Growing Demands: Industrial Farming - Case Study Example

Growing Demands: Industrial Farming With immense development in technology, the world is finding new ways of increasing food production. Industrial farming is more suitable to meeting the demands of the growing population, through providing affordable prices at acceptable environmental costs. The prevalent issue is that the world has been recording a constant increase in population. Currently, the world has a population of over 7 billion. Conversely, the food production is recording a stagnating increase. This has been a prevailing issue as governments find better ways of solving the situation. This led to introduction of genetically engineered crops in 1996, which take a short time to mature. Similarly, the production of genetically engineered crops is enhanced, which creates a larger production. This was irrespective of consumer acceptance. To some extent, consumers tend to accept some products especially when focusing on the health effects. Similarly, the production of genetically engineered crops was irrespective of the economic and environmental impacts. When looking at the United States, the widely used crops are the herbicide tolerant traits and cotton engineered crops. For optimum production, farmers have to use herbicides, which annihilate the existence of weeds. Apparently, some of the herbicides produced are string, which is a threat to crops. This led to invention of herbicide tolerant crops. These crops were developed to survive in harsh environments, which include the impact of the applied herbicides. At some point, the herbicides that are applied to the crops kill the weeds alongside with the crops (USDA 15). This was causing a stir in the country as the food security was threatened. Finding a lasting solution to the issue would be a prudent approach in securing food in the country. With the production of herbicide tolerant crops, the food security of the country was safe. This was a broader solution, which was a favorable choice amongst the several options available. According to the USDA statistics, the emergence of HT crops was a preferred solution to food security, as noted from the data (USDA 16). Early in 1997, the acreage of soybeans in the United States was at 17%. Four years later, the acreage of HT soybeans was recorded at 68%. This shows an immense development in food security, as the acreage continued to rise. In 2008, the same organization state that the acreage of soybeans had increase to 92%. This shows a major development, as the increase reflects a situation that is achieving immense progress (Carter, Moschini, and Sheldon 5). Similarly, it is noted that the acreage of HT cotton in the United States expanded to 56%, up from the 10% in 1997. There was a further increase in total acreage of HT cotton in 2008, as it was recorded at 68%. In such a situation, it is evident that the invention of the genetically engineered crops was a preferred solution to the prevalent issue. Although other solutions are available, this is preferred way of solving the situation since the improvement is immense. In addition to this, the organization states that the invention accelerated corn production, as it was noted at 63% in 2008. With such developments, the farmers are increasing their production, as inventions continue in a quest to find better solutions to the situation. Further inventions led to production of insect resistant crops, which contain gene from bacterium in the soil. Since 1996, the insect resistant crops have been available for corn and cotton. The plants are protected by the protein produced by the genes. Apparently, the protein is toxic to insects. This protects the plants and crops for the entire lifetime, which enhances production. In 1997, the acreage of corn was recorded at 8%. However, with reliance on the insect resistant crops, the acreage of corn in the United States grew to 26%. In 2003, the acreage of corn recorded a stagnating increase, which was recorded at 29%. This was after a decline, which fell to 19% in the two preceding years. Corn acreage recorded a significant increase in 2008, as it recorded 57% (USDA 16). This was followed by introduction of BT corn, which is resistant to corn rootworm. This pest is considered more destructive when compared to the European corn borer. Previously, the European corn borer was the only target pest in destruction of corn. With varieties of corn that is resistant to pests, the production of corn in the United States recorded a steady increase. This was due to the reduced destruction of pests. Although there is a need to improve food productivity in the United States, some other aspects are hindering the use of herbicides (Oxford journals 4). For example, there is the Monsanto roundup, which denotes a situation where a company produces poisonous herbicides that are affecting the environment. With the production of herbicide tolerant crops, farmers are likely to increase the consumption of herbicides in protecting their plants. However, this approach will have dire effects on the environment. The farmers in the country will have reduced fear of damaging their crops, as they are resistant to the herbicides. In such a situation, farmers will continue to escalate pollution. This will have dire effect on the water in the earth surface. This will sprout other environmental issues that will affect the earth. For example, with increased spraying of herbicides, the earth will absorb most of the chemicals. This can have dire effects on human life, as human use the water (USDA 18). In ensuring such a situation does not affect the entire population, the government urges people to treat water before usage. Conversely, treating the water before usage is a cobra effect, where chemicals in the water are annihilated by use of chemicals. It is noted that the reliance on some of the herbicide resistant crops will decline over time. Apparently, farmers have been increasing reliance on herbicides. The farmers use herbicides on a frequent basis, in a quest to limit destruction from pests. However, the concerned organizations state that the farmers should limit their reliance on the herbicides (Tutelyan 12). Consistent use of herbicides leads to development of pests that are resistant to herbicides. As such, the production of the crops will continue to decline due to the attack from the pests. Therefore, it is advisable that farmers should make constant changes on the type of herbicides they use. It is noted that global companies in life science have initiatives of introducing a variety of genetically engineered organisms in the next century. This is a way of ensuring food security is enhanced. In the past one and a half years, it is noted that farmers have enhanced investment in planting genetically engineered crops. These crops include corn, soy, and cotton in millions of acres across the United States. With immense increase in productivity, scientists have initiated other ways of enhancing food security (USDA 19). This involves production of genetically modified animals. For example, there has been an inquest in increasing the production of fish and other domestic animals. This initiative has been successful as genetically engineered animals are complementing the reliance on crops and plants. However, there are possible threats when genetically engineered animals are introduced in the environment. To begin with, genetically modified animals pose a threat to the natural ecosystem. As such, there is a need to focus on scientific studies that focus on improving the environment and ecosystem. First, there is a need to understand the aspect of pollution. The pollution from genetically modified organisms is different from the pollution in the natural environment. Similarly, the pollution differs from pollution through petrochemical products (USDA 20). With a better understanding of pollution, the world will be a better and habitable place. This is in accordance to reducing environmental threats that affect the environment. For example, pollution of chemicals affect aquatic life. Although people are finding ways of increasing food production, there is an effect where aquatic life is reduced. Solving such problems will be a prudent approach. In conclusion, the world needs an increase in food production to improve food security. The suitable way of enhancing food production is through industrial farming. This will be a preferred solution to the increasing demands of the surging population. Through industrial farming, the food produce will increase. Similarly, the food will be affordable since the supply will be adequate. Works Cited Carter, Colin A, Giancarlo Moschini, and Ian M. Sheldon. Genetically Modified Food and Global Welfare. Bingley, UK: Emerald, 2011. Print. Oxford journals. The Safety of Genetically Modified Foods Produced through Biotechnology. Toxicological Sciences (2003) 71.1: 2-8. Tutelyan, Victor. Genetically Modified Food Sources: Safety Assessment and Control. Amsterdam: Elsevier/Academic Press, 2013. Print. USDA. Adoption of genetically engineered crops in the United States. New York: USDA. 2008. Print. Read More