Deck 7: Food and Agriculture

Question 1

What is Brazil's Cerrado, and how is agriculture affecting it?

Answer 1

Brazil's Cerrado:
Brazil's Cerrado is the vast region of grassland and tropical jungle that extends from Bolivia and Paraguay across the centre of Brazil almost to the Atlantic Ocean. Additionally, Brazil is the lead exporter of soybeans, maize, cotton, oranges and coffee exports in the world and Brazil Cerrado is the lead producer of these agricultural products. Brazilian farmers have educated themselves about the application of lime and phosphorus which can quadruple yields of soybeans, maize, cotton, and other priceless crops.

Question 2

What do we mean by the green revolution ?

Answer 2

The green revolution:
The green revolution refers to the increase of new high-yield varieties of crops around the world with improved use of fertilizers, irrigation and pesticides.
Advantages of the green revolution:
1. With the use of fertilizers, irrigation and pesticides crop yield have grown noticeably.
2. Well-organization is high for major production, which helps in nourishing billions.
3. Promotion of pesticides has enhanced yields by reducing struggle with other plants by insects.
4. After green revolution, one farmer can work a vasy area due to labor costs are low.

Question 3

Apply the principles you have learned in this chapter to discuss these questions with other students.
Debate the claim that famines are caused more by human actions (or inactions) than by environmental forces. What scientific evidence would you need to have to settle this question? What hypotheses could you test to help resolve the debate?

Answer 3

Throughout the world, the economy and markets are driven by the consumer willingness to pay. If a consumer is willing to pay slight extra amount for organic, fair-trade, shaded grown coffee, and cocoa. This will boost confidence in farmers to continue their businesses with sustainable techniques.
In addition, these techniques help in preserving forest and biodiversity in the area. On the contrary if consumers continue to buy cheap cocoa and coffee, it will increase deforestation and disturbs biodiversity. So, more farmers will shift towards direct sun grown technology. This trend of consumers moving towards cheap coffee is also leading towards farmers, who are employing their child as slaves for farming and disturbing economies in tropical countries. Fundamentally, if nobody buys unsustainable coffee or cocoa, then nobody will desire to grow any.

Question 4

What is genetic engineering , and how can it help or hurt agriculture?

Question 5

Which are our top three pesticides? Which of these have you heard of previously?

Question 6

What is sustainable agriculture ?

Question 7

Explain how soybeans grown in Brazil are improving diets in China.

Question 8

How could your choices of coffee or cocoa help preserve forests, biodiversity, and local economies in tropical countries?

Question 9

Apply the principles you have learned in this chapter to discuss these questions with other students.
Should farmers be forced to use ecologically sound techniques that serve farmers' best interests in the long run, regardless of short-term consequences? How could we mitigate hardships brought about by such policies?

Question 10

What are the economic advantages of low-input farming?

Question 11

Think of what you've eaten today. Which of the three agricultural strategies on this page contributed to your food?

Question 12

What does it mean to be chronically undernourished? How many people in the world currently suffer from this condition?

Question 13

Apply the principles you have learned in this chapter to discuss these questions with other students.
How would you provide assurance to consumers, government officials, and other interested parties that new genetically engineered products were environmentally and socially safe? What experiments would you set up to test for unknown unknowns?

Question 14

Why do nutritionists worry about food security? Who is most likely to suffer from food insecurity?

Question 15

Apply the principles you have learned in this chapter to discuss these questions with other students.
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter said, "Responsible biotechnology is not the enemy; starvation is." What did he mean? Do you agree?

Question 16

Describe the conditions that constitute a famine. Why does Amartya Sen say that famines are caused more by politics and economics than by natural disasters?

Question 17

Define malnutrition and obesity. How many Americans are now considered obese?

Question 18

What three crops provide most human caloric intake?

Question 19

What are confined animal feeding operations, and why are they controversial?

Question 20

Apply the principles you have learned in this chapter to discuss these questions with other students.
Suppose that you were engaged in biotechnology, or genetic engineering; what environmental safeguards would you impose on your own research? Are there experiments that would be ethically off-limits for you?

Question 21

What is soil ? Why are soil organisms so important?

Question 22

What was the Green Revolution?

Question 23

What are four dominant types of soil degradation? What is the primary cause of soil erosion?