Food and Agricultural Issues

What is it?

the exploitation of biological processes for industrial and other purposes, especially the genetic manipulation of microorganisms for the production of antibiotics, hormones, etc.

Why is it important?

increase crop production, adds additional nourishment to crops, ability to grow in more regions,

What are the main issues?

can create super bugs that are resistant to pesticides, harmful to environment and people with the use of multiple herbicides,

What are the concerns?

genetically modified plants that produce sterile seeds making farmers buy more seeds every season, super weeds and super bugs, not enough research has been done on the safety of transgenic products so the health of consumers in the future could be at risk, GMOs

What are the benefits?

Increase in crop production, can add additional nourishment to specific crops to improve diets, improves protection from insects and disease which benefits the farmers, minimizes the use of toxic herbicides

What do you think is the biggest concern?

not as accessible in developing countries although it would benefit them greatly whereas it is very prevalent in developed nations.

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Large farms owned by corporations for large scale production

This is important as its the main source of food supply in many stores. In addition, some corporations own over 65% of all food aspects which eliminates opportunities for family farms.

Economic benefits, increase in the scale of the operation decreases the cost of production (economies of scale)

Concerns with the ethical treatment of animals (removal of the chickens nails and beaks (to element bruising and fighting). Also, some corporations such as United Fruit company held equal power to a government and later helped overthrow the government

Concerns with the contamination of groundwater through the dumping of massive amounts of animal waste

What it is: Single crop planted over a large area (eg. vineyards in France, wheat, soybeans, rice, sugar...).

Why it is important: Can become a single staple trade product for a country. Large yields fill the market with that particular product. Heavily associated with a lack of biodiversity on Earth.

Positives: More efficient to plant, maintain, and harvest (same seeds, same equipment, same method). Higher yields because there is no competition from other plants. Specialization is a good thing that creates economies of scale (which means that it maximizes profits and minimizes costs). Control over undesirable or unprofitable organisms (only growing the crop you need). Crops that are best suited for the land can be planted so that soil and climate specifics (winds, droughts, or short growing seasons) will not impact the yield as much as if there was a crop planted at random. It is appealing because it is simple, and straightforward (less knowledge needed).

Negatives: Depletes soil nutrients. Increases the need for costly fertilizers. Relies heavily on pesticides because a lot of bugs are attracted to a large food supply. A lot of chemical run off/ groundwater contamination from spraying pesticides (also uses massive amounts of water). Reduced genetic diversity. Loss of natural habitat and increases the changes of species extinction. Disaster if there is a disease affecting only the crop a farmer is growing.

Possible Solutions: Automated hydroponics may be more efficient (still costly initially). Plant a wide range of biodiverse and profitable crops. Crop rotation: a farmer plants the same crop, but cycles different (still similar) crops on the same land (enriches soil/biodiversity, but it is still efficient). Use of natural fertilizers (less protective, but considerably better than nothing for the environment if the farmer wanted to pursue monoculture).

Why is it important?

this topic is important because through losing genetic diversity, there is less variety in food

What are the main issues?

If there is trouble with the crop that is hybrid, all the crop fails as they all carry the same genes. More threats are developing and they can destroy a species

What do you think is the biggest concern?

The biggest concern is that the species will not have enough variation to build up sufficient immunities, meaning a single threat can wipe out an entire crop, or at a larger scale, an entire population. As well, if there is too much consistency year to year, more threats will develop so that they can more easily destroy a species.

What else should students know about this topic?

Individual species can have widespread impacts on other life that surrounds them. If there are insufficient crops, humans will suffer from famine. If there isn't diversity in insects, the pollination patterns will be disturbed. If trees are insufficiently diverse, there will be lumber shortages, but more importantly, there could potentially be an imbalance in air quality without enough oxygen production for the related CO2.

What is it?

Each individual species has genes that are the source of its unique features. Through integrating hybrids to speed species growth, the genes become similar and lose unique traits

What is it/Why is it important?

Women are responsible for agriculture labour in areas with food shortages. Women make up 20- 70% of workforce in food production industries. Despite their extensive involvement, women have little control over decisions in their field.

What are the main Issues?

Even though women make up such a large portion of agricultural labour force in developing countries, they have very little control or decisive power over their goods and practices. Women also have less access to education and funding for equipment and product.

What do you think is the biggest concern?

The biggest concern is lack of access to education and healthcare for women in agricultural fields. Giving women this access would benefit agriculture yields and food security.

What else should students know about this topic?

Students should know about the disparity between men and women in agriculture and the influence they have within their fields. It should also be noted that acknowledging the role that women play in agriculture can make a difference in gaining food security.

designed by governments to manage domestic agriculture and regulate imports of agricultural products.

because it supports price control, and tariffs (taxes). Equality

These policies are not being met. Far Periphery countries are suffering.

Far Periphery countries suffer continuously. Trap

Control agriculture distribution

Issue grows, control is lacking, far periphery countries suffer long term

The statutory division of agricultural land and its reallocation to landless people. Government will take land from the rich and divide it among poor people without land to make farms and use the land for agriculture. Basically land communism.