5.5 To what extent can technology help increase agricultural production and

1. 5.5 To what extent can technology help increase agricultural production and alleviate food shortages? Part B

2. Are farming technologies problem-free? How does farming function as an agro-ecosystem? The farming environment is a kind of ecosystem, known as an agro-ecosystem. Abiotic components, e.g. water, temperature and soil Energy and nutrients are transferred between the abiotic and biotic components in the agro-ecosystem Biotic components interact with each other and also with the environment Biotic components, e.g. plants, animals, micro-organisms

3. How does farming function as an agro-ecosystem? Plants and animals in different food chains are connected to form a food web. This pathway is known as a __________. food chain Abiotic components, e.g. water, temperature and soil Eaten by… Energy and nutrients are transferred between the abiotic and biotic components in the agro-ecosystem Eaten by… Biotic components, e.g. plants, animals, micro-organisms

4. What price do we have to pay for using technologies? 1 Threatening the natural ecosystems A Reduction of biodiversity Many pesticides and herbicides are not only toxic to the target pest or weed, but also to other insects and plants. Pesticide It will lead to a loss of biodiversity and a breaking down of the food chain. Insect Bird Hawk Human Fish Snake Mouse Worm

5. What price do we have to pay for using technologies? 1 Threatening the natural ecosystems A Reduction of biodiversity Pest species may become resistant to pesticides. Vicious cycle … More pest problems More pest problems In order to kill the target pest, farmers have to apply more pesticides, causing a vicious cycle. Start here Pest problems Increased resistance Use of chemical pesticides Use of more chemical pesticides More increased resistance

6. What price do we have to pay for using technologies? 1 Threatening the natural ecosystems B Loss of habitat Clearing natural vegetation for farming Loss of natural habitat for wildlife Modifying the food web Upsetting the natural ecosystem Natural vegetation is cleared for farming

7. What price do we have to pay for using technologies? 2 Polluting the environment Fertilizer This phenomenon is known as ______________. Excess fertilizers are used eutrophication Death of most living things Rapid growth of algae Excess fertilizers are washed into rivers Affected aquatic ecosystem More nutrients for water plants and algae Level of oxygen falls Normal aquatic ecosystem

8. What price do we have to pay for using technologies? 2 Polluting the environment Fertilizer High levels of nitrates in drinking water can cause health problems among young children Excess fertilizers are used Residual traces of pesticides can contaminate food products and drinking water supplies when they reach the ground water Affected aquatic ecosystem

9. 3 Soil erosion and salinization A Soil erosion Farmers practise deep ploughing. They use powerful ploughing machines for loosening the soil. The topsoil is then vulnerable to wind and water erosion. Heavy farm machines will compact the soil. This will slow down infiltration and increase ______________, thus accelerating water erosion and the loss of topsoil. A ploughing machine surface run-off

10. 3 Soil erosion and salinization The washing away of chemicals leading to water pollution B Salinization Windmills tapping ground water for irrigation Excess irrigation may increase surface run-off, leading to soil erosion What environmental costs are involved in irrigation? Mineral salts may rise and accumulate on the surface of the soil, resulting in salinization. The land may become unproductive When a lot of ground water is tapped, the water table may falland the land may subside

11. 3 Soil erosion and salinization B Salinization Misuse and overuse of farming technologies cause loss of habitat and biodiversity, pollution, soil erosion and salinization. The problem of salinization is especially serious in the Imperial Valley and in the San Joaquin Valley in southern California These will lead to a temporary or permanent reduction of productivity of land. It is known as land degradation. A farm encrusted with salt crystals in the Imperial Valley (Credit: David McNew/Getty Images)

12. 4 Uncertain impact of GM food and crops (Credit: Friends of the Earth) Did you know that the same corporations that made DDT, PCBs and Dioxin are now making genetically engineered foods? These same foreign and out-of-state corporations are spending over $6 million to prevent Oregonians from knowing what is in our food. IN FACT: • 93% of Americans say they want labeling of genetically engineered foods and the right to be able to choose what they eat. (ABC News Poll) • The FDA has ignored numerous warnings from its own scientists about the unique health risks to genetically engineered foods. (www.biointegrity.org) • We have the right to choose whether we will feed such foods to our families. • 24 major industrialized nations have mandatory labeling of genetically foods with nominal food price increases and no harm to farmers. Genetic engineering can increase crop yield. However, it may bring negative impact. Many consumers are casting doubts on the _______ of consuming GM food, and their effects on the environment. safety

13. GM Shoppers protest against GM food in the UK (Credit: Nick Cobbing/Still Pictures) 4 Uncertain impact of GM food and crops In the European Union, GM food is banned Some countries suffering from food shortages even refuse to accept any GM food aid or seeds of GM crops

14. How can we sustain a balance between the use of technology and the environment? Sustainable agriculture refers to the ability of a farm to produce food without causing long term damage to the environment and ecosystem. Environment Environmental well-being Sustainable agriculture Sustainable agriculture involves the integration of three main goals. Economy Farm profitability Society Community prosperity

15. Farming in a sustainable way Chemical fertilizers are replaced by manure, beans and peas 1 Organic farming Useless parts of the crops are to decompose into natural nutrients Scarecrow is used to control pest Fallowing, so that the land can replenish its nutrients and water Chili and spring onions are used to replace pesticides

16. Farming in a sustainable way 2 Precision agriculture Precision agriculture is a kind of agriculture being helped through the use of ___________ and other information technologies. computers The field conditions for crop growth are measured and recorded. They include: Pest pattern Soil texture & chemistry Farmers using irrigation and weather sensor system to determine the necessary amount of water for crops Nutrient levels Moisture content (Credit: Mitch Kezar/Getty Images)

17. Farming in a sustainable way 2 Precision agriculture Applying precision agriculture can raise profits and reduce damage to the ____________. The drip irrigation system is an example of precision agriculture. environment It calculates and applies the necessary amount of water, nutrients and pesticides for individual plants. Fertilizers and pesticides can be put in the irrigation water with less risk, thus improving the efficiency of the water. Drip irrigation system

18. Growing different crops on a field at the same time can prevent depletion of a particular kind of nutrient (Credit: Herbert Kehrer/zefa/Corbis) Farming in a sustainable way 3 Multiple cropping(Monoculture vs Polyculture) Multiple cropping is the practice of planting two or more crops consecutively or at the same time on the same plot of land in a year. Multiple cropping can reduce soil erosion and help maintain soil fertility. Intercropping is a kind of multiple cropping. It means planting an additional crop in the spaces between the main crop. It enriches the biodiversity of the farm. Different types of crops can be planted to take advantage of different seasons.

19. Leave fallow Leave fallow Farming in a sustainable way 4 Soil conservation Can you name some farming methods that conserve soil? Crop rotation Fallowing

20. Leguminous crop Farming in a sustainable way 4 Soil conservation Can you name some farming methods that conserve soil? Arable farming Livestock rearing Cover cropping Crop residues on the field Soil nutrients Manure Mixed farming

21. Farming in a sustainable way 4 Soil conservation Can you name some farming methods that conserve soil? Contour ploughing (Credit: Alex S. MacLean/Peter Arnold Inc.) (Credit: Yann Arthus-Bertrand/Corbis) Planting wind shelters

22. Farming in a sustainable way 5 Water conservation To minimize water wastage, farmers have to consider crop type, soil moisture, temperature, rainfall, humidity and evapotranspiration. Irrigate at night. Apart from drip irrigation, what are the other measures to conserve water? Use treated urban waste water to irrigate the field. Grow water-efficient crops using drought-resistant varieties.

23. What can be done to alleviate food shortages apart from applying farming technologies? The root of food shortages is poverty. Poor farming methods is only one of the factors. To solve the problem of food shortages, agricultural development with rural development should be carried out. Rural development includes not only advancements in agricultural technologies, but the development of non-agricultural sectors and infrastructure. Simple and traditional farming methods in the Sahel (Credit: Mark Edwards/Still Pictures)

24. 1 Development of non-agricultural sectors Fruit processing factories can be set up in the fruit producing areas Leather producing workshops can be developed with cattle rearing Intensification and diversification in agriculture can pave the way of speeding up productivity growth in the rural non-agricultural sectors through a large number of linkages.

25. 1 Development of non-agricultural sectors More inputs for farming increase the intensity of production Fertilizer Doing work other than farming to increase income Growing different crops to secure food production

26. 2 Development of infrastructure Maintain a reliable rural electricity supply Develop and improve rural roads Set up a healthy marketing mechanism for farm produce Set up a sound financial support system Rural roads in Guizhou. Farmers can increase their income by transporting their farm produce to urban markets (Credit: China Features)

27. How to relieve the problem of food shortages? In general, the following measures can help solve the problem of food shortages effectively. Solving the problem of food shortages in less developed countries Advancements in agricultural technologies Development of non-agricultural sectors Development of rural infrastructure