2018-04-15 Omnivore's Dilemma

This book is poignant in describing an industrialized food chain in modern society. Yes, we are omnivores. It seems that we have plenty of foods to choice. But tracing back to the origins, we are more likely consuming the "fossil fuels".

We are corn people; we are fertilizer people; we are fossil fuel people. 

We have plenty of choices, but we are constrained. So when I think about choices, I feel that we are in a ironical paradox. We think we are free to choose, but actually we are made to choose. 

It is a SAD REALIZATION. 

"I don't know enough about the emotional life of a steer to say with confidence that 534 was miserable, bored, or indifferent, but I would not say he looked happy." 

Q&A

1. where do you think your last supper come from?

Meat is from feedlot, of course; rice is from Thailand; vegetable? not sure.

2. How does the author connect chicken nugget with corn?

Everything we are eating is in a sense made of corn. 

3. Why or how are the yields able to increase so much?

MODERNLIZATION.

4. Where does the excessive fertilizer end up?

Drain in the soil and leak to lakes and rivers. 

China had imported lager amount of fertilizer after Nixons' visit. 

5. How does the government manage to keep corn production high and corn price low?

The low price is not controlled by the government, but the market. Since the yields are increasing due to modernized instruments and fertilizers, the price of corn is keeping low.

But farmers keep planting more corns each year, since the government would subsidize farmers if the corn price is lower than the projected price. 

6. What problems do cattle have when their staple food is corn?

Bloat and acidosis. 

7. What risks can human have if people do not properly dispose the feedlot wastes?

contamination?

8. After reading this chapter, do you want to eat industrial meat anymore?

I don't want to, but do I have choice?