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A Sustainable Food Supply. Understanding modern farming techniques and sustainable alternatives. Contemporary Farming. Other names: modern farming, factory farms, industrial farms, mono planting farming, big business farms, large scale farming, corporate farms.
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A Sustainable Food Supply Understanding modern farming techniques and sustainable alternatives.
Contemporary Farming • Other names: modern farming, factory farms, industrial farms, mono planting farming, big business farms, large scale farming, corporate farms. • Individual farms focus on large scale production of a single crop or livestock. • Chemical fertilizers, synthetic pesticides, antibiotics, and growth hormones produce larger amounts of food with less expense. • Little emphasis on natural needs of farm animals. • Most food production in the U.S. uses this technique.
Benefit of Contemporary Farming • A lot of food can be grown at minimal cost to the consumer.
Concerns of Contemporary Farming • Environmental: • loss of natural diversity, pesticides, water quality, fuel costs of transporting foods. • Animal Treatment: • tight quarters, lack of natural life prior to slaughter, sickness and resistance to antibodies, overuse of hormones creates unnatural bodies. • Local Economy: • loss of small farms, lack of food dollars going to farmer, loss of local jobs. • Health of Consumer: • long term effects of pesticides, fertilizers, and hormones in foods.
Sustainable Farming Definitions • Sustainable Farming: • system in which the farmer produces adequate yields and good profits while minimizing negative short-and long-term effects of farming on the environment and local community. • Organic Farming: • process of producing food naturally (no pesticides or chemicals). • Humane Animal Welfare: • caring for food animals from birth to slaughter in kind and natural ways.
Definitions Continued • Free Range (cage free): • raising animals with access to open air, sunshine, and space to roam. • Fair Trade: • movement in selling of goods that helps farmers receive a good price for their products. Allows farmers to make a sufficient profit to continue farming and support family. • Localvore: • person who’s diet consists of foods mostly grown locally.
Food Technology Definitions • Genetically Modified Foods: (GMF, GMO, GE) • Plants and animals that have had changes made to their DNA through genetic engineering to produce a specific outcome. • Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH or rBST): • genetically altered growth hormone given to cattle in order to increase milk production.