food agriculture
Compare/contrast food production today in developed countries to several centuries ago.
-early humans were hunter gatherers and ate fruits, veggies, protein and healthy fats did not die of obesity -the dawn of civilizations change this and modern industrialized societies became dependent on agriculture -11,000 BCE: began cultivating crops and animals - 6000 BCE, most farm animal types had been domesticated challenges: - population growth - resource degradation - changing climates - droughts/ flooding - disease - war The US industrial food system provides plentiful, relatively inexpensive food, but much of it is unhealthy, and the system is not sustainable. obesity and diet-related chronic disease rates are escalating, while the public's health is further threatened by rising antibiotic resistance; chemicals and pathogens contaminating our food, air, soil and water; depletion of natural resources; and climate change improved processing and networks of railroads and shipping routes
Discuss the negative consequences of using pesticides (consider the 3 sides of sustainability).
-end up in water runoff and cause eutrophication and dead zones and raising temp of the ocean -leeching in groundwater making it harmful to drink -Volatilization of pesticides and can be harmful for wildlife, such as frogs. atrazine, causes reproductive problems in the frogs -stored in colon of human and can poison body, linked ot cancer and ADHD and alzheimers, birth defects
What are the advantages/disadvantages to industrialization of our food system? Discuss examples.
-increases food production, lowers consumer costs, encourages technological development and innovation, employment opportunities, lengthens food availability -increases risk of animal cruelty, negativley impacts small business agriculture, environmental concerns- waste and byproduct dumping, air pollution, ozone layer damage, health problems, herbicicdes and pesticides assoicated with illness/poisoning, low quality food, antibiotic resistancy runoff affects fish and amphibians causing cancer, endocrine and reproductive harm, death affects bees and insects
What is colony collapse disorder and what factors are implicated in the disorder?
-majority of worker bees in a colony disappear and leave behind a queen, plenty of food and a few nurse bees to care for the remaining immature bees and the queen. -But hives cannot sustain themselves without worker bees and would eventually die and cause loss of a bee colony -Increased losses due to the invasive varroa mite (a pest of honey bees). New or emerging diseases such as Israeli Acute Paralysis virus Pesticide poisoning through exposure to pesticides applied to crops or for in-hive insect or mite control. Stress bees experience due to management practices such as transportation to multiple locations across the country for providing pollination services. Changes to the habitat where bees forage. Inadequate forage/poor nutrition. Potential immune-suppressing stress on bees caused by one or a combination of factors identified above.
How does the US compare to other countries in terms of % of income spent on food?
. U.S. spends far less than other countries on food. U.S spent 6.4% on food in 2015 , in comparison to austria who spends 9.9%. Some countries spend up to 40-50% of income on food, including Nigeria who spends over 50%. The U.S. spends more money on housing and transportation, and spends more money on resturatn meals now than they did in the 1900s. The US industrial food system provides plentiful, relatively inexpensive food, but much of it is unhealthy, and the system is not sustainable.
Some of our foods are derived from one genetic stock (ex. bananas, cacao). What are the problems associated with this limited biodiversity?
. The vast worldwide monoculture of genetically identical plants leaves the Cavendish intensely vulnerable to disease outbreaks. fungal disease nearly wiped out bananas (BIG MIKE) Yearly, it can take 50 or more applications of chemicals to control the disease. Such heavy use of fungicides has negative impacts on the environment and the occupational health of the banana workers, and increases the costs of production. It also helps select for survival the strains of the fungus with higher levels of resistance to these chemicals: As the resistant strains become more prevalent, the disease gets harder to control over time.
Review the criteria for USDA Organic, Fair Trade, Cage-Free, Dolphin-Safe.
100% organic label means products can only contained organically produced ingredients, organic means 95% must be organically grown farmers paid fairly for their labor above market prices uncaged, free to walk and engage in behavior, do not have outdoor access, no limitations on beak cutting and starving Dolphin-safe labels are used to denote compliance with laws or policies designed to minimize dolphin fatalities during fishing for tuna destined for canning.
Are USDA organic foods genetically modified?
100% organic label means products can only contained organically produced ingredients, organic means 95% must be organically grown no genetically engineered organisms
What is a cover crop and why is it used?
A cover crop is a crop of a specific plant that is grown primarily for the benefit of the soil rather than the crop yield. Cover crops are commonly used to suppress weeds, manage soil erosion, help build and improve soil fertility and quality, control diseases and pests, and promote biodiversity.plants that are planted to cover the soil
What led to the Green Revolution and what have been the impacts globally? (view video on Norman Borlaug if you haven't already)
Borlaug and team breeding process. shuttle breeding wheat adaptable to diff growing region highly responsive to fertilizer and flourished lodging problem plant breeding - semi dwarf wheat that could support weight of the grain miracle seeds yields doubled bc of dwarf wheat and disease resistance mexico became independent on wheat production and could import all over the world the great increase in production of food grains (such as rice and wheat) due to the introduction of high-yielding varieties, to the use of pesticides, and to better management techniques helped become developing countries saving over a billion people worldwide from starvation.
grass-fed
Cows were given an all grass diet and most often allowed to roam as cows do in the pasture. This produces a healthier animal, healthier food and is kinder to the animal.
Describe the soil ecosystem.
Foundation of farm ecosystems • Foundation of food supply • Sustains plants by providing: - Water - Nutrients - Root support has organic matter like waste that is decomposed by mutualists, pathogens , and parasites such as bacteria or mychorrhizal fungi. then shredders and grazers like arthropods and protozoa intake these. then there are predators that feed of these like animals and birds
What are the health concerns about high fructose corn syrup in foods? Why is it used in foods?
HFCS can contribute to metabolic disorder and altered dopamine function independent of weight gain and high-fat diets It's used to sweeten processed foods and soft drinks excessive consumption of fructose can be very harmful.he liver is the only organ that can metabolize fructose in significant amounts. When your liver gets overloaded, it turns the fructose into fat Some of that fat can lodge in your liver, contributing to fatty liver. High fructose consumption is also linked to insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, obesity, and type 2 diabetes
How does selective breeding and domestication differ from genetic modification in crops and livestock?
Selective breeding is a form of genetic modification which doesn't involve the addition of any foreign genetic material (DNA) into the organism. Rather, it is the conscious selection for desirable traits. Genetic modification (GM) is the alteration of the genome of a plant or animal by the addition of new genetic material. It underlies the concept of transgenics, in which an organism is modified to incorporate new genes that lead to new characteristics, such as the production of proteins for human health, or the expression of a gene for herbicide resistance in plants, to name just two applications.
As agriculture developed from a more nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyle, how did societies change?
Significant population growth -went from 4 million in 10,000BCE to 200 million by beginning of common era -more stable and abundnant food supply, farming resulting in more calories per acre -establishment of cities, art, literature, land ownership, social stratification
irrigation
The process of supplying water to areas of land to make them suitable for growing crops.
Do food labels in our country indicate whether there are genetically modified ingredients?
While some labels are closely regulated by the government, require a rigorous certification process or both, others are not regulated, regulated poorly, open to many interpretations, or have little or no significant meaning. These labels may mislead consumers. For example, contrary to what some consumers might expect, the "natural" label has no implications for nutritional value or production practices, including the use of transgenic (genetically engineered) organisms, antibiotics and added hormones (refer to Food Animal Production);24 the "free range" label on eggs does not require birds to have been raised outdoors,25 and until recently, even the USDA Organic label had only vague regulations on animal health and welfare.26 Partly
seed bank
an organization that preserves the seeds of diverse plants in case of a global crop collapse A seed bank stores seeds to preserve genetic diversity; hence it is a type of gene bank. There are many reasons to store seeds. One is to preserve the genes that plant breeders need to increase yield, disease resistance, drought tolerance, nutritional quality, taste, etc. of crops
free-range
animals, especially poultry, that range freely for food, rather than being confined in an enclosure
biofuel
any fuel that is derived from biomass—that is, plant or algae material or animal waste. Since such feedstock material can be replenished readily, biofuel is considered to be a source of renewable energy, unlike fossil fuels such as petroleum, coal, and natural gas.
What is the Haber-Bosch process and what role has it played in agricultural history? What are the drawbacks associated with this process?
converts hydrogen and nitrogen to ammonia, could be one of the most important industrial chemical reactions ever developed. -The process made ammonia fertilizer widely available -yields from agriculture increased rapidly in a short time. -pop grew from 1.6 to 6 billion -less developed countries fertilizers are easily soluble in water, and when it rains, this fertilizer is carried out of the soil in the run-off water, and seeps into water bodies, leading to Eutrophication, and harmful algal blooms -the exponential, unnatural growth of algae that covers the surface of the water body, preventing sunlight to reach submerged species and kills them dead areas , can consume dissolved oxygen which then means fish can die from ocygen deprivation
how does diet affect ?Discuss different categories of items in a typical human diet and the negative impacts of particular items on climate change.
food system contributes of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, with the largest proportion coming from animal-based food. In addition, the poor quality of the standard U.S. diet — including high levels of red and processed meat and low levels of fruits and vegetables — is a major factor in a number of preventable diseases. Primarily, it's the reduced consumption of meat. Most meat comes from CAFOs (concentrated animal feeding operations) and the environmental statistics of CAFOs are hard to swallow. Livestock globally emit 18 % of all greenhouse gases (more than transportation); one third of global grain goes to feed livestock; in North America half of all synthetic fertilizers are used to grow grains; nitrogen fertilizers emit 75 % of agricultural nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas 300 times more damaging to the climate than carbon; and half the energy used by agriculture is used to feed livestock.
Food labels can mislead the consumer. What terms can be used on food labels to suggest to the consumer that the product is more natural or healthier? How do the terms on the label differ?
"antioxidant rich" heart healthy smart choiuce boosts immunity
USDA
(U.S. Department of Agriculture) Regulates and inspects meat, poultry, and eggs esponsible for developing and executing federal laws related to farming, forestry, rural economic development, and food.
CAFO
concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs)
Identify several crops that are native to the Americas.
corn, potato, squash, tomato, beans, avacado, amaranth, peppers, cacao, peanuts, pineapple
externalities
costs
What category of crops has been central to human civilization and what characteristics of these plants have allowed civilization to develop?
grains -dryness= easy storage -lack of bitter tasting compounds=no processing -starch,protein and fiber -raised breads more nourishing than raw cereak and fermentation allows more digestion -rice, wheat, corn, rye, oats -70% of worlds crops barley can tolerate saltier soils rye is cold resistant corn tolerates high temperature
How has the number of fish farms changed in the recent decade?
increased, making improvements of fish farming, we were limited in how we would raise food but it increased a lot
How does livestock production impact climate change?
methane fertilizers eutrophication dead zones runoff water usage
mycorrhizae
mutual symbiotic relationships between fungal hyphae and plant roots important in assisting the host plant with the uptake of phosphorus and nitrogen, two nutrients vital to plant growth. Mycorrhizae actually increase the surface area associated with the plant root, which allows the plant to reach nutrients and water that might not be available otherwise.
heirloom crop
open-pollinated cultivar that was commonly grown during earlier periods in human history, but which is not used in modern large-scale agriculture. Since most popular heirloom plants are vegetables, the term heirloom vegetable is often used instead. carrots corn cantaloupe
How is honey processed by commercial producers?
pastuerized honey is heated which casues loss of nutrients, may have natural flavors added, beneficial bacteria and enzymes killed off, filtered for aesthetic appeal, honeycomb and pollen removed filtration
Transgenic
relating to or denoting an organism that contains genetic material into which DNA from an unrelated organism has been artificially introduced.genetically modified organism whose source of new genetic material is a different species
artificial selection
selective breeding of plants and animals to promote the occurrence of desirable traits in offspring
What are the pros/cons of farming salmon? How does this differ from farming tilapia?
survival rate of 80-90% vs wild which is1-2% less expensive and more widely avaliable more production fewer essential fatty acids, color from dyes, antibiotics concentrated waste leads to algal blooms and low oxygen dead zones higher level of pollution in tissues wild is healthier higher energy input more PCBs tilapia are herbivores feed on vegitation while salmon requires fish chow
How can you reduce soil erosion?
-Maintaining a healthy, perennial plant cover. -Mulching. Planting a cover crop - . Cover crops are often tilled under serving also as a "green manure" crop. -Placing crushed stone, wood chips, and other similar materials in heavily used areas where vegetation is hard to establish and maintain. -redirecting stormwater and roof runoff to areas that can settle and dissipate water, such as a rain garden.
aquifer
A body of rock or sediment that stores groundwater and allows the flow of groundwater.
What is IPM-integrated pest management?
An approach to solving pest problems by applying our knowledge about pests to prevent them from damaging crops, harming animals, infesting buildings or otherwise interfering with our livelihood or enjoyment of life. Community IPM practitioners work to identify and correct pest-friendly conditions, eliminating access to food, water and harborage by improving sanitation, maintenance, exclusion and landscape management practices. uses soil preparation, pest trapping, forecasting,planting
In what ways are nitrogen-fixing bacteria beneficial to agriculture?
Bacteria take nitrogen from the air and convert it into ammonia for the plants, which use it for energy to grow. The plants in turn provide carbon and other nutrients to the microbes. Both nitrate and ammonia are plant absorbable forms of nitrogen that a plant can use. Plants use this nitrogen primarily to produce plant proteins.
CSA
Community-supported Agriculture; A program in which you can make an annual or monthly contribution to a local farm in return for weekly deliveries of a "share" of whatever the farm produces. Under the loose organizational umbrella of CSA, some 2,000 farms like Peterson's are now supplying between 250,000 and 500,000 people with fresh, local food during harvest season
Why might certain food stuffs be fortified with vitamins or minerals? Provide examples.
Fortified foods are those that have nutrients added to them that don't naturally occur in the food. These foods are meant to improve nutrition and add health benefits. For example, milk is often fortified with vitamin D, and calcium may be added to fruit juices. salt with iodine grain products with folic acid,iron, B vitamins
gleaning
Gathering up the grain in the fields left behind by the reapers.act of collecting leftover crops from farmers' fields after they have been commercially harvested or on fields where it is not economically profitable to harvest.
How do agricultural practices impact climate change?
Gradual temperature increase • CO2 effect • Wildcards (extreme drought, flooding) • Water depletion • Economics, demographics, infrastructure
monoculture
agricultural practice of producing or growing a single crop, plant, or livestock species, variety, or breed in a field or farming system at a time. Polyculture, where more than one crop is grown in the same space at the same time, is the alternative to monoculture.
food system
all of the steps a food goes through from being grown to being consumed, including packaging, transporting, and selling. involve the environmental impacts of agriculture, food processing and packaging and energy use throughout including transportations.
organic matter
any substance that is made of living things or the remains of living things
sustainability
avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance.
eutrophication
A process by which nutrients, particularly phosphorus and nitrogen, become highly concentrated in a body of water, leading to increased growth of organisms such as algae or cyanobacteria.
dead zone
In a body of water, an area with extremely low oxygen concentration and very little life
Many farmers use fertilizer on their crops. What are the primary macronutrients that plants need from the fertilizer?
Macronutrients are essential for plant growth and a good overall state of the plant. The primary macronutrients are Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K) nitrogen-plant development, metabolism, energy, protein synthesis Phosphorus is involved in root growth, which it stimulates. In the aerial zone it favors flowering Potassium is involved in the regulation of water and the transport of the plant's reserve substances. It increases photosynthesis capacity, strengthens cell tissue, and activates the absorption of nitrates.
What are the pros/cons of agricultural monocultures?
PROS: -allows specialized/consistent production -promotes technological advances in agriculture -increases efficiency bc perfect conditions -maximizes yields -simpler to manage easy -higher earings cons: -pest problems -pesiticide resistance -degrades soils -encourages high use of fertilizers -pollutes environment contributes to climate change -more water required -overproduction -decrease biodiversity -kills bees/pollinators -increase harvest loss -fossil fuels -not climate smart
compost
Partially decomposed organic plant and animal matter used as a soil conditioner or fertilizer.
recirculating aquaculture systems
Recirculating aquaculture systems are used in home aquaria and for fish production where water exchange is limited and the use of biofiltration is required to reduce ammonia toxicity. operate by filtering water from the fish (or shellfish) tanks so it can be reused within the tank. ... The company's filtration systems operate continuously, keeping the water clean and providing a healthy environment for the fish
long term irrigation in one area negatives
danger of waterlogging and salinization of soils and waters, rise in groundwater table, spread of water born diseases, pollution of waters and many others. water depletion
salinization
Accumulation of salts in soil that can eventually make the soil unable to support plant growth.
fair trade
Alternative to international trade that emphasizes small businesses and worker owned and democratically run cooperatives and requires employers to pay workers fair wages, permit union organizing, and comply with minimum environmental and safety standards.
genetically modified organisms
An organism whose genetic material has been altered through some genetic engineering technology or technique.animal, plant, or microbe whose DNA has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. For thousands of years, humans have used breeding methods to modify organisms. Corn, cattle, and even dogs have been selectively bred over generations to have certain desired traits
How have yields in wild-caught seafood changed in the recent decade? Why have yields changed? What are the problems with the fishing industry?
As the demand for seafood has increased, technology has made it possible to grow food in coastal marine waters and the open ocean overfishing has declined the population .high bycatch rates with trawls, longlines and gillnets, scallop dredging, overharvest, kills sharks whales dolphins Roughly one-third of assessed fish populations are over-fished and over half are fully-fished
IFAP
Industrial Farm Animal Production
Discuss pros/cons of local food (not just environmental issues). Under what circumstances does it make sense to bring food from long distances?
pros-creation of local jobs, economic benefits tourist attractions, combination of short travel distances and local farming techniques (lack of chemical preservatives) makes the food consumed more likely to be organic and fresh, higher quality cons- higher price, productivity and efficiency of local food production can be lower than large scale production. This implies that local food production may be worse for the environment than food made on a large scale.
What are mycorrhizae and in what ways are mycorrhizae beneficial to agriculture?
Mycorrhizae are symbiotic, mutualistic relationships that form between fungi and plants. The fungi colonize the root system of a host plant, providing increased water and nutrient absorption capabilities while the plant provides the fungus with carbohydrates formed from photosynthesis.
Does sustainable = organic? Why/Why not?
Organic food is grown without synthetic inputs such as chemical pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. Organic farms instead use natural approaches and fertilizers, such as crop rotation and manure, to control pests, diseases and weeds. This minimizes the exposure of farm workers, consumers, and the environment more broadly to harmful pesticides.Fertilizers that run off into streams and other waterways cause eutrophication—a process in which excess nitrogen and phosphorous buildups lead to algal blooms and excess production of carbon dioxide. The process results in acidic waterways with dead zones, or areas that are so low in oxygen that they kill marine life. Since it does not include the use of synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, organic agriculture is very sustainable in many aspects.Research has shown that organic farms use 45 percent less energy, release 40 percent less carbon emissions, and foster 30 percent more biodiversity compared to conventional farming.organic farm practices are not necessarily always the most sustainable option. To control pests and weeds without using pesticides, organic farmers often lay down sheets of black plastic over the soil surrounding their crops which contributes to waste. The lack of pesticides and wider variety of plants enhances biodiversity and results in better soil quality and reduced pollution from fertilizer or pesticide run-off.downside because of the extra land that is being used to grow organic crops," said Stefan Wirsenius, an associate professor at Chalmers. "If we use more land for food, we have less land for carbon sequestration. The total greenhouse gas impact from organic farming is higher than conventional farming."
What are the issues with food packaging and processing and potential future considerations?
Packaging waste is responsible for polluting our climate, blocking our drains and potentially harming wildlife when it ends up in our oceans and rivers processing uses potentially harmful chemicals and generates waste .3D printing meals, Upprinting takes unwanted and discarded food and uses it to create paste filament that in turn is used to create delicious snacks. This food paste can be stored for extended periods of time and can be used to create a host of dishes 3D printed edible plates
What characteristics would be associated with more sustainable fish farming?
Paul Olin, aquaculture specialist with the California Sea Grant, another partner in the study, said that new technology such as vaccinations for fish, improved net design and materials, and new sources of protein for fish feed would alleviate many concerns address overfishing
What are the concerns about genetic modification?
Possible allergic reactions • Loss of biodiversity-gene transfers, Bt pollen • Increased use of herbicides • Resistance of insects/diseases • Rights of farmers to own their seeds • Domination of world food production by a few companies • Increasing dependence on industrialized nations by developing countries • Biopiracy/foreign exploitation of natural resources • Neighbors crops impacted (not resistant) endocrine disruption
aquaculture
Raising marine and freshwater fish in ponds and underwater cages also known as aquafarming, is the farming of fish, crustaceans, molluscs, aquatic plants, algae, and other organisms. Aquaculture involves cultivating freshwater and saltwater populations under controlled conditions, and can be contrasted with commercial fishing, which is the harvesting of wild fish.fastest growing food-producing sector in the world, contributing one-third of global food fish production. The nutritional benefits of fish consumption have a positive link to increased food security and decreased poverty rates in developing states.
Why is raw milk illegal for market sale in the US? In what ways do pasteurized and raw milk differ?
Raw milk is milk that has not been pasteurized to kill harmful bacteria. Raw milk can carry dangerous germs, such as Brucella, Campylobacter, Cryptosporidium, E. coli, Listeria, and Salmonella, which can pose serious health risksWhile it is possible to get foodborne illnesses from many different foods, raw milk is one of the riskiest of all. Pasteurization is the process of heating milk to a high enough temperature for a long enough time to kill illness-causing germs.Pasteurization was invented during a time when millions of people became sick and died of tuberculosis, scarlet fever, typhoid fever, and other diseases that were transmitted through raw milk. Pasteurization has prevented millions of people from becoming ill.
What issues are there associated with food packaging (not labeling) and food storage in terms of energy use and raw materials?
Solid waste is an environmental concern. Food packaging accounts for roughly two-thirds of total packaging waste in the United States. Discarding packaging materials in landfills has the potential to pollute air and water, while combusting them for energy can emit greenhouse gases, dioxins and other pollutants that are harmful to health and the environment. Some forms of food packaging also pose health concerns. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical commonly used in the linings of metal cans and in the manufacture of hard plastics, such as some bottles and food storage containers. Studies have found links between BPA exposure and cardiovascular disease, diabetes, male sexual dysfunction, certain cancers and changes to immune function. flexible plastics are much harder to recycle than the simpler metal, paper, and glass containers they replace. Too many of the new materials end up in landfills or bobbing around the ocean.Packaging accounts for more than 60% of the plastics recovered in coastal cleanup operations. "Without significant action, there may be more plastic than fish in the ocean, by weight, by 2050," chemicals like BPA linked to diabetes
What is sustainability? I presented a diagram representing the three interconnected elements of sustainability-what are they? How do food systems relate to these elements?
Sustainability as a discipline considers the environmental, social and economic impacts of actions and considers options to improve overall well-being. ensure social justice, healthy environment and economic well-being. Food systems involve the environmental impacts of agriculture, food processing and packaging and energy use throughout including transportations. Our food production involves many workers, some exposed to harsh and unsafe conditions and low wages. Additionally many people lack access to affordable healthy foods.affects food production, processing distribution, food waste and consumption nutrition and health
What was the Dust Bowl and how were poor agricultural practices partly responsible?
The Dust Bowl was a period of severe dust storms that greatly damaged agriculture of the American and Canadian prairies during the 1930s and caused severe drought a failure to apply dryland farming methods to prevent the aeolian processes (wind erosion) OVERPLOWING, left fields vulnerable. plowed fields right after harvest causing soil to dry out and blow away The lack of vegetation led to high-speed winds that ripped across the barren plains. The weak and exposed topsoil was picked up by the wind, creating massive moving clouds of dirt and debris that swept over farmlands and towns
Discuss sustainable agriculture techniques. In what ways are they better for the environment and society? What are the externalities associated with large-scale agriculture?
cover crops: plants that are planted to cover the soil rather than for the purpose of being harvested. -builds soil health, nutrient retention, erosion control, weed reduction Composting: method for treating solid waste in which organic material is broken down by microorganisms in the presence of oxygen to a point where it can be safely stored, handled and applied to the environment Integrating crops and livestock: -excess manure spills from lagoons, runs off fields, or leaches into groundwater—transforming the nutrients in manure from the valuable resources they could be into dangerous pollutants. -raised partially or entirely on pastures, would reduce soil erosion, increase soil fertility, store carbon, and provide habitat for beneficial organism heavy use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and meat production in CAFOs (confined animal feeding operations). Practices deplete nutrients, mutualists • Energy consumption for production • Salts and heavy metal accumulation • Build up of pesticides in soils and need for higher levels with resistance hurts bees animals and human health heavy machinery, corporations, reduce biodiversity cause health issues outside cost not accounted for in a normal price
How does food waste contribute to climate change issues (think entire food system)? Besides the food left on your plate, what are other sources of food waste?
decomposing food generates methane 1/3 food avaliable to eat goes to waste and is edible waste of emissions from growing, processing, transporting, storing, cooking and retail. NYS 18% waste stream to landfill food There's the waste of the food itself. The waste of the money associated with producing the now wasted food. The waste of labor associated with all of the above. And the social inequity between people who really need food, but can't get it and those who have too much and just trash it. And for climate change And there are studies that indicate as much as 11 percent of greenhouse gas emissions could be eliminated if food waste were brought to zero Nitrogen and phosphorus can aid plant growth when applied in reasonable amounts, but are dangerous in high concentrations. The EPA has identified poultry manure as the largest source of excess phosphorus and nitrogen in the Chesapeake Bay and found that the nutrients have created a dead zone as plants and aquatic life are smothered from lack of oxygen.High nitrate concentrations in drinking water can cause blue baby syndrome and may contribute to developmental defects in fetuses or miscarriages in pregnant women.13 Spraying large amounts of manure sends dust particles into the air that can penetrate the lungs of humans nearby. The particles carry toxic gases such as ammonia, which can impede the lungs from clearing dust particles, and hydrogen sulfide, which can prevent cells from using oxygen and causes loss of consciousness, coma, or death at high exposure leve
What did Malthus predict and have his predictions come true-why/why not?
exponential pop growth would outspace food produciton -1798 Thomas Robert Malthus predicted that short-term gains in living standards would inevitably be undermined as human population growth outstripped food production, and thereby drive living standards back toward subsistence. -populations would continue expanding until growth is stopped or reversed by disease, famine, war, or calamity -# of children per fam would adjust ao that income would remain close to subsistence level -Never came true. -Malthus overlooked technological advancement, which would allow human beings to keep ahead of the population curve. -Malthus did not reckon with the advance of public health, family planning, and modern contraception,
Land management and ownership has changed throughout history. Discuss the progression from hunter-gather to modern-day agriculture in terms of land use, number of laborers and individual vs corporate ownership. How have US farms changed in size and work force in the past 100 years? How has the acreage devoted to agriculture changed during the past 100 years? How has the yield changed?
farming yielded 10-100 times more calories per acre. Farms are bigger, livestock are usually raised inside, yields are higher, # farms decreased size of farm increased by a lot (1900 14 acres to 2000 441 acres) commodities per farm decreased farm share and rural share decreased land in farm stayed similar but acres increased decreasing amount of farms less manual labor is needed, in 1900s 50% people were farmers or in rural communites but needed to be cheaper technology has taken over many jobs -irrigation and the plow increased productivity
What are greenhouse gases and how can they impact climate? How do the different gases vary in the magnitude of their effect on "global warming"? Which greenhouse gas is generated by food waste? Which greenhouse gas is generated by ruminants, like cows?
gases in Earth's atmosphere that trap heat and hold it in the atmosphere which leads to global warming. Global warming is the slow increase in the average temperature of the earth's atmosphere because an increased amount of the energy (heat) striking the earth from the sun is being trapped in the atmosphere and not radiated out into space waste food, we also waste all the energy and water it takes to grow, harvest, transport, and package it. And if food goes to the landfill and rots, it produces methane—a greenhouse gas even more potent than carbon dioxide. -methane is emitted by cows, Methane emissions also result from livestock and other agricultural practices and by the decay of organic waste in municipal solid waste landfills. Methane is a stronger greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide because it has much higher heat trapping ability. Methane on a weight basis has 21 times the global warming potential (GWP) of carbon dioxide. methane is 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide.
no-till agriculture
growth of crops without plowing the soil to prevent erosion and loss of nutrients An agricultural method in which farmers do not turn the soil between seasons, used as a means of reducing erosion
How may climate change shift the geographic growing areas for crops? While temperatures may warm with latitude, what important factor for plant growth will not change?
important factor that wont change is photoperiod, as climate zones move north with warmig, the same amount of climate hours are required. too little water: less stable precipitation together with increased heat is causing increased desertification, leading to a complete loss of farm production in some areas. Frequent droughts and enhanced evaporation are not only killing off the vital living soil ecosystems necessary to grow healthy crops, they're also leaving less water to dilute even relatively common pollutants in reservoirs, streams and rivers, lakes, and wells. too much water:In coastal areas, sea-level rise may lead to increased groundwater salinization as the salty sea floods further inland. This will compromise the availability of fresh water, including that used for drinking and farm and garden irrigation. or runoff with chemicals stripping healthy soil of key nutrients needed to sustain agriculture. rising temperatures and increasing extreme weather events could reduce global production of maize, wheat, rice, and soy by 9 percent in the 2030s and up to 23 percent in the 2050s. crop production moving north The biggest threat to agriculture from climate change, he explains, is its impact on precipitation patterns and water quality.
Discuss animal welfare issues associated with livestock production in the US. How have the number and size of livestock farms and meat - producing companies changed over the past few decades?
inabiltiy to perfom natural behavior,physical altercation without pain relief, restricted movement, stress/anxiety, specialization occurred and animals started becoming separating from crop production consolidation- number of hog opertions decreased but the amount of hogs at the operations significantly increased, same with poultry most meat comes from IFAP-industrial food animal production now is crowded indoor areas thousands of animals horizontal intergration causes big coorporations to control a majority of meat overcrowding of animals and poor treatment. chickens get sick and die antibiotic resistance livestock 81% of antibiotics must be in dark, cant move or function wasteborne contamination-harbors pathogens and chemical contaminants, stored in lagoons and sprayed impacts to public health, populations of ecoli in grain fed to cattle, resource depletion
nitrogen fixation
process of converting nitrogen gas into nitrogen compounds that plants can absorb and use process by which atmospheric nitrogen is converted by either a natural or an industrial means to a form of nitrogen such as ammonia. In nature, most nitrogen is harvested from the atmosphere by microorganisms to form ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates that can be used by plants.
organic
produced or involving production without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or other artificial agents The term "organic" refers to the process of how certain foods are produced. Organic foods have been grown or farmed without the use of artificial chemicals, hormones, antibiotics or genetically modified organisms. In order to be labelled organic, a food product must be free of artificial food additive
What are the pros/cons of CAFOs?
pros- . CAFOs help us to reduce issues with food waste Farming can happen almost anywhere..Food prices stay low because of CAFOs.It creates a market where some food prices can go down.CAFOs provide plenty of employment opportunitieOrganizations can diversify their food portfolio with CAFOs cons- CAFOs lead to an increase in antibiotic resistanceCAFOs produce a lot of pollutants.CAFOs create a negative influence on the environment.Animals have fewer opportunities to live a natural life.The animals in CAFOs often reach an unnatural size.CAFOs can increase the levels of localized soil erosionCAFOs can increase the levels of localized soil erosionIt changes the psychological profile of the animals.CAFOs force animals to be over-productivePricing is often fixed instead of competitive. necessary at times because a growing human society requires more food to eat. The total levels of agricultural production require us to feed 2 billion more people by 2050. CAFOs give us a way to do that without overwhelming the planet because we can freeze agriculture's footprint so that we're not plowing prairies or taking forests away.
Why is BGH (rBGH) given to cows in some areas?
the bioengineered hormone is injected in the cows every other week to force the cows to produce more milk than their bodies normally would. rBGH is similar, although not identical, to a hormone that the cow naturally produces. Recombinant somatotropin, rBST (previously called bovine growth hormone), is a genetically engineered hormone injected into dairy cows to increase milk production. ... The use of rBST in dairy cows has been shown to increase the concentrations of IGF-1, a protein naturally found in milk. In cows treated with rbGH, significant health problems often develop, including a 50% increase in the risk of lameness (leg and hoof problems), over a 25% increase in the frequency of udder infections (mastitis), and serious animal reproductive problems, such as infertility, cystic ovaries, fetal loss and birth defect
green revolution
the great increase in production of food grains (such as rice and wheat) due to the introduction of high-yielding varieties, to the use of pesticides, and to better management techniques.
microbiome
the microorganisms in a particular environment (including the body or a part of the body). Most of the microbes in your intestines are found in a "pocket" of your large intestine called the cecum, and they are referred to as the gut microbiome. Although many different types of microbes live inside you, bacteria are the most studied. In fact, there are more bacterial cells in your body than human cells
colony collapse disorder
the phenomenon that occurs when the majority of worker bees in a colony disappear and leave behind a queen, plenty of food and a few nurse bees to care for the remaining immature bees and the queen.
desertification
the process by which fertile land becomes desert, typically as a result of drought, deforestation, or inappropriate agriculture. Degradation of land, especially in semiarid areas, primarily because of human actions like excessive crop planting, animal grazing, and tree cutting.
Foods vary in their level of processing. What techniques are used to process foods? For what reasons are foods processed? What are the pros/cons of processed food?
transform raw plant and animal materials, such as grains, produce, meat and dairy, into products for consumers. minimally processed food, Minimal forms of processing include washing, peeling, slicing, juicing and removing inedible parts.Some nutritionists also characterize freezing, drying and fermenting as minimal forms of processing. To prolong shelf life and inhibit the growth of pathogens, perishable foods may have preservatives added to them, or they may be sealed in sterile packaging.heat pasturizing processed food ingredients To create these ingredients, starting materials such as grains and oil seeds may be milled, refined, crushed or exposed to chemicals. and highly processed food using techniques like mixing, baking, frying, curing, smoking and the addition of vitamins and minerals. conveniece and variety preservation prevents spoiling which can make ppl sick Processing and preparing foods can make them safer to eat by destroying toxins and eliminating or inhibiting pathogens.3 Preservation techniques such as refrigerating, freezing, fermenting, drying and adding salt or sugar can slow or stop the growth of pathogens.3 Heat processes, such as pasteurization and cooking, can eliminate pathogens.3 longer shelf lives, added dietary nutrients, appealing textures and Processed food ingredients tend to be nutrient-poor, meaning they are high in calories relative to the amount of vitamins, minerals and other key dietary nutrients. many foods in this category are high in added sugar, sodium, saturated fats or trans fats and contain little dietary fiber. rapid growth in the food processing industry can contribute to foodborne illness outbreaks. dangerous jobs
Livestock production yields considerable manure. Discuss how manure can become an asset or liability for a farmer.
use manure as a fertilizer, letting animals roam on land after harvest to build up organic matter saves money contains nutrients and organic matter that benefit plants like nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and sulfur (S). Most industrial operations store waste in massive lagoons that can hold millions of gallons of liquid manure. They may spread or spray some of the manure on available land. When it is spread in excessive quantities, or when the lagoons leak, problems result.concentrations.9 E. Coli bacteria have been found in the manure of a quarter of the beef cattle on large feedlots.10 Unfortunately, evidence suggests that pollution problems from CAFO manure are large and spreading. Nitrogen and phosphorus can aid plant growth when applied in reasonable amounts, but are dangerous in high concentrations. The EPA has identified poultry manure as the largest source of excess phosphorus and nitrogen in the Chesapeake Bay and found that the nutrients have created a dead zone as plants and aquatic life are smothered from lack of oxygen. One-third of all wells in Maryland's chicken-producing areas have been found to have concentrations of nitrate, which is created by the breakdown of nitrogen by microbes, that exceed EPA standards for drinking water.11blue baby syndrome and may contribute to developmental defects in fetuses or miscarriages in pregnant women.13Spraying large amounts of manure sends dust particles into the air that can penetrate the lungs of humans nearby. The particles carry toxic gases such as ammonia, which can impede the lungs from clearing dust particles, and hydrogen sulfide, which can prevent cells from using oxygen and causes loss of consciousness, coma, or death at high exposure levels.19
Vertical Integration and Horizontal Integration
vertical -company owning anything from start of production all the way thru process farms that produce calves ones that breed them ones that milk horizontal- many diff food processing facility and companies buy out others and have mergers
For what reasons are crops genetically modified? What are the most common genetic modifications in crop plants (why are they modified) and what crops are typically modified?
• Insect/disease resistance • Herbicide resistance • Drought/salt tolerance • Shipping qualities • Cold tolerance • Pharmaceuticals • Nutrition • Phytoremediation • >40 GM crops allowed in US • Herbicide tolerance (HT) and insect resistance (Bt) engineered into 4 commodity crops (corn, cotton, soybeans, and canola) • Monsanto, DuPont/Pioneer, Syngenta, and Dow/Mycogen • Virus-resistant papaya and squash Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) gene- plant produces toxin that kills insects • Roundup Ready gene - causes expression of herbicide to kill weeds corn, cotton, soybeans
