Problems Associated with Food Production and Turkey's Agricultural Impact. Post: #11

Food is vital to survival, yet for many people it is a struggle to simple produce it. A rising population demands more food, but it also needs more housing. Urbanization has caused many fertile lots of land to become shopping malls and apartment complexes. More and more crops are being used, not as food, but as fuels like ethanol. More and more people are adopting a Western diet, which focuses on meat as the main portion of a meal. This is an issue because raising cattle requires a massive amount of resources. The BBC reports that it takes up to twenty-five times as much land to produce the same amount of beef as wheat. That does not include the water used to keep the animals hydrated, or the moral issues with factory farms. Food scarcity is a major concern for many countries, but others have an overabundance of food.

Figure 1: A Turkish farmer in the fields.

Turkey has a wonderful climate that allows for a wide variety of plants to thrive. According to invest.gov.tr, Turkey is able to support 95% of plant species in Europe. Many locals take advantage of this and about a quarter of the population work in agriculture.[1] Turkey is bursting at the seams with food. Not only is it one of the most agriculturally self-sufficient countries in the region, it is also one of the largest exports food in Europe.

Figure 2:Turkish farmers selling their bountiful harvest.

Turkey dominates the export of figs, hazelnuts, and apricots. Turkey also exports many traditional dished and items. Turkish artisan cheese is renowned in the area. Kefir (a cultured dairy product similar to yogurt) is so loved that its name derives from the Turkish word for "feeling good". [1] Turkey produces many grains and has become a leader in baked good with traditional beads. This nation is a major player in agriculture, and all predictions expect its food production and exports to increase.



Works Cited

"Agriculture and Food" Agriculture and Food - Invest in Turkey. Web. 3 Dec. 2014. <http://www.invest.gov.tr/en-US/sectors/Pages/Agriculture.aspx>.

"Global Food Supply Is a Growing Problem." The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group, 8 June 2008. Web. 3 Dec. 2014. <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/economics/2791256/Global-food-supply-is-a-growing-problem.html>Rowntree, Lester. Globalization and Diversity: Geography of a Changing World. 2nd ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2008.

Figures

Figure 1: A Turkish Farmer in the Fields. Photograph. http://www.businessturkeytoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/TURKISH_FARMER.jpg. 2014.

Figure 2: Turkish Farmers Selling Their Bountiful Harvest. Photograph. Http://www.bodrumpeninsulatravelguide.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Yalikavak-Farmers-Market.jpg. 2012.

[1] Howard, Douglas A. The History of Turkey. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood, 2001. Print.