Food and Agricultur

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In the last 45 years

• World population increased 1.7%• Food production increased 2.2%

Malnutrition and Famines

• One quarter of the human population is malnourished– Sub-Saharan Africa (~225 million)– East and Southeast Asia (~275 million)– South Asia (~250 million)– Parts of Latin America

Why?

• Wealthier countries are eating more than they need = obesity

• Very poor countries are not getting enough= malnutrition

World Food Supply and the Environment

• Our current food problem is the result of our human population

Plant Food Sources• 250,000 plant species • 3000 tried as crops • 300 grown for food • 100 species used on large scale for food • 15 to 20 species15 to 20 species provide vast majority (90%)

of man’s food needs• Largest crop volumes provided by: wheat,

rice, corn, potatoes, barley

Other Plant Food SourcesOther Plant Food Sources1. Potatoes2. Barley3. Sweet

Potato4. Cassava

(source of tapioca)

5. Grape6. Soybean7. Oats8. Sorghum9. Sugarcane

10.Millet11.Banana12.Tomato13.Sugar Beet14.Rye15.Orange16.Coconut17.Cottonsee

d18.Apple19.Yam

20.Peanut21. Watermelon22.Cabbage23.Onion24.Bean25.Pea26.Sunflowe

r Seed27.Mango

85 % of ALL crops grown are

Corn = 286 million tons

soy = 88 million tons

Adhesives (glues, pastes, mucilages, gums, etc.)AluminumAntibiotics (penicillin)Asbestos insulationAspirinAutomobiles (everything on wheels)cylinder headsethanol fuel & windshield washer fluidspark plugssynthetic rubber finishestires

• Baby foodBatteries, dry cellBeerBreakfast cerealsCandiesCanned vegetablesCarbonated beveragesCheese spreadsChewing gumChocolate productsCoatings on wood, paper & metal

• Color carrier in paper & textile, printing Corn chipsCorn mealCosmeticsC.M.A. (calcium magnesium acetate)Crayon and chalkDegradable plasticsDessert powdersDextrose (intravenous solutions, icing sugar)Disposable diapersDyesEdible oilEthyl and butyl alcohol

• Explosives - firecrackersFinished leatherFlour & grits

• Frozen foodsFructoseFuel ethanolGypsum wallboardInk for stamping prices in storesInsecticidesInstant coffee & teaInsulation, fibreglassJames, jellies and preservesKetchup

• Latex paintLeather tanningLicoriceLivestock feedMalted productsMargarineMayonnaiseMustard, preparedPaper board, (corrugating, laminating, cardboard)Paper manufacturing

• Paper plates & CupsPeanut butterPharmaceuticals - The Life Line of The HospitalPotato chipsRugs, carpetsSalad dressingsShaving cream & lotionsShoe polishSoaps and cleanersSoft drinks

• Starch & glucose (over 40 types)SyrupTacos, tortillasTextilesToothpasteWallpaperWheat breadWhiskeyYogurts

Why so much corn?

• Government gives farmers money to grow corn to offset the price of food

• More incentive for farmers to grow corn

What do we do with all this corn?

• Scientist research lots of way we can use corn

Feed the cows and other livestock corn!

Cows and other livestock

• Feed corn and grains NOT grass• Why? Fat Cows and fat livestock• Fat livestock = more meat• More meat = feed more people• Sounds good, right???

Grain Production• Grain production increased from 631 to

1780 million metric tons from 1950 to 1990.

• Has leveled off since then• Top five countries in order of producing the

most amount of grain are:1.China2.United States3.India4.Canada5.Ukraine

Question: Why is there a controversy over using grain to fatten cattle?

From: Time, November 8, 1999

Farming years ago

Farming today: CAFO

Livestock· (four-chambered stomachs) contain

bacteria that can convert plant tissue to animal protein/fat hence, plant material (grass) originally unusable for man is converted into food sources that can be ingested by man

Cows digestive system designed for grass NOT corn

• Corn sits in gut• Same bacteria converting grass to

protein and fat grows out of control• Accumulated E. coli• Close quarters cows stand in feces

Chicken Farming

Pig Farming

Manure runoff

Feces can wash away and carry E. coli to nearby farms

How are animals allowed to live in close quarters?

• Pump them with antibiotics!• Chickens and cows are given

antibiotics, you eat the chicken and cows, you ingest the antibiotics

Antibiotic Resistance

Antibiotic Resistance Video

• Part 1• Part 2• Part 3

Meat Sources

• About 90% of all meat and milk are consumed by United States, Europe and Japan which constitute only 20% of world population

• About 90% of the grain grown in the United States is used for animal feed

• 16 kg of grain = 1 kg of meat– By eating grain instead would get 20

times the calories and 8 times the protein

Many more people could be fed by the grain used to feed the cattle than can be fed by the cattle themselves

This is because productive energy is diminished with each trophic level

Based on: Scientific American, September 1976

Soil

Wind Erosion

Water Erosion

Irrigation

Irrigation

• 2/3 of fresh water is used for irrigation

• Excessive irrigation = waterlogged plants

Farming strips nutrients in soil

• Farmers add fertilizers to soil to put back nutrients

• Nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus

Fertilizer Runoff

Pests attack and Pests attack and eat our food cropseat our food crops

Today’s PestsToday’s Pests

Based on: National Geographic, February 1980

Pesticides are Pesticides are added added to cropsto crops

Photo courtesy of Texas Parks and Wildlife DepartmentPhoto courtesy of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Types of Pesticides1. Biological – Ladybugs, parasitic wasps, etc.2. Pesticides that effect nervous system of

pests more water soluble than chlorinated hydrocarbonsAldicarb, aminocarb, carbaryl (Sevin), carbofuran, Mirex

3. Chlorinated Hydrocarbons affect nervous system –Aldrin, Chlordane, DDT, dieldrin, lindane and paradichlorobenzene

4. Fumigants are used to sterilize soil and prevent grain infestation

Eagle reproduction before and after DDT ban Eagle reproduction before and after DDT ban

Based on: Grier, J., Science, 1982

Eagle populations increased rapidly and Eagle populations increased rapidly and the eagle is now listed as “Threatened”the eagle is now listed as “Threatened”

From: Time, July 11, 1994

Pesticides Pro and Con• Kill unwanted pests that

carry disease (rats, mosquitoes, Tse-Tse flies)

• Increase food supplies• More food means food is

less expensive• Effective and fast-acting• Newer pesticides are safer,

more specific • Reduces labor costs on

farms• Food looks better• Agriculture is more

profitable

• Accumulate in food chain• Pests develop resistance –

500 species so far• Resistance creates

pesticide treadmill• Estimates are $5-10 in

damage done for $1 spent on pesticide

• Pesticide runoff• Destroy bees - $200 million• Threaten endangered

species• Affect egg shell of birds• 5% actually reach pest• ~20,000 human

deaths/year

Pesticide ResistancePesticide Resistance

In the beginning, most In the beginning, most pests were sensitive to pests were sensitive to DDT but a few were DDT but a few were resistantresistant

The resistant forms The resistant forms survived and survived and reproducedreproduced

In the end, most pests In the end, most pests were resistant to DDTwere resistant to DDTBased on: National Geographic, February 1980

Methods to increase food supply

1. fertilizers2. pesticides3. GMO’s

GMO (Genetically modified Organisms)

• is an organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques

Genetically Engineered Plants

• The Good: Crops can be engineered to have important components of diet, contain medically important proteins, and to be pest resistant

• The Bad: Plants could contain pesticides that would harm humans and wildlife, or proteins that could cause allergies in humans. Genetics could escape to traditional crops.

Alternative Farming

Terracing

Defining “Organic”Defining “Organic”

Foods produced without Foods produced without hormones, antibiotics, hormones, antibiotics, herbicides, insecticides, herbicides, insecticides, chemical fertilizers, chemical fertilizers, genetic modification or genetic modification or germ-killing radiationgerm-killing radiation

The USDA labels such The USDA labels such foods “certified foods “certified organic”organic”

From: From: NewsweekNewsweek, Sept. 30, 2002, Sept. 30, 2002

Availability of Organic Products

Based on: Based on: NewsweekNewsweek, Sept. 30, 2002, Sept. 30, 2002

Unanswered Questions about Unanswered Questions about Certified Organic FoodsCertified Organic Foods

Are organic food safer than other foods?Are organic food safer than other foods?

Do organic foods taste better?Do organic foods taste better?

Are organic foods worth the extra costs?Are organic foods worth the extra costs?

Are people eating organic diets healthier Are people eating organic diets healthier than people with conventional diets?than people with conventional diets?

Can organic farming help Can organic farming help the environment?the environment?

Pesticides now kill 67 million American Pesticides now kill 67 million American birds per yearbirds per year

The Mississippi River dumps enough The Mississippi River dumps enough fertilizer into the Gulf of Mexico to fertilizer into the Gulf of Mexico to maintain a 60 mile “dead zone” devoid maintain a 60 mile “dead zone” devoid of fishof fish

Pesticides and Human HealthPesticides and Human Health

India suffering from human health India suffering from human health consequences of pesticide useconsequences of pesticide use

•InfertilityInfertility•Cancer related deaths increasingCancer related deaths increasing•Childhood cancersChildhood cancers•Mental retardationMental retardation

Research shows pesticides and fertilizers Research shows pesticides and fertilizers in the groundwater.in the groundwater.

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)

• Buy a share of local community farm• Eat locally• Eat lower on food chain• Supporting land without pesticides or

artificial fertilizers• Grass fed cows and other livestock =

low input foods