Objective
In American and worldwide, the issue of pesticides is growing. Billions of pounds of pesticides are used per year, polluting the planet, poisoning the waters, and killing wildlife. One of CultiSmart’s goals is to prompt individuals not to consume and purchase produce that has been effected by pesticides.
Further, CultiSmart strives to aid those in food deserts, or those who are not readily able to access nutritional food. In Chicago, there are more than several households that cannot access produce, essentially stranding them in food deserts.
This, combined with the detrimental effects of pesticides, make indoor hydroponic farming a good way to access produce for several households.
pesticides and insecticides
Pesticides on produce has become a widespread phenomenon, with 5.6 billion pounds of pesticides being used in 2016 alone.
As a paper on pesticide use says, “Although attempts to reduce pesticide use through organic agricultural practices and the use of other technologies to control pests continue, exposure to pesticides occupationally, through home and garden use, through termite control or indirectly through spray drifts and through residues in household dust, and in food and water are common.”
Pesticides have been in use since the end of World War II. Since then, they have been used worldwide, polluting streams and water systems, killing wildlife.
Although this has been happening throughout the world, this organization is striving to prompt the use of at home farming systems, thus promoting the lack of insecticides in produce.
Food deserts in chicago
In Chicago, the issue of food deserts has been growing. A food desert is an area that is far from a supermarket, or a place where produce and food is easily accessible.
In 2008, is was discovered that there were multiple areas in which groceries, and the nearest supermarkets were not easily accessed. Additionally, it was found that these areas were predominantly African-American communities, as shown in the figure to the right. Not only this, but most of the communities living in these food deserts were those without cars. Thus, going to a supermarket is all the more difficult.
As a way to combat this growing problem, this organization helps individuals become self-sufficient through indoor farming techniques, as becoming self-sufficient through affordable ways can be beneficial to those living in these food deserts.