Food

F2

Food F2 Industrial Agricultural: Key Elements Machines Economies of Scale Synthetic Inputs

Food F2 Industrial Agriculture Practices Food travels long distances to reach consumer Large amounts of fossil fuels are required to operate farm machinery and to transport food Farms owned by corporations. Fewer small family farms Large Scale Farming Effects:

Food F2 Loss of plant and animal diversity, ecosystems. Disease and crop failure. If one plant gets sick in a monoculture, then all of the other plants are also susceptible to the disease. Increased dependence on pesticides and herbicides. Depletion of soil nutrients and biological activity.

Food F2 Soil, water, and air pollution Depletion of ground and surface water supplies Soil erosion and depletion Elimination of beneficial microorganisms in soil Insects and bacteria develop resistance to pesticides Heavy Inputs Effects:

Food F2 Soil, air, and water pollution from concentrated animal waste and dead animals Harmful bacteria, resistant to antibiotics, spread disease quickly, and possibly affect humans Mistreatment of animals.

Food F2 CAFOs (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations) Effects: Huge amounts of animal waste, stored in areas called lagoons Lagoon spills and overflows contaminate soils and groundwater, and destroy aquatic ecosystems Cattle waste produces large amount of the greenhouse gas, methane, a big contributor to climate change. Quick spread of disease between many animals confined to a small area Animals are fed diets their bodies cannot digest Discomfort, stress, injuries, and lack of exercise for animals Animals are crowded in pens or sheds where movement is restricted and daylight is limited

Food F2 Genetically Modified (GM) Crops Effects: Potential risks posed to humans and wildlife Genetically modified plants could breed with surrounding wildlife, infecting non-GM crops with GM material Food grown for durability, not taste. Loss of quality Loss of biodiversity (seeds)

Food F2 Deforestation and Species Displacement Loss of Pollinators Soil Erosion and Depletion Loss of Genetic Diversity Water depletion and pollution Dependent on Fossil Fuels

Food F2 Water –Over two-thirds of the fresh water used by humans is used for agriculture. Residue on food Antibiotics, Growth Hormones, GMO –Antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria –Introduction of genetically engineered proteins to human body (rBGH) Taste Health Impacts

Food From the 1950s to the 1970s, new agricultural technologies were introduced around the world with the goal of increasing food production. This was known as the Green Revolution.