Biotechnology Week 2

Biotechnology could be a good thing for food production, the environment, and society if the information, seeds, and food produced were available to everyone. There are bioengineered crops ranging from wheat to tomatoes, but since the private sector has most of the control this biotechnology isn't as useful as it could be because it is all about the money. I think the positive side is that biotechnology is addressing environmental issues and that we are able to produce more food using less land, water, and pesticides and that plants are being modified to grow in more saline soil, as well as other adverse conditions. The down side is that equal food distribution is still a problem and the information and seeds are not reaching the poor farmers in high enough quantities. I personally would rather not have my food produced from bioengineered plants, but I am a person who prefers truly organic and all natural foods.

Biotechnology

I choose to research cantaloupe crops that are produced using biotechnology. This seemed to be worthwhile research because I love cantaloupe. It is one of my favorite fruits. According to the agbios website on their GM Database, "Delayed ripening by introduction of a gene that results in degradation of a precursor of the plant hormone, ethylene". This seems to me to be a fairly simple and safe process. The trait that is introduced is Agrobacterium tumefacians and the method is by mediated plant transformation. The proposed use is for human consumption and the melon can be used either fresh or processed. The company responsible for this biotechnology is Agritope, Inc. By decreasing the ethylene hormone, the melon has a longer shelf life, better flavor, and a reduced spoilage time. This allows growers to increase their market and consumers more time to use the melons. Most American bio tech cantaloupe growers are in California. I see the use of biotechnology in the production of cantaloupes to have a positive impact because growers and distributors have more flexibility and consumers have more time to use the melons, which causes less food and money loss. By prolonging the shelf life of cantaloupe, it can be shipped to more people, which provides for better distribution, and their is more time to eat this crop that can only be grown once a year.

The Green Revolution

I believe that if we are going to keep up with population growth and not have to use every acre of land that could possibly be used to grow crops, new technology will be necessary. With the population growing and increasing environmental issues, there is a greater need for new technology to increase food production and reverse adverse environmental conditions. We must take care of land, air, and water issues, as well as providing a healthy food source for society and its growing numbers. I think a major focus of new technology should be better ways to sustain crop lands and decrease water usage. If society will take the initiative to slow or reduce population growth, then new technology will not be needed to increase food production and it will only be necessary to address environmental issues.

Population Growth & Food

I believe that Malthus may be right sometime in the future about population growth growing faster than our ability to produce food. There is only so much land for food production and at the rate of pollution and water usage, I believe we will eventually over populate and food production will not be able to keep up with population growth. When we increase food production, fragile Eco systems are damaged or destroyed. Some impacts are deforestation, desertification, pollution, soil erosion, and drainage of natural aquifers. I feel that China's one-child policy is a good way to help control population. The welfare system in the United States is trying to discourage parents on welfare from having more children by not covering the new baby. This is only a short term solution, but maybe it will help some. I think that pregnancy prevention methods should be free for all women and that education is the best solution. If a person has to be responsible for the care of their family or children, maybe they will think before binging more children into society. I think tubalizations and vasectomy's should be done free for any man or woman that wants it and the surgery to reverse it should be more expensive. I don't believe that society will change unless they are forced to change and I don't think that people will even change if their is widespread starvation and suffering.

Federal Lands Grazing

I believe that livestock grazing should be allowed on public lands if it is carefully managed. According to the Sierra Club website in their article titled Grazing on Public Lands, "Federal public lands belong to the American public and must be managed to maintain their long-term ecological integrity" (1). This is a statement that I whole heartily agree with, but I don't think that stopping livestock grazing completely is the answer. The Sierra Club states that, " ... grazing operators should manage livestock towards the goal of maximum restoration of native plant and animal communities, water quality, and other environmental goals" (1). When grazing livestock, it is critical that environmental issues are addressed and an ecological balance is retained. Grazing on public lands can reduce undergrowth or excessive growth when managed properly and grazing on public lands should be rotated so that damage is negligible. Manure from livestock can add nutrients to the soil and is beneficial as long as it does not accumulate in excess. I do not believe the fees should be the same as what is charged for private land leases because the public lands are owned by the American public. However, I do believe that the livestock grazing operator should be responsible for the costs associated with maintaining the land, if maintenance is necessary. It is my opinion that if land used for grazing purposes is rotated and grazing animals are not permitted to graze on the same land for extended periods of time, the land will naturally recover.