. Eat Your Heart Out. Vintage Books, New York, NY.Google Scholar
38.Hill, S. B., and Ramsay, J. A.. 1976. Limitations of the energy approach in defining priorities in agriculture. In: Agriculture and Energy. Lockeretz, William (ed.), pp. 713–731. Academic Press, New York.Google Scholar
39.Hodges, R. D. and Scofield, A. M.. 1983. Effect of agricultural practices on the health of plants and animals produced: a review. In: Environmentally Sound Agriculture, Lockeretz, William (ed.), pp. 3–33. Praeger, New York, NY.Google Scholar
40.Jollans, J. L. 1985. Fertilizers in U.K. Farming, Centre for Agricultural Strategy, Report 9, 06 1985. Reading, U.K.Google Scholar
41.Jones, Judy Lea. 1980. Perspective on health related food choices. Presented at the Fifty-Seventh Agricultural Outlook Conference, USDA, Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
42.Journal of Home Economics. 1945. To enrich or not to enrich: A symposium. Journal of Home Economics 37:397–403.Google Scholar
43.Jukes, Thomas H. 1974. The organic food myth. Journal of American Medical Association, 230:276–277.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
44.Kansal, B. D., Singh, B., Balaj, K. L., and Kaur, G.. 1981. Effect of different levels of nitrogen and farmyard manure on yield and quantity of spinach (Spinacea oleracea L.). Qual. Plant. Plant Foods Human Nutrition. 31:163–170.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
45.King, Peter H. and Weinstraub, Daniel M.. 1985. State sees illegal use of pesticides. Los Angeles Times, July 9, p. 1.Google Scholar
46.Knorr, Dietrich. 1979. Quality of ecologically grown food. Lebensmittel-Wissenschaft and Technologie, 12:350–356.Google Scholar
47.Knorr, Dietrich. 1982. Natural and organic foods: definitions, quality, and problems. Cereal Foods World. 27:163–168.Google Scholar
48.Knorr, Dietrich and Vogtmann, Hartmut. 1983. Quality and quality determination of ecologically grown foods. In: Sustainable Food Systems, Knorr, Dietrich (ed.), pp. 352–381. AVI Publ. Co., Westport, CT.Google Scholar
49.Kotula, K. R., Kazy, J., McGinnis, N., and Briggs, G.. 1983. Development of a rat model to test the nutritional equivalency of traditional vs. fabricated foods: cheddar cheese vs. fabricated cheddar cheese. J. Food Science. 48:1674.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
50.Kumar, Vinod, Ahlawat, W. S., and Antil, R. S.. 1985. Interactions of nitrogen and zinc in pearl millet: 1. Effect of nitrogen and zinc levels on dry matter yield and concentration and uptake of nitrogen and zinc in pearl millet. Soil Science 139:351–356.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
51.Lairon, Denis, Spitz, Noel, Termine, Elise, Ribaud, Pascal, Lafant, Huguette, and Hauton, Jacques. 1984. Effect of organic mineral nitrogen fertilization on yield and nutritive value of butterhead lettuce. Qual. Plant. Plant Foods Human Nutrition. 34:97–108.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
52.Lakritz, L. and Pensabene, J. W.. 1984. Survey of human milk for volatile N-nitrosamines and the influence of diet on their formation. Journal Chemical Toxicology. 22:721–724.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
53.Lerza, Catherine and Jacobson, Michael. 1975. Food for People, Not for Profit. Ballantine Books, New York, NY.Google Scholar
54.LeVeen, E. Phillip. 1984. Domestic food security and increasing competition for water. In: Food Security in the United States, Busch, Lawrence and Lacy, William B. (eds.), pp. 61–98. Westview Press, Boulder, CO.Google Scholar
55.Leverton, Ruth. 1974. Organic, inorganic: what they mean. 1974 Yearbook of Agriculture, pp. 70–73, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
56.Linder, Maria C. 1985. Food quality and its determinants from field to table: growing food, its storage, and preparation. In: Nutritional Biochemistry and Metabolism, Linder, Maria (ed.), pp. 239–254, Elsevier, New York, NY.Google Scholar
57.Lorenz, K. 1982. Enrichment and fortification of cereal-base products in the U.S.A. Lebensmittel-Wissenschaft und Technologie. 15:121–125.Google Scholar
58.Maga, Joseph. 1983. Organically grown foods. In: Sustainable Food Systems, Knorr, Dietrich (ed.), pp. 305–350. AVI Publ. Co., Westport, CT.Google Scholar
59.Marshall, William E. 1974. Health foods, organic foods, natural foods. Food Technology 28:50–51, 56.Google Scholar
60.McLean, A. E. M. 1972. Dietary change: hazard or opportunity. In: Health and Food, Birch, G. G., Green, L. F., and Plaskett, L. G. (eds.), pp. 182–193. John Wiley and Sons, New York, NY.Google Scholar
61.Mertz, Walter. 1983. Importance of nutrient data. Paper presented at 60th Annual Agricultural Outlook Conference, USDA, Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
62.Milio, Nancy. 1981. Promoting health through structural change: analysis of the origins and implementations of Norway's farm-food-nutrition policy. Social Science Medicine. 15A:721–734.Google Scholar
63.Miller, Sanford A. 1980. Balancing the risks regarding the use of nitrites in meats. Food Technology 34:254–257.Google Scholar
64.Miller, Sanford A. 1985. The future and FDA: science, technology, and the consumer. Paper presented at the Finnish-American seminar on Finnish food exports to the U.S. Helsinki, Finland, 05 2, 1985.Google Scholar
65.Morowitz, H. 1976. Food for thought. Hospital Practice 11:179–180.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
66.Moshy, Raymond J. 1985. Impact of biotechnology on food product development. Food Technology 39:113–118.Google Scholar
67.National Research Council. 1980. The effects on human health of subtherapeutic use of antimicrobials in animal feeds. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
68.National Research Council. 1981. The health effects of nitrate, nitrite, and N-nitroso compounds. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
69.National Research Council. 1982. Diet, nutrition, and cancer. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
70.National Research Council. 1984. Toxicity testing: Strategies to determine need and priorities. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
71.National Research Council. 1985. Meat and poultry inspection. The scientific basis of the nation's program. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
72.Nutrition Week 1985. FDA rejects bid to drop drugs in animal feed. 15:47, 11 28, 1985.Google Scholar
73. Oxfam America. 1984. Food exports from the Third World: Senegal—opening the road to hunger. Facts for Action 11.Google Scholar
74.Pettersson, B. D. 1978. A comparison between the conventional and biodynamic farming systems as indicated by yields and quality. In: Towards a Sustainable Agriculture. Proc. Int. Res. Conf. IFOAM, Besson, J. M. and Vogtmann, H. (eds.), pp. 87–94. Verlag Wirz, Aarau.Google Scholar
75.Pimentel, D. and Pimentel, M.. 1983. The future of American agriculture. In: Sustainable Food Systems, Knorr, Dietrich (ed.), pp. 3–27. AVI, Westport, CT.Google Scholar
76.Pimentel, David, Terhune, Elinor C., Dritschilo, William, Gallahan, David, Kinner, Nancy, Nafus, Donald, Peterson, Randall, Zareh, Nasser, Misiti, Jim, and Haber-Schaim, Oren. 1977. Pesticides, insects in foods, and cosmetic standards. Biological Science 27:178–185.Google Scholar
77.Poppendieck, Janet. 1986. Breadlines Knee Deep in Wheat: Food Assistance in the Great Depression. Rutgers University Press, New Brunswick, N.J.Google Scholar
78.Roderuck, Charlotte. 1981. Diet. In: Food Questions and Answers, Council for Agricultural Science and Technology, Spec. Pub. No. 7, Ames, IA.Google Scholar
79.Schoental, Maria. 1982. The role of mycotoxins in certain idiopathic disorders and tumors in animals and man. In: Nutrition and Killer Diseases: The Effects of Dietary Factors on Fatal Chronic Diseases, Rose, John (ed.), pp. 139–147. Noyes Publication, Park Ridge, N.J.Google Scholar
80.Schuphan, Werner. 1974. Nutritional value of crops as influenced by organic and inorganic fertilizer treatments—results of 12 years' experiments with vegetables. Qual. Plant. Plant Foods and Human Nutrition. 23:333–358.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
81.Senate Select Committee on Nutrition and Human Needs. 1977. Dietary goals for the United States Second Edition. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
82.Senti, F. R. and Rizek, R. L.. 1975. Nutrient levels in horticultural crops. HortScience 10:243–246.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
83.Smith, R. Jeffrey. 1978. Ever so cautiously, the FDA moves toward a ban on nitrites. Science 201:887–891.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
84.Smith, Thomas Blaisdell. 1983. A Market Basket of Food Hazards: Critical Gaps in Government Protection. Public Voice, Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
85.Spiher, Alan T. 1975. The growing of GRAS. HortScience 10:241–242.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
86.Svec, L. F., Thoroughgood, C. A., and HyoChung, S. N.. 1976. Chemical evaluation of vegetables grown with conventional or organic soil amendments. Comm. Soil Science Plant Analysis. 7:213–228.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
87.Syltie, Paul W. and Dahnke, William C.. 1983. Minerals and protein content, test weight, and yield variations of hard red spring wheat grain as influenced by fertilization and cultivar. Qual. Plant. Plant Foods Human Nutrition. 32:37–49.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
88.Termine, E., Lairon, D., Taupier-Letage, B., Gauthier, S., and Hauton, J. C.. 1984. Influence des techniques de fertilisation organique et minerale sur lavaleur nutritionelle de legumes. Sci. Aliments. 4:273–277.Google Scholar
89.Teutonico, Rita A. and Knorr, Dietrich. 1985. Impact of biotechnology on nutritional quality of food plants. Food Technology 39:127–134.Google Scholar
90.USDA. 1980. Report and recommendations on organic farming. Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
91.USDA. 1981. A time to choose: summary report on the structure of agriculture. Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
92.USDA and USDHHS. 1980. Dietary guidelines for Americans. Home and Garden Bulletin No. 232, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
93.Vogtmann, Hartmut. 1984. Socio-economic aspects of biological agriculture. In: Alterations in Food Production, Knorr, Dietrich W. and Watkins, Tom R., (eds.), pp. 11–40. Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, NY.Google Scholar
94.Watkins, Tom R. 1983. The new consumers: Food habits and the basis of choice, pp. 48–73. In Sustainable Food Systems, Knorr, Dietrich (ed.), AVI, Westport, CT.Google Scholar
95.Winikoff, Beverly (ed.). 1978. Nutrition and National Policy. MIT Press, Cambridge, MA.Google Scholar
96.Youngberg, I. Garth, and Buttel, Frederick H.. 1984. Public policy and socio-political factors affecting the future of sustainable farming systems. In: Organic Farming: Current Technology and Its Role in a Sustainable Agriculture, pp. 167–185. American Society of Agronomy, Madison, WI.Google Scholar
97.Yudkin, John. 1981. Objectives and methods in nutrition education—Let's start again. Journal Human Nutrition, London, 35:205–213.Google Scholar