Author: katherinefl

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New GM Tomatoes

Stoye, E. (2015, November 2). Gene-Modified Tomatoes Churn Out Healthy Nutrients. Scientific American. Retrieved November 15, 2015, from http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/gene-modified-tomatoes-churn-out-healthy-nutrients/

Researchers in the United Kingdom developed a genetically modified tomato that contains many healthy compounds. These tomatoes can provide nutrients in a quicker and cheaper way than the alternatives (the synthesis of nutrients or the collection of them from other plants). To make the tomato, scientists added the gene AtMYB12 to the plants, which allowed them to accumulate more metabolites. Scientists hope that this may improve the “public perception” of GMOs and improve understanding of the availability of nutrients in plants.

These tomatoes could change the future of food production because they make increase the desirability of GMOs. Today, many people hesitate to buy GMOs, fearing that they have an unhealthy impact on the environment and humans; however, these tomatoes prove that GMOs can actually be healthier than regular plants. I think this form of genetic modification is a good idea, especially since so many people aren’t getting enough of certain nutrients. I would like to know how these tomatoes impact the environment compared to regular tomatoes and other GMOs.

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All Countries Waste Food

Smith, R. (2015, September 28). Even Poor Countries End Up Wasting Tons Of Food. NPR.Retrieved November 15, 2015, from http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2015/09/28/444188475/even-poor-countries-end-up-wasting-tons-of-food

Due to poor infrastructure and bad distribution networks, about half of the food in developing countries is wasted and never even gets sold. Each year about $1 trillion worth of food is wasted, but in poor countries most of the food that is wasted because of poor transportation and storage methods. Even though so much food is wasted, thousands of people are still hungry. Therefore, so solve world hunger, companies should improve—not increase—food production. The amount of energy it takes to produce this wasted food adds billions of tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year.

Food production is an extremely prevalent environmental issue because it contributes to global warming and requires tons of land. Improving aspects of crop production and distribution in developing countries can control the amount of wasted food and decrease unnecessary environmental impacts. I think that fixing those things should be the first step to reduce world hunger, because they can be fixed easier than a drought or weather disaster.

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Algae is the Next Source of Alternative Protein

Rack, J. (2015, August 11). Protein Goes Green: Can Algae Become The Next Soy? NPR. Retrieved November 15, 2015, from http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/08/11/429985941/protein-goes-green-can-algae-become-the-next-soy

After companies found that people are eating less mess, they discovered that algae could be an alternative source of protein. While plant proteins such as soy, peas and beans are all on the market, algae offers addition benefits because it contains more nutrients such as fiber, vitamins and minerals. The company Solazyme has experimented with microalgae and found that it can be produced in only a few days. Another company, Allma, has already received positive customer feedback on their algae-based products. The major issue with using algae as protein is that it is expensive and requires a lot of water.

In today’s society, producing protein requires a lot of land, either for grazing livestock or growing plants such as soybeans. As a result, an alterative plant protein that requires less land is appealing. Even though it is expensive and requires quite a bit of water, I think this may be a more sustainable than the alternatives because it does not destroy land or add to global warming. I find it ironic that as humans, we hate having algae in ponds and lakes and other bodies of water; but now, companies are producing and selling it.

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The Impossible Task of Producing Food Today

Haspel, T. (2015, July 26). Why everyone who is sure about their food philosophy is wrong. The Washington Post. Retrieved November 15, 2015 from http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/why-everyone-who-is-sure-about-their-food-philosophy-is-wrong/2015/07/26/0d2fa644-2fef-11e5-97ae-30a30cca95d7_story.html

It is impossible to feed the entire planet and cause no harm to the environment. While some ideas, such as organic farming, are definitely beneficial to the environment in some situations, they will not be helpful in every situation. In addition, the federal government requires that in order to have an organic label, livestock must not be given antibiotics. This creates a problem when animals get sick, but the farmers do not want to provide antibiotics because it will cost them. The issues of locally grown foods, GMOs, and conventional agricultural all have their pros and cons, so the only way to solve these problems is by aiming to improve both food production and its toll on the environment.

Today, as humans continue to destroy more and more of the environment, the attempt to create a more sustainable lifestyle becomes more appealing. But, as this article points out, it is impossible to feed the staggering number of people on Earth and cause no harm to the environment. The solution, according to this article, is to disregard any overarching food philosophies and instead think small. Although this tactic may work on a small scale, I do not think it will not be able to sustain our entire planet as a whole.

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Fast Food Chains Eliminate Antibiotics

Hackett, J. (2015, October 28). Subway Joins Other Fast-Food Giants to Cut Back on Antibiotics. Scientific American. Retrieved November 15, 2015, from http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/subway-joins-other-fast-food-giants-to-cut-back-on-antibiotics/

Starting next year, Subway will serve antibiotic-free chicken and turkey in response to a petition. Chipotle and Panera Bread already serve antibiotic-free meat, while McDonald’s and Chik-fil-A are going to switch soon. Reducing antibiotic use is beneficial because it decreases the number of bacteria that grow immune to medicines. “Antibiotic-free livestock” entails only administering antibiotics when an animal is sick, rather than routinely. The U.S. FDA has voluntary restrictions on antibiotic use, and California has banned the use of antibiotics not prescribed by a veterinarian. While chicken is the easiest product to find antibiotic-free, Subway and other restaurants plan to make the switch for other meat products as well.

Subway’s decision to buy antibiotic-free meat will greatly impact the food production industry, as it forces company to either offer antibiotic-free products or to go out of business. It is related to the environment because if every farm administers routine antibiotics, then many bacteria will become immune and scientists will have to discover new medicine. I think that this change is a step in the right direction in terms of improving food production. Because Subway is the largest food chain in the world, it will hopefully act as a role model for other companies to make the switch.

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AquaBounty Genetically Engineers Salmon

Rack, J. (2015, June 24). Genetically Modified Salmon: Coming To A River Near You? Retrieved

July 26, 2015 from http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/06/24/413755699/genetically-modified-salmon-coming-to-a-river-near-you

 

AquaBounty Technologies has genetically engineered Atlantic salmon to grow twice as fast as traditional salmon, but the USFDA has not yet approved the salmon for sale. The main concern regarding the salmon is the possibility of them escaping into the wild and altering the environment. Because of the fish’s different traits, scientists do not know whether or not they would survive in the wild. While AquaBounty argues that escape is nearly impossible, skeptics still worry that if these fish become more abundant, the containment methods may become less tight, thus increasing the chance of escape.

 

The prospect of genetically modified fish poses a dangerous threat to the environment and the remaining wild fish populations. Scientists do not know exactly how much harm these fish can cause to the environment if they escape. Although this idea may help to feed Earth’s growing population, it is not a sustainable tactic for the future. For example, these genetically engineered fish eat more than typical salmon. Often, farmed fish eat corn. If these new fish eat more, then the demand more corn—which is already great—will significantly increase and eventually space for corn farming will be depleted.

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The Growth of Local Food Service at Schools

McMillan, T. (2015, March 11). Why Some Schools Serve Local Food And Others Can’t (Or

Won’t). Retrieved July 25, 2015 from

http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/03/11/392183832/why-some-schools-serve-local-food-and-others-cant-or-wont

 

Over the past decade, it has become easier for schools to serve local foods for lunches. About 36% of schools, mainly in the northeast, are providing local foods for lunches. Many schools are choosing not to provide local goods because of the hassle of contracts and paperwork, and the fact that local farms cannot supply enough food that meets the demands of the school. Another issue is that many items will not be available year-round if they are acquired locally.

 

Sourcing food locally will benefit the environment because it will reduce the need for transportation. Using less transportation will save valuable resources and help reduce pollutants. However, in some places such as California, sourcing food locally may have a negative impact on the environment because it may require farmers to take more water from the already depleted reservoirs in the state. Overall, I think that serving local foods in school lunches is a good idea that will lead to a more sustainable lifestyle because it reduces the need for transportation.

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Growing Almonds in California’s Drought

Jackson, H., Monahan, K., Makely, J., & Connor, T. (2015, May 13). Almond Farmer’s Message

to Drought Critics: ‘We Are Not the Villain.’ Retrieved July 25, 2015 from

http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/california-drought/almond-farmers-message-drought-critics-we-are-not-villain-n353836

 

Tom Rogers, an almond farmer in California, argues that farmers are not the problem when dealing with the drought, and that they are simply trying to make a living by providing food for the world. He blames the water shortage on the government and a lack of water storage. Over the past decade, California’s output of nuts has doubled from one billion pounds to two billion pounds. Rogers has been devoting much of his profits to water conservation efforts. Many farmers are turning their almonds farms in pistachio farms as a result of the drought.

 

California’s drought has led to a major ethical dilemma that either damages the environment, or takes away jobs and food from thousands of people. On one hand, limiting the amount of water nut farms receive would significantly improve California’s water situation. However, these same nut farms provide jobs to thousands of people and produce food for the entire world. I am hesitant to say that greater restrictions should be placed on the farms, because I know that doing so would take away jobs from thousands of people and destroy their livelihood.

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Aero Farms Pioneers Indoor Farming

Siegel, RP. (2015, July 24). Vertical Farm Takes Food Production to New Heights. Retrieved

July 25, 2015 from

http://www.triplepundit.com/2015/07/new-vertical-farming-take-food-production-places-never/

 

Aero Farms plans to build the world’s largest indoor vertical farm in an abandoned steel mill in Newark, New Jersey. The company has partnered with major banks and claims that their vertical farming method grows 75% more food with 95% less water than traditional methods. The facility will create nearly 80 new jobs, and will produce about 2 million pounds of pesticide-free produce. The farm uses no soil, and instead sprouts seeds on cloth. The seeds are sprayed from below with misters and lit by LED lighting. So far, the innovative company has won numerous awards for it’s work.

 

One of the major issues for modern-day farming is the limited amount of outdoor space that has ample nutrients, light and water to produce food. Aero Farms claims that they have solved these issues by using less space, less water and no pesticides, while still producing more food. If the innovative idea is successful, it could revolutionize the food production. However, this method will only work for small plants that can be stacked on top of each other. It will not solve other issues such as the growth of water demanding nut trees.

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GMO Labeling Bill

Jalonick, C. (2015, July 23). House passes bill to prevent mandatory GMO labeling. Retrieved

July 24, 2015 from

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/congress/house-passes-bill-to-prevent-mandatory-gmo-labeling/2015/07/23/312fe568-3166-11e5-a879-213078d03dd3_story.html

 

Recently, the House of Representatives passed a bill that prohibits the mandatory labeling of foods that contain GMOs. The food industry supports the bill, and claims that GMOs are harmless to humans and that mandatory labeling would only increase prices. Opposition to the bill argues that consumers should have the right to know what is in their food. The bill would also require that the USFDA review all foods made with GMOs before sale, and it would develop a new certification process for GMO-free food. Although the bill has passed in the House, President Obama has yet to sign it.

 

This article is related to environment science because GMOs have harmful effects on the environment, but the food industry mainly cares about acquiring money. Both House representatives and members of the food industry believe that because the FDA has deemed GMOs safe for human consumption, there are virtually no issues with them. However, they did not take into account GMOs toll on the environment, such as their effect on insects and other plants and animals. Instead of thinking about Earth as a whole, it appears that the representatives are thinking only about providing humans with cheap and supposedly safe food.