In this chapter, we will address the following questions: How might biotechnology influence food production? Do you think that biotechnology will help or hurt humans in the long run? Why? What are the advantages and disadvantages of pesticide use in farming? Do you think that some contamination of food products or drinking water with pesticides residues is an acceptable price to pay for attractive, affordable, and abundant produce? Why? | Chapter 9 The Production and Distribution of Food Per Capita Food Production Per Capita Food Production (Nebel & Wright, 2000) Food production has its ups & downs while people production just has ups. Food Production is, so far, staying ahead of people production. The Green Revolution (1960-1980) To eliminate hunger by improving crop performance Movement to increase yields by using: New crop cultivars Irrigation Fertilizers Pesticides Mechanization But in the end Did not eliminate famine Population still increasing Increase cost of production An increased negative environmental impact Didn’t work for everyone Responsibilities for food security Family Goal: Personal food security Employment security Adequate land or livestock Good health and nutrition Adequate housing Access to food Responsibility for food Security Country Goal: Sustainable food and nutrition for all people Just distribution Support of sustainable agriculture Family planning assistance Promotion of market economy Effective safety net Responsibility for food security Globe goal: Sustainable food & nutrition for all Food aid for famine relief Aid for sustainable agriculture development Debt relief Fair trade Disarmament Family planning assistance Major Environmental Effects of Food Production Soil Erosion Loss of fertility Salinization Water-logging Desertification Pollution by pesticides Water Aquifer depletion Increased runoff and flooding from land cleared to grow crops Fish kills from pesticide runoff Surface and groundwater pollution from pesticides and fertilizers Over fertilization of lakes >> eutrophication Air Greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels Other air pollutants and particulates from fossil fuels Pollution from pesticide sprays You need to be able to clearly explain these examples Major Environmental Effects of Food Production Biodiversity Loss Loss and degradation of habitat from clearing grasslands and forests and draining wetlands Fish kills from pesticide runoff Killing of wild predators to protect live stock Loss of genetic diversity from replacing thousands of wild crop strains with a few monoculture strains Human Health E. Coli contamination of meat Pesticide residues in drinking water, food, and air Contamination of drinking and swimming water with disease organisms from livestock wastes You need to be able to explain these “food production decreases biodiversity” Example: pesticide residue, explanation: to reduce pests and increase food production, effect: people working in McFarland CA have cancer and asthma Aeration Water holding capacity Nutrient holding capacity Porosity Permeability Workability As texture size increases As texture size increases Aeration Water holding capacity Nutrient holding capacity Porosity Permeability Workability
