Food and Agricultue
Food and Agriculture
Lisa Baker
SCI 207 Dependence of Man on the Environment
Instructor: Carolyn Taylor
November 6, 2014
Provide at least two modern examples of how the United States has increased its food production. Genetically modifying foods is one way the United States has grown its food increase. The use of genetically engineered crops has grown rapidly in countries such as the United States, especially for soybeans, corn, and cotton where GM crops make up between 70 and 90 percent of total production (Turk, 2014). Ways the United States has increased food production farmers have utilized numerous process, some of which include irrigation and crop otation which can increase the long term sustainability and has been standard practice for many years. A step taken nearly 50 years ago to increase food production was the green revolution, which focused on “monocultures of single crops and required significant inputs of energy, water fertilizer, pesticides and herbicides” (Turk, Bensel, 2014). “Advocates say that they have increased agricultural production by more than US$98 billion and saved an estimated 473 million kilograms of pesticidesfrom being sprayed.” (Turk & Bensel, 2014, Ch. 3.3). Tools such as herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides reduce crop losses both before and after harvest, and increase crop yields. A plentiful supply of fresh produce is vital for a healthy population. Numerous scientific studies demonstrate the health benefits of regularly eating a variety of fresh fruit and vegetables and consumers are increasingly aware of these benefits. Agricultural productivity is key to ensuring that this demand can be met at an affordable price; and crop protection products help increase productivity and usable crop yields (Turk, 2014). Discuss how these changes have affected the environment, and what impact they have on food safety? The use of genetically modified foods have be studied for years some improvements have been
Lisa Baker
SCI 207 Dependence of Man on the Environment
Instructor: Carolyn Taylor
November 6, 2014
Provide at least two modern examples of how the United States has increased its food production. Genetically modifying foods is one way the United States has grown its food increase. The use of genetically engineered crops has grown rapidly in countries such as the United States, especially for soybeans, corn, and cotton where GM crops make up between 70 and 90 percent of total production (Turk, 2014). Ways the United States has increased food production farmers have utilized numerous process, some of which include irrigation and crop otation which can increase the long term sustainability and has been standard practice for many years. A step taken nearly 50 years ago to increase food production was the green revolution, which focused on “monocultures of single crops and required significant inputs of energy, water fertilizer, pesticides and herbicides” (Turk, Bensel, 2014). “Advocates say that they have increased agricultural production by more than US$98 billion and saved an estimated 473 million kilograms of pesticidesfrom being sprayed.” (Turk & Bensel, 2014, Ch. 3.3). Tools such as herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides reduce crop losses both before and after harvest, and increase crop yields. A plentiful supply of fresh produce is vital for a healthy population. Numerous scientific studies demonstrate the health benefits of regularly eating a variety of fresh fruit and vegetables and consumers are increasingly aware of these benefits. Agricultural productivity is key to ensuring that this demand can be met at an affordable price; and crop protection products help increase productivity and usable crop yields (Turk, 2014). Discuss how these changes have affected the environment, and what impact they have on food safety? The use of genetically modified foods have be studied for years some improvements have been