Research Papers Please click on the links below for information and sources on the following data: Food Initiative Report Food Budget Shares Imports and Exports - All Resources Together Top Country Exports Food - All Resources Together

For our food initiative project, the four of us have conducted research for Carolyn Jones to assist her in putting together the plethora of information required for the varying aspects of the project 100 People: A World Portrait. When representatives of the group first met with Carolyn at the beginning of the semester, she gave us a list of the countries that will be her main focus throughout the project. We discussed the need for research to be done on utensils, exports, fruits, vegetables, exchange rates, currency, population, grains, and protein sources for the different countries. Essentially, this research was supposed to help us (and Carolyn) determine what makes all of these countries across the world so different from each other, and more importantly, what similarities tie them together.

Our research plan included dividing the categories among each member so that we could each individually conduct internet, book, and scholarly journal research. We then compiled our research in a Microsoft Access database. We wanted to provide Carolyn with useful information from which to springboard the rest of her study of the foodways of these countries and thought an organized spreadsheet system would disseminating the information while allowing for an easy way to analyze the results. The database houses the information that characterizes the 49 different cultures according to the categorical breakdowns we decided would lead to the most effective conclusions. The twelve categories (with our brief reasoning for their importance) are:

• Country Population- do small and large countries consume the same items?
• Number of Representatives- as given to us via Carolyn
• Continent- to group countries and analyze as a cohesive continental whole
• Most Common Import- what commodities are relied on via the outside world?
• Most Common Export- what commodities are supplied to the outside world
• Most Commonly Consumed Grain- is there a common thread in all countries?
• Most Commonly Consumed Vegetable- see above
• Most Commonly Consumed Protein Source- see above
• Most Commonly Consumed Fruit- see above
• Most Commonly Used Utensil- how do they eat their food?
• Currency- denomination used to purchase/trade, same or different?
• Exchange Rate- relative to purchasing power, how similar is consumption?

Initially, our goal was to find accurate and substantiated information on each of the different topics for each of the different countries. Once our research was under way, we realized how challenging it would be to accomplish this goal since a variety of reputable sources (.gov, org sites, etc) have incompatible information. At this point, we modified our goals and more realistically approached the project with the idea of finding as much accurate information as possible so that even though we would be submit an incomplete database, it would be an accurate database that could be supplemented with any further research she might conduct and want to store. We have also included a list of all the resources we used, the relevant information from each, and spreadsheet documents that provide general trends and interesting statistical information.

The strength inherent in the database creation was that a completed database would yield the potential to run defined queries that would identify the common elements throughout the countries. For example, a query could be defined as one that would find all of the countries importing crude petroleum and filter them out into a list. However, given the fact we are not 100% positive on some of the information we found (due to the different information by different sources), and because not all of the categories are accounted for, the query process is not worth it. However, the database can still be sorted by columns and ordered in a way that provides useful trend analysis. The following is an example of the database sorted alphabetically by country, where the missing categories are apparent:

Compare this to sorting the database by continent, and even with categories lacking, trends are apparent.

There is clearly a trend of pork consumption in Asian countries, bananas and wheat throughout the world, and beef in North American countries. Similar sorting techniques could be used for each of the categories to draw further conclusions. Data was only input into the database if it was confirmed with enough sources to be narrowed down to one or two items. We have a significant amount of data relating to the flavor profiles and commonly consumed food groups in each of the countries, but were not able to narrow it to one item in each country's case. (Please refer to attachments for more information that was not included in the database.)

Though we expected to find clear-cut connections between the 49 countries, the drastically different statistics made it hard to discern true fact from estimation. At the same time, different sources aggregated at a different level and thus could have been accurate if broken down to exact units. For example, Russia imports more machinery than anything else, though other information may define this further into "machinery parts" or aggregate at an even larger level by saying "capital goods." All of the above could be correct depending on the level of aggregation defined. Similarly, some sites used monetary measurements while others used weight measurements for imports, exports, and food commodities. A box of diamonds may not weigh as much as a box of bananas, but the diamonds are certainly worth more in monetary terms. This disconnect must be noted as final statistics are accumulated in order to report in a consistent and accurate manner.

After speaking with Carolyn, she said that she preferred general information over detailed information because she was thinking in a global frame. To accommodate this request, some interesting facts related to out categorical breakdown were found. In terms of fruit consumption, bananas are the most commonly consumed food group throughout the world (Banana Site***). However, if juice is considered in this equation, citrus fruits become the most widely consumed fruit because of the expanding market for fruit juices made with citrus fruits (Citrus Site***). Tomatoes are also considered the most widely consumed fruit if they are not lumped into the vegetable group. Some statistics place tomatoes in the vegetable category because their usage is associated more with vegetables than with fruit. General fruit consumption incorporates bananas, apples, and oranges through the world, while tropical areas consume and export tropical fruits as well. Other than tomatoes, potatoes play a significant role in most cultures in vegetable consumption. This makes sense given that potatoes are consumed in such a variety of ways, including raw, baked, mashed, fried (French fries), and boiled. Cultures tend to adapt potatoes to their flavor profiles while relying on other vegetables as well. Leafy greens are also broadly consumed, showing predominance in Japan, South American countries, European countries, and African countries. Corn is a significant staple in South American country while some countries like Vietnam rely on the morning glory. While there are some similarities, each country has a unique style of incorporating food groups.

In considering grain, the three main world grain staples (wheat, rice, and corn) play a role in almost every country. Whether or not this means it is consumed by humans is subject to consideration, as much of the grain harvested is used in animal feed. What is certain is that these three grains all play an important role in the lives of everyone in the world. General trends place wheat throughout the world, corn in Central and South American countries, and rice in Asian countries. In terms of meat, pork is the most common meat consumed in the world, with China as the largest consumer and holder of swine (Pork Site***). These statistics were not accounted for in every country, but the general trend remains consistent. At a continental aggregation, South America consumes the most fruit (120.2 kg/person/year); Asia consumes the most vegetables (125.6 kg/person/year); and North America is the leading meat consumer (93.9 kg/person/year) (Agropolis***).

Another similar thread between countries is the import and export statistic. More developed countries tended to import petroleum products and machinery, which makes sense if they are high industrialized nations and need oil to accommodate their energy needs. Those most commonly exporting this oil tend to be lesser developed countries or countries in the Middle East or Africa. The fact that there were so many countries with machines as their predominant import, especially European countries, leads us to believe these import statistics were aggregated at a wide level and could be more telling if broken down into specific components. For instance, what type of machinery? Does "machine" include completely assembled machines or machine parts? The poorest countries (Burma, Uganda, Ethiopia) are quite obviously not major world players if their main exports are coffee and clothing, but they still import the machines to make these products. The point remains that there is reliance amongst nations, each filling its own niche in the world market in terms of importing and exporting to meet the demands of another. While every country has adapted to its environment and has adjusted its foodways and economic existence accordingly, the one element that remains consistent food. Whether it is lack of food, over abundance of food, or specific food items, people must eat-it is this fact alone that that inevitably unites the world.