Breakthroughs in Agriscience Agriscience Course

What is Biotechnology? The use of cells or components of cells to produce products or processes.

Genetically Engineered Tomato Calgene, an agricultural biotechnology firm in Davis, California, developed a bioengineered tomato that resists rotting. The new tomato was developed by turning off the gene that causes the tomato to soften and rot. The new tomato lasts longer on the shelf at the grocery store, retains its flavor longer, and has proven superior in taste tests.

Any thoughts/ideas? Natural Rubber Production Bioengineered Designer Foods

Monoclonal Antibodies in Goats’ Milk Monoclonal antibodies are natural substances in blood that fight diseases and infections. Transgenic goats have been developed by inserting a gene into the goats’ DNA, causing them to produce and secrete up to 4 g. of the monoclonal antibody in each liter of milk. This level of antibody production is 10 to 100 times greater than traditional methods of production from cell cultures. This early work with transgenic goats produced an anticancer antibody.

Any thoughts/ideas? Bio-diesel from Animal Fat Mastitis Reduced Human Nutrition Exotic flowers

Satellites & Nitrogen Gas Lasers Nutrient deficiencies in growing corn and soybean crops are not easy to detect from the ground. A deficiency occurs when a nutrient is not available in the amounts that are needed for optimum growth. New technology now permits the monitoring from satellites of deficiencies of iron, nitrogen, potassium, and other nutrients using nitrogen gas lasers (devices used to determine wavelengths given off by the plants). These wavelengths indicate the levels of various nutrients in plants.

Agriscience & the Future In 2011, the average American farmer was capable of producing enough food and fiber for approximately 167 people. As the world’s population increases, it will require a highly sophisticated Agriscience industry to provide the food, clothing, building materials, ornamental plants, recreation areas, and open-space needs for the world’s billions. Americans will have to work more in the international arena as more countries become highly competitive in Agriscience and as trade barriers are removed.

Agriscience & the Future The international business economy is a dominant factor in marketing agricultural products. A major share of U.S. agricultural production is now consumed in foreign countries, and this trend is expected to increase the volume of agricultural commodities that are sold outside U.S. borders. Canada and Mexico have become two of our biggest markets. They have also become successful competitors with the United States for a world market share in some agricultural commodity markets.

Agriscience & the Future The future of U.S. agriculture will require that farmers become even more efficient in the production of food and fiber crops. Animal agriculture will depend on scientific improvements in production methods and in the genetic superiority of food animals to improve the quality of animal products. The efficiency with which they are produced must also improve for animal products to continue to demand a strong market share of the food supply in a world crowded with humans.

Brainstorm!!! In groups of 3-4, develop an idea for a new piece of farm equipment that will improve the harvest or production of a locally grown crop, farming technique, or ranching practice.

Prompt Investigate ways that new and modern farming methods have contributed to opportunities in career fields other than agriculture. How have efficient farming methods benefited all the citizens of the United States?

Prompt Using the internet, learn about climates in the latitudes of 90, 60, and 30 degrees. Using the information you have obtained about these regions, determine what kinds of crops might be raised at each of these latitudes.

Prompt Select an agricultural company within the U.S. -Example: Pioneer, Beck’s Hybrids, Syngenta, Monsanto Make a list of 5 projects that company currently has in the works to improve agriculture and our food supply. Select one of those projects and write 3 paragraphs explaining what that project entails, the purpose of the project, and the potential advantages and disadvantages if it is carried through and implemented in our society.