Dear Senator, In less than two decades, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have replaced our diet with genetically ajusted foods, which can affect human health. GMOs are resistant to pesticides, and is created by splicing genes that are combined through genetic engineering, smething nature cant do instantly. Consuming these genetically, processed foods can lead to increased risk of diseases and even cancer. Most of the time we do not realize that we are eating these harmful toxins as they are infused in our food without our knowledge. While traditional farming choose to grow organic produce and struggle to keep their businesses alive.
Genetically modified foods are plants that have had their genetic characteristics altered. 2. What foods can be created by genetic modification? Sweet corn, rice, tomatoes, rape plants, and animals 3. Name 4 examples of genetically modified crops.
By using the genes from two bacteria producing organisms such as Alcaligenes Eutrophus, they could insert them into cress plants with the aim of these plants producing the PHB. This process worked and the plants and some of their offspring produced around 14% of the dry weight as PHB. Although this is not as high yielding as when it is produced in the petri dishes, it is a much more economically viable method of production and hence would give a much more substantial impact to society. Chemically PHB is from a group of biopolymers known as the polyhyroxyalkanoates. Figure 1 below shows other examples of biopolymers in
There are countries like the U.S., Japan, and China that can educate other countries. The real problem is how some countries treat agriculture. They act as if it doesn’t matter and they rely more on the city to make money to buy food. There are many ways that agriculture can be changed but society has to give it a chance. The easiest way may not just be enough; it has to go beyond to solve hunger.
An Edible History of Humanity, written by Tom Standage, opens the door to the ideology that food is the underlying catalyst behind the human race and its prosperity. It not only links the old world to the new world, but also it sheds light on the fact that humans are dependent on their crops and the crops too have become dependent on humans to survive. This leads him to the conclusion that all crops, all farmed foods are too, unnatural. Standage examines how food was important throughout the American Revolution and the Civil War, and how we humans no longer see food as a monetary object to trade, but as a mass produced and well-oiled machine that when monopolized, brings great wealth. For me, the most interesting and disappointing idea brought to light is corn; which, when first introduced in Mexico, was known as maize.
• Preparedness for National Disaster/Fuel Crisis • Local produce taste better • Local produce is better for you • Promotes produce diversity • Is GMO free • Helps to build community • Good for local economy/supports local farmers • Beneficial for the environment 11 What are the challenges to local food in Vermont? • Diet adjustments would be needed • Production diversity is lacking • Lack of processing and storage facilities • Cheaper to import foods from agribusiness farms 16 What is currently being done to
This documentary is about farmers and how the American food supply chain is changing. The movie starts with interviews of farmers giving their opinion on consumerism and the how farming has changed over the years. They believe that the nutrition’s being fed to the chickens now is greater than what was being fed before and that is why they are growing bigger and faster now. However, the farmers are not sure of what are in the mix of the food other than that some antibiotics for the health of the chickens. Michael Pollan suggests how industrial food system is unsustainable because of monocultures, which means a lot of the same species are grown together and that’s only possible by using antibiotics to keep them alive.
As for the growing end of the spectrum, Pollan then goes on to say that “It (corn) had to adapt itself not just to humans but to their machines” (30). Farmers eventually found inventive ways to mass produce this crop. Planting the crops in such a close proximity created not just more space, but also caused the plants to grow upward. This meant that it was easier for machines to come in and extract the corn, so this ushered in the use of fossil fuel. These machines were created not just to cultivate the land, but to also apply large quantities of chemicals to the crops to prevent insect infestations.
The use of fertilizers has become a big phenomenon throughout the world. This affects the fertility of the soil and quality of the crop. Cultivating corps like corn is a huge part of farming and our daily lives. “I believe that losing the ability and desire to grow corn sustainedly threatens our cultural identity and political and economic survival.”(Mt.Pleasant- Page 130) The audience that the author is trying to address is people who are interested in educating young Native Americans of the historical background; authors of the field of Native American studies, people interested in agronomists, educated farmers or farmers children. People who are more aware of this subject matter are the ones who would be interested to read this article.
It also gave them the ability to teach others how to grow crops so they can live in America without starving. The Europeans that colonized America benefitted from the knowledge of the Native Americans because they did not know how to find their own food. Before the Native Americans taught the Europeans how to grow their own food, they were eating whatever they could get their hands onto. The Europeans took advantage of the Native Americans and took over their territory. Understanding the terrain was a crucial element to learn because they would know where to grow crops, find animals to eat and know where safety is.