World population expected to rise to 10 billion Demand for food and water will rise Next topics covered in class are about food and water

Food Production Population Growth Time Amount Concern that population growth would continue after food production levels off

Changes brought about by modern agriculture and the Green Revolution Temporarily closed the gap between food production and need in some countries– food production has increased (& fertility starting to come down) Heavy reliance on irrigation and fertilizers Negative impact on small farmers and culturally specific crops

Fig Yield of several major crops increased greatly with modern agriculture techniques

Subsistence Farming Labor intensive Use of marginal lands Clearing of tropical rain forests Can cause environmental degradation

mechanization: fossil fuels new lands: best land already in production (~25% in US, ~38% world wide) little new land available in US, land still cleared in developing countries agro-chemicals: fertilizers & pesticides increased irrigation: conflicting water uses, irrigated land produces ~40% of worlds food selected cultivars: loss of diversity Industrial Agriculture

Global Population and Grain and Meat Consumption Fig. 9-9 here

How have we increased world food production? Traditional agriculture small farms animal labor low use of chemicals and irrigation natural plant varieties Industrialized agriculture large farms fossil-fuel driven machinery intense use of pesticides, fertilizer and irrigation high-yield plant varieties

Green Revolution Father of green revolution (Norman Borlaug) won Nobel Peace Prize in 1970 Very positive effect on world hunger Many high yield crops require high water and fertilizer Favors non-traditional cultivation methods Many traditional African crops not affected

Bio tech crops & Genetically Modified Organisms Insert genetic material (DNA) from one organism into another to provide a desired trait

Examples of desired traits Insect resistance Herbicide resistance Drought/heat/salt tollerance Improved nutritional value Vaccine delivery

Spread of genes to non-crops: super weeds, harm wild species Food safety: ex, allergies, big concern in Europe Access to technology: yearly seed purchase & dependence on foreign technology in developing countries Problems

Burden of proof Should regulators need to prove that food is not safe? Should companies have to prove that food is safe?

[per capita gross national product – ] High income countries: Too much meat, salt, fat. Not enough fiber. Food processing may reduce mineral and vitamin content. Low income countries: Lack of proteins and vitamins (malnutrition) and lack of calories (undernutrition)

Why do the fries taste so good? Read excerpt from Fast Food Nation. Potato farming is example of trends towards industrial farming The story of one potato baron- and lots of other potato farmers For each $1.5 spent on fries in restaurant, $0.02 goes to farmers Fast food companies purchase potatoes for $0.03 per pound and sell fries at $6.00 per pound

Why do the fries taste so good? “natural and artificial flavoring” is made in NJ 1950’s processed food sales increased dramatically 10,000 processed foods introduced every year in US “flavorists” (chemists) create compounds that give processed foods taste

Undernourished: People who receive less than 90% of their minimum dietary intake on a longterm basis. U.N. World Health Organization: Seriously undernourished: People who receive less than 80% of their minimum dietary intake on a longterm basis. Overnourished: People who take in excess calories on a routine basis over the longterm. Malnourished: A nutritional imbalance caused by the lack of specific dietary components or an inability to absorb or utilize essential nutrients.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Guide Pyramid; North Americans consume on average about 35% of their daily calories as fat.

Distinguishes between healthy and unhealthy types of fat and carbohydrates. Fruits, vegetables, healthy fats and whole grain foods are encouraged. Consumption of refined carbohydrates, butter and red meat should be limited. Source: Scientific American 2002

Essential dietary requirements Complex carbohydrates –Usually 80% of daily caloric intake Proteins –About 40 grams/day needed. Essential aminoacids –Enzymes, cell structures, nervous tissue Lipids (fats, oils, etc.) –Energy storage; cellular membranes Minerals (ex. calcium, iodine, iron, etc.) –Component of cellular structures; regulation of cellular reactions Vitamins –Organic molecules we cannot synthesize and have to get from our diet.

Major Crops Wheat, rice, maize –60 % of the calories and 56 % of the protein that humans consume directly from plants. –staple of most of the 4 billion people in developing countries Potatoes, barley, oats, rye –grow well in cool, humid climates –staple of mountainous and higher latitude regions Cassava, sweet potatoes and other root crops –grow well in warm wet climates (South America, Africa, South Pacific region) Meat/milk –Uneven distribution Fish –Important source of protein

Causes of Famine and Hunger Hotspots Civil Wars Drought Government Incompetence

Life boat Ethics (same author as Tragedy of the Commons) Some lifeboats crowded & people keep falling out Some not crowded- could pick up the people in the water but Then the uncrowned boats would be crowded and unsafe and everyone could die ?