9. Food Production and The Environment

• Growing Power Inc.


  An ecologically based farm powered by solar electricity and hot water systems that grows organic vegetables and herbs – and organically raised chickens, turkeys, goats, fish, and honeybees.
• In less developed countries, people suffer from health problems associated with not getting enough to eat.
• In more developed countries, others suffer health problems from having too much to eat.
• Factors influencing FOOD SUPPLY:

  • Poverty

  • War

  • Bad Weather

  • Climate Change

  • Effects of Industrialized Food Production
• Poverty Is the Root Cause of Food Insecurity
• Scientists project that by 2050, we will need to feed at least 9.7 billion people, almost half of which live in poverty and experience food insecurity.
• Many people suffer from chronic hunger and malnutrition, and don’t get enough vitamins and minerals.
• Low income, less developed countries


  : diets center on high carbohydrate grains and very little protein.
• Food deserts (no access to fresh food) in developed countries


  : diets high in fat, sugar, salt, and little protein.
• Almost 2 billion people suffer from a deficiency of micronutrients (vitamin A, iron, and iodine).
• How Is Food Produced?

  • Today, agriculture uses both high input industrialized, and low input traditional methods, to produce the world’s food supply.
• Industrialized / High Input Agriculture


  : heavy equipment, fossil fuel, commercial fertilizer/pesticides, and money.
• Monoculture in Industrialized/High Input Agriculture


  • growing one to two crops
• In industrialized/high input agriculture,


  Food supply vulnerable to disease.
• Traditional / Low Input Agriculture


  : solar energy and human labor to grow a crop that will feed a family with no surplus
• Polyculture in Traditional / Low Input Agriculture



  • growing several crops
• Industrialized Agriculture

  Uses synthetic inorganic fertilizers and sewage sludge to supply plant nutrients.
• Industrialized Agriculture

  Makes use of synthetic chemical pesticides.
• Industrialized Agriculture


  Uses conventional and genetically modified seeds.
• Industrialized Agriculture


  Depends on nonrenewable fossil fuels (mostly oil and natural gas)
• Industrialized Agriculture


  Produces significant air and water pollution and greenhouse gases.
• Industrialized Agriculture


  Is globally export-oriented
• Industrialized Agriculture


  Uses antibiotics and growth hormones to produce meat and meat products.
• Organic Agriculture


  Emphasizes prevention of soil erosion and the use of organic fertilizers such as animal manure and compost, but no sewage sludge, to supply nutrients.
• Organic Agriculture


  Employs crop rotation and biological pest control
• Organic Agriculture


  Reduces fossil fuel use and increases use of renewable energy such as solar and wind power for generating electricity.
• Organic Agriculture


  Produces less air and water pollution and greenhouse gases.
• Organic Agriculture


  Is regionally and locally oriented
• Organic Agriculture


  Uses no antibiotics or growth hormones to produce meat and meat products.
• Organic Agriculture


  : crops grown without the use of synthetic pesticides and inorganic fertilizers, or genetic engineering
• Green Revolution – higher yields from existing cropland.


  – Plant monocultures of selectively bred crops

  – Large amounts of water; synthetic fertilizers and pesticides

  – Multiple cropping
• The increasing demand for food is being met by increases in production.
• Gene Splicing


  New and hardier crop varieties are being developed by second gene revolution methodology.
• Meat production now uses feedlots as well as rangelands and pastures.
• Aquaculture produces more fish and is the world’s fastest growing type of food production.
• Industrialized Food Production Requires Huge Inputs of Energy
• Large inputs of energy are needed to grow, store, process, package, transport, refrigerate, and cook plants and animals.
• – In the U.S., 10 units of fossil fuel energy are needed to produce 1 unit of food energy.
• – Fishing fleets use 12.5 units of energy to produce 1 unit of energy from seafood.
• What Environmental Problems Arise from Industrialized Food Production?

  • Soil erosion

  • Desertification

  • Irrigation

  • Water shortages

  • Air and water pollution

  • Climate change

  • Loss of biodiversity

  , may limit future food production.