Abstract

Many people expect food to be plentiful, reasonably priced, and accessible all year long. Low-cost food benefits customers, but the hidden consequences of this affordability are not acknowledged. A quiet catastrophe that connects farmers' suffering with long-term threats to consumers and the environment has been brought about by the drive to provide inexpensive food. By looking at the difficulties farmers confront, inefficiencies in the agri-food system, environmental externalities, and growing consumer concerns about food quality and safety, this article investigates who really pays the price for inexpensive food. Developing a more resilient, equitable, and sustainable agricultural future requires an understanding of this interwoven system.