UMASS Boston Science & Technology Discussion Question

Producing food has major environmental impacts. Industrialized agricultural systems have produced significant increases in the world’s food supply since 1950. Less land is needed to produce higher yields through bioengineered crops and the artificial use of fossil-fuel based pesticides and fertilizers. Crop yields may have increased but modern-day agriculture practices are also the source of harmful environmental effects. As you studied in early chapters Environmental Impact = P x A x T, where technological innovation (T) encompasses a move towards factory farming but at what price to the environment?

• Read Livestock production and the global environment: Consume less or produce better? (PDF)
  • Steinfeld, Henning & Gerber, Pierre J.. (2010). Livestock production and the global environment: Consume less or produce better?. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 107. 18237-8. 10.1073/pnas.1012541107.
• Read Why Industrial Farms Are Good For the Environment (PDF)
• Watch the following video clips:
  • Factory Farming of Chickens in India (Content Warning: This video may depict animals crowded in feedlots – if this is something that might impact you, please feel free to skip.)
  • Why is factory farming a big deal? (Content Warning: This video may depict animals crowded in feedlots – if this is something that might impact you, please feel free to skip.)
• Watch The Case for Engineering Our Food: TED Talk by Pamela Ronald

Video Resources?

https://youtu.be/ClpXIzSzNoM

https://youtu.be/GLhjzSm5rG4

https://www.ted.com/talks/pamela_ronald_the_case_f…

Post a response to the following questions:

1. Using at least one additional source, answer the following prompt: Choose one aspect of industrialized agriculture and summarize the pros and cons.
2. How can this type of industrialized agriculture balance feeding the world with protecting the environment and sustainability?
3. Does the increased use of technology balance the ability to feed the world with protecting human health and the principles of sustainability?

Please write at least 300 words.