Hazards of Industrial Agriculture Key AWL to Study

Hazards of Industrial Agriculture Key: AWL to Study, Low-frequency Vocabulary What are the hazards of industrial agriculture?

Organic Farming: A Growing Trend • Consumer demand for organic farming is rising at 20% per year. • The highest growth is in Argentina, US, and China. • People are growing conscious of adverse effects of industrial agriculture, where there is a focus on maximizing profits at the expense of health and the environment. How do you think industrial agriculture contributes to global warming and water pollution?

Health Risks: Industrial Methods • Pesticide residues on produce Ø remain after washing and peeling. Ø have links to cancer. • Antibiotics we ingest Ø from plant and animal sources Ø lead to the development of untreatable superbugs Do you worry about pesticide residues on or antibiotics in your food? Explain.

Additional Health Risks • Plant and animal growth hormones Ø disrupt endocrine system. Ø lead to early puberty. • Biological engineering Ø Unregulated items are virtually invisible in stores. Ø Manipulation of genetic code could impact health. How do you think genetically modified food might impact your health?

Environmental Hazards • Environmental hazards comprise air pollution, global warming, and other problems. • Synthetic fertilizers Ø largest source of nitrous oxide emissions Ø 300 times more toxic than carbon dioxide gases Ø will affect air pollution and intensify global warming if continued Are you concerned about air pollution in your country? Why or why not?

Authorities on Water Pollution • Animal waste, fertilizers, and pesticides leach into soil. Ø They run off through irrigation and contaminate ground water (large portion of water supply). Ø They contain nitrates, which cause permanent damage to ground water. Are you concerned about water pollution in your country? Why or why not?

Dead Zones in Oceans • Preponderance of nitrogen in fertilizers Ø helps crops grow; harms oceans Ø generates algal overgrowth • Algal overgrowth Ø depletes oxygen in water Ø no plant or animal can survive

Unsustainable Soil • Industrial mono-cropping: one crop is planted repeatedly on a single field. Ø The process relies on the use of synthetic fertilizers. Ø Mono-cropping kills microorganisms needed to produce soil nutrients. Ø Infertile soil leads to erosion, unsustainable farmlands, and reduced biodiversity. If mono-cropping is destroying farmlands and biodiversity, what is the alternative?

Vicious Cycle • Soil infertility leads to a vicious cycle of fertilizer use. Ø Increasing fertilizer use leads to environmental hazards. • Increased use of pesticides Ø Only the fittest pests survive. Ø Stronger pesticides are then needed. What are the environmental hazards associated with the use of pesticides?

Organic Farming • Organic farming prohibits the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, and genetically modified organisms. • It ensures soil sustainability and overall quality. What are the advantages of eating organic food?

Crop Rotation • Holistic farming techniques Ø Ø infuse soil with essential nutrients. ensure different crops are planted every year. vary the nutrient demand in soil. create sustainable soil. How does organic farming affect soil?

Animal Welfare • Small-scale organic farms are Ø less likely to confine livestock to small spaces. Ø against the use of antibiotics. • Free-range farms Ø allow animals to roam freely. Ø reduce stress and susceptibility to disease. How do you feel about confining animals to small spaces in order to produce food?