Food and Environment: The Quest for a Sustainable Future (Wit Transactions on Ecology and the Environment)

The many advances in food production over the past century have made it possible to feed the whole of humanity. But food production and processing can have detrimental effects on the environment. Major challenges remain with industrial-scale farming. Higher productivity and larger volumes should not come at the expense of product quality or animal suffering. Despite their importance, the consequences of food-related problems have not been sufficiently considered. It is essential to understand the impact that food production processes and the demands of rising living standards can have on the food consumed daily by the world's people. Of particular importance are the effects on human health and the well-being of the population, as well as the more general issues related to possible damage to the environment and ecology. This book includes contributions presented at the first international conference convened to examine these challenges. Topics include: Food Processing Issues; Contamination of Food; Pharmaceuticals in Food, Obesity-Related Issues; Pesticides and Nutrients; Hormonal Effects; Food and Fecundity; Genetic Engineering; Freezing and Thawing; Heavy Metals; Pathogens; Salination Problems; Desertification; Transportation Problems; Traceability; Threshold Values; Modern Farming; Changing Climate; Laws and Regulations; Epidemiological Studies; Water Resources Problems; and Animal Welfare. The book will be of interest to food scientists and nutritionists, as well as agricultural, ecological and environmental health experts interested in all these challenges.