Effects of Mass Production of Industrial Corn - Research Paper Example

?Effects of Mass Production of Industrial Corn Affiliation with more information about affiliation, research grants, conflict of interest and how to contact Outline 1) Introduction 3 2) Environmental Problems 4 3) Economical Problems 5 Effects of Mass Production of Industrial Corn Introduction: Corn is the one of the main source of foodstuff for both animals and human beings. Corn is used for both industrial and agricultural purpose. The versatile plant can flourish in weathers as diverse as the dry desert plains of the US particularly in southwestern regions and the Andean mountain plains and Peru. The temperate plains of the US offers some of the best emergent environment for corn in the earth, that making the US as the world's top manufacturer of corn in terms of both price and volume. So that US is not only the top manufacturer of corn in the world, but also the top exporter. “On average, about 20 percent of corn produced in the US is exported. During fiscal year 2010, the United States exported 49.9 million metric tons (1.96 billion bushels) - accounting for 53.8 percent of world corn exports. During the same period, other major corn exporters included Argentina (16.7 million metric tons, or 660 million bushels) and Brazil (8.6 million metric tons, or 338 million bushels)” (Corn: Zea Mays, Family Poaceae, Commonly Known as Maize, 2010). Industrial corn is mainly used for industrial purpose. So that mass production of industrial corn create certain issues or problems in U S. Main two problem faced by the society due to the impact of mass production of corn is the environmental problem and economic problem. Environmental problem can be reduced by way of reducing the chemical usage for producing the corn for industrial usage. Like economic problem of the corn can be reduced by way adopting the most stable financial policy. This research proposal consists of economic and environment problem of the mass production of the corn and also the causes of these problem. Environmental Problems: Today, the term ecological problem is widely used to describe a variety of environmental problems. Problems related with environment are also the concerns of ecology, such as climate change, deforestation, soil erosion etc. Now a day, due to the globalized economy, the world faces many problems pertaining to the .environment such as water pollution, air pollution, etc and these environmental problems have direct and indirect impacts on the society. An environmental problem happens whenever there is a change in the quantity or quality of any environmental issue which indirectly or directly influences the health and well-being of man in an unfavorable manner. Environmental problems history is always regarding human dealings with the natural world. The important objective of environmental history is to increase our understanding of how a human has been influenced by the environment in the past and also how they have influenced those surroundings and with what consequences. Direct Problems: For mass production of corn the agriculture sector requires ample fertilizers and the intensive use of fertilizers create water pollution, which, in turn, may affect human health and natural eco system. As such, this may be described as the “environmental and health consequences of industrial agriculture” (Lappe, 2011, para. 4). The use of chemicals can cause negative impacts in human and mammals and livestock. Increased production will lead to the increased production of ethanol. In the US more ethanol refining plants are seeking permission to start new facilities. To increase maximum corn production for getting more profit the agriculturists may use nitrogen and other chemicals, which will affect the surface and ground water quality. Indirect Problems: The massive use of corn for industrial purpose would bring high demand for the corn which will lead to the increase in the price of the product and to meet increased demand the country have to import from other countries. “The growth of both industrial use and feed use of corn would be expected to raise demand.” (Gale et al., 2009, p. 2). If country produced excessive quantity it will have to find suitable markets for export of the product. The massive production should not badly affect environment the usage of chemical fertilizers should be avoided and it should not pollute the water and other natural resources. Consequences: Because of getting high profit the farmers frequently cultivates the corn which results in loss in soil fertility. The popular usage of urea produces ammonia emanations which contribute acid rain and also it pollute the ground water resources. Excessive usage of nitrogen as fertilizer will bring several health problems such as respiratory ailments, cardiac disease and it may cause for cancer. Industrial wastes of corn certainly creates some sort of environmental pollutions so these are all some of the consequences of mass industrial production of corn. Economical Problems: All human civilization, whether it is an advanced industrial nation or otherwise, needs a sound economic system to become stable. A definitely planned financial system or an isolated tribal nation must confront and resolve 3 basic Economical problems. Every society should have a method of determining what commodities are cultivated, how these goods are finished and for whom these are produced. “Economics is concerned with the problem of allocating scarce resources among competing uses. When something is scarce, allocating it to one use means we forgo the opportunity for another use, crating an opportunity cost” (Hackett, 2001, p. 19). The mass industrial production of corn would affect the economy. Direct Problems: Potential economic problems and influences that may arise from enhanced corn and corn-related ethanol production include changes in food and fuel expenses. Increased demand of corn for the production of ethanol will increase the price of corn. Increased profitability of corn will diminish the production of other agriculture crops especially substitute of livestock feeds. Indirect Problems: When corn price rises it will increase the land value and the enhanced value may, in turn, raise the land rent. These changes may have impact on land rent. High price of corn may attract more farmers in this crops which will bring competition among the agriculturists. Increased use of corn for industrial purpose will make scarcity of corn for food purpose. “Some of the impacts are already evident to the consumer, such as higher grain and food costs resulting from corn price increases” (The Potential Impacts of Increased Corn Production for Ethanol in the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence River Region, 2007, p. 2). The economic problem of mass industrial production of corn arises due to shortage of resources that people desire for the satisfaction of goods. The shortage of resources includes the problems of allocation of resources between the competing ends. Consequences: As corn is popularly using for industrial purpose and corn is getting better price in market so all other agriculturist are turning in this particular field which may make heavy demand for other crops in market the increased demand for these product will increase price for these products. When corn intensively used for the industrial purpose only, the substitute products may raise price. To meet high demand for the corn for industrial purpose the country has to import corn from other countries. Reference List Corn: Zea Mays, Family Poaceae, Commonly Known as Maize, (2010). U.S. Grains Council. Retrieved Oct. 05, 2011, from http://www.grains.org/corn Gale, et al. (2009). China is Using More Corn for Industrial Use. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved Oct. 08, 2011, from http://books.google.co.in/books?id=ACzmwCyJaicC&pg=PT1&dq=Industrial+Corn&hl=en#v=onepage&q&f=false Hackett, S. C. (2001). Environmental and Natural Resources Economics: Theory, Policy, and the Sustainable Society. 2nd Edn. M. E. Sharpe, Inc. Retrieved Oct. 08, 2011, from http://books.google.co.in/books?id=EsXKeWLrDp8C&pg=PA17&dq=economic+problems+of+organization&hl=en#v=onepage&q=economic%20problems%20of%20organization&f=true Lappe, A. (2011). Who’s Behind the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance and Why it Matters. Organic Consumers Association. 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