Emerging Plant Technologies EPS2...Source: University of Nevada Cooperative Extension After determining which insects and other animal pests, diseases, and weeds attack your crop,

Exploring Plant Science � EPS2 � Emerging Plant Technologies

Emerging Plant Technologies

EPS2.1

Date _______________Topic_____________________________

-------------------------------------------Summary of Main Ideas--------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------Notes--------------------------------------

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

---M

ain

Idea

s, K

ey P

oint

s, F

orm

ulas

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

---

----

----

----

----

----

----

-

Definition of “technology”: The six categories of plant technologies: “The Big Picture goal of producers: Definition of “producers”:



EPS2.3

The Goals and Challenges of Farmers

Directions: Using the word bank below, fill in the blanks. Word Bank:

• Pests • Labor • Consumer • Horticulture • Fluctuating • Increased • Productivity

• Efficiency • Inputs • Costs • Agronomic • Pesticides • Value • Yields

Producers turn to new research-based technologies to help them meet the big picture challenge. Their goals include:

o Increasing _________________ — plants produce more commodities such as soybeans or corn ________________

o Lowering production __________ such as __________, seed, fertilizers, and __________________________.

o Improving production ______________________ — plants produce more with fewer costs

o Meeting evolving ____________________ preferences

o Meeting_____________________ demand due to a growing population

o Maximizing the ____________of the products they market – getting higher prices for their products

Producers, whether they are producing _____________crops, forage, or________________ plants, face a number of challenges as they work to produce an adequate supply of crop and plant products:

o ________________, insects, disease, weeds o Weather events

o Increasing costs such as fuel, seed, fertilizers, and labor ______________ — the resources used in agricultural production

o Less land in production

o ______________ crop/product prices

Challenges producers face:



EPS2.4

Date _______________Topic_____________________________


----------------------------------Notes--------------------------------------

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

---M

ain

Idea

s, K

ey P

oint

s, F

orm

ulas

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

---

----

----

----

----

----

----

-

Genetic Engineering: Genetically Modified Organisms:



EPS2.6

GMO Basics Worksheet

Name: ____________________________________ Directions: Research GMOs online and respond to the following questions. Write the responses in your own words.

1. What does “GMO” stand for?

2. What are GMOs?

3. What traits are commonly transferred from one organism to a plant?

4. Why is genetic engineering is practiced?

5. What GMO crops are available today?

6. After your research, what is your view on using GMO technology? Support your response.



EPS2.6

Select one GMO crop you read about.

1. What crop did you choose?

2. What were the desirable traits transferred to the plant?

3. How can the modification help farmers feed or clothe the world?



EPS2.7

New School Activity

Directions: Read the following scenario and respond to questions below. There is a new school opening in your area. You are eligible to attend if you choose. The campus is new and beautiful with lots of special features. The campus will have a new athletics facility, a new performing arts complex, and laptops for all students. The individuals promoting the new school indicate that graduates of the school will have a better chance at college and university admissions. The school will have a new high-quality program in an area of your interest. The promoters also contend that if you enroll in this new program, you will be well trained to continue your education. Respond to the following questions: 1. Would you transfer to the new school? 2. What are the benefits of transferring to the new school? 3. What are the disadvantages to transferring to the new school? 4. On what basis did you make your final decision? 5. What is the process you used to make your decision? 6. Can this process be applied to other decisions?



EPS2.8

Benefits and Risks of Plant Biotechnology

Review each benefit and risk card and place a value on each based on how important you think they are (5 = most important and 1 = least important). The value that you place on each benefit is based on how important YOU think the benefit or risk is to people, our well-being, and our future. For example, if you feel that providing food for a growing population is more important than the risk of potential danger of GMO crops, then you would rate feeding others higher than potential risks. Next, sort the cards into two piles as if they were on the sides of a balance. Count up the point values of each side. Place the two totals here: Benefits: _____________ Risks: ________ Based on the totals for the benefits and risks, do you support the use of plant biotechnologies? Benefit Cards

(1) Cut along the dotted lines to create cards (2) Fold the cards over on the solid line to create a front and back

Front Back

Improved plant traits

Value: BENEFIT

Increases agricultural productivity

Value:

BENEFIT



EPS2.8

Reduces/eliminates the need for pesticides and/or makes pesticides more effective

Value:

BENEFIT

Makes plants ward off viruses and fungi more successfully

Value:

BENEFIT

Reduces the production cost by cutting inputs (machinery,

fuel, pesticides, etc.)

Value:

BENEFIT

Controls runoff/water pollution more effectively

Value:

BENEFIT



EPS2.8

Reduced mechanical weeding helps prevent loss of topsoil

Value:

BENEFIT

Lower pesticide residues for consumers

Value:

BENEFIT

Risk Cards

(1) Cut along the dotted lines to create cards (2) Fold the cards over on the solid line to create a front and back

Front Back

Potential harm to human health

Value:

RISK

New allergens in the food supply

Value:

RISK



EPS2.8

Antibiotic resistance

Value: RISK

Production of new toxins

Value: RISK

Concentration of toxic metals

Value: RISK

Enhancement of the environment for toxic fungi

Value:

RISK



EPS2.8

Increased number of weeds, gene transfer to wild or weedy

relatives

Value:

RISK

Change in herbicide use patterns

Value:

RISK

Poisoned wildlife

Value: RISK

Creation of new or worse viruses

Value:

RISK



EPS2.9

Date _______________Topic_____________________________


----------------------------------Notes--------------------------------------

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

---M

ain

Idea

s, K

ey P

oint

s, F

orm

ulas

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

---

----

----

----

----

----

----

-

The Benefits and Risks of Plant Biotechnology Benefits: Risks:



EPS2.10

Creating a GMO Plant

Directions: With a partner, create a GMO plant that meets a human need either now or in the future. Find a plant in nature that contains the desirable trait (research as needed) and the plant you will insert the new trait into. Create an infographic for the new plant. Be prepared to share your infographic with the class. What is an ‘infographic’? Here are two examples:

Source: USDA NRCS Source: Missouri Department of Agriculture



EPS2.11

A Conversation with Farmers

A friend invites you to their family reunion. You overhear a conversation between your friend’s grandfather, Bill, and his aunt, Denise. Bill was describing his days as a corn farmer and how he farmed in the 1900s. He had grown corn and soybeans for his entire career as a farmer. He shared how each year, he only hoped for good prices for his crops. He described how he would plow and disc the entire field every season before planting. He then set the planter at the recommended application rate and planted the seed evenly across the field. He discussed spraying herbicides and pesticides on the entire field as needed based on what he observed as he walked the field. He did not have a computer until the late 1990s but did not see much use for it in his farming operation. He had a difficult time figuring them out. He checked the “Farmer’s Almanac” on a regular basis for information about weather. Denise then commented, “My, how things have changed. Today we use minimal till techniques and try to disturb the soil in the field as little as possible.” She shared that they plant at variable rates based on soil data received from a satellite system — soil type, water holding capacity, and nutrient content. She indicated that they only spray pesticides in areas of the field that has pests present and not at all if possible. She described using high tech weeding equipment which can detect individual weeds and remove them. By using iPads and cell phones, they have access to data from across the world. Based on the world market data, she determines how many acres to plant for the various crops they grow. “Yes grandpa, things have changed in agriculture.” Questions:

1. What changes did you recognize in the two descriptions of production practices?

2. Which new technology that Denise described did you find most interesting?

3. Why do you think these new technologies have been adopted? How do you think the new technologies benefit producers?

4. What risks are producers taking by adopting the new technologies?



EPS2.12

Date _______________Topic_____________________________


----------------------------------Notes--------------------------------------

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

---M

ain

Idea

s, K

ey P

oint

s, F

orm

ulas

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

---

----

----

----

----

----

----

-

Description of precision agriculture: Examples of precision agriculture technologies: The Benefits and Risks of Precision Agriculture Benefits: Risks:



EPS2.13

Date _______________Topic_____________________________


----------------------------------Notes--------------------------------------

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

---M

ain

Idea

s, K

ey P

oint

s, F

orm

ulas

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

---

----

----

----

----

----

----

-

What causes soil to erode? What precision agriculture technology can help producers minimize or prevent soil erosion?



EPS2.14

Date _______________Topic_____________________________


----------------------------------Notes--------------------------------------

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

---M

ain

Idea

s, K

ey P

oint

s, F

orm

ulas

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

---

----

----

----

----

----

----

-

Which type of planter allows the producer to place the seeds/plants precisely where they wanted? Which type of planter used the least amount of seed for the given sized field? Which types of planters would save producers money? Why? If you were a producer, which type of planter would you purchase if all planters were the same price? Why?



EPS2.15

Date _______________Topic_____________________________

-------------------------------------------Summary of Main Ideas--------------------------------------------

------------------

----------------------------------Notes--------------------------------------

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

---M

ain

Idea

s, K

ey P

oint

s, F

orm

ulas

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

---

----

----

----

----

----

----

-

Mechanical pest control: Three examples of mechanical pest control: Biological pest control: Drawing of a pest and its predator: Chemical pest control: Drawings of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) Cultural Pest Control: Examples of cultural pest control methods:



EPS2.17

Date _______________Topic_____________________________


----------------------------------Notes--------------------------------------

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

---M

ain

Idea

s, K

ey P

oint

s, F

orm

ulas

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

---

----

----

----

----

----

----

-

Four types of pest control: Pest control technology:



EPS2.18

Integrated Pest Management Plan

What is an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan?

• During this activity, your group will create an Integrated Pest Management plan. Be sure to include pest control practices in each of the four methods.

o Mechanical o Chemical o Biological o Cultural

• Choose one the following crops grown in Missouri: o Bioenergy grasses o Corn o Cotton o Rice o Soybeans o Wheat o Asparagus o Eggplant o Lettuce o Cantaloupe o Peppers o Processing potatoes o Pumpkins o Snap beans o Spinach o Squash o Sweet potatoes o Fresh tomatoes o Watermelon

• Research the major pests that attack your crop. This includes insects and other animal pests, diseases, and weeds.

• Research to determine current pest control methods used for your crop to prevent or eliminate the pests.

• As a group, develop a plan that includes all the findings of your research.



EPS2.18

There are many ways to design an Integrated Pest Management Plan. You can choose the appearance of your plan. Here is an example:

Source: University of Nevada Cooperative Extension After determining which insects and other animal pests, diseases, and weeds attack your crop, list methods for overcoming these pests for each layer.



EPS2.19

Date _______________Topic_____________________________


----------------------------------Notes--------------------------------------

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

---M

ain

Idea

s, K

ey P

oint

s, F

orm

ulas

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

---

----

----

----

----

----

----

-

Arable land statistics:



EPS2.20

Alternative Growing Systems Hydroponics

• Hydroponics is a method of growing plants in _____________ (nutrient solution) rather

than _______ primarily in ______________ during the _________.

• Bare root hydroponic systems involve _____________ the roots of plants at regular

intervals with a _______________________ or placing plants in shallow pools where

they ______________ on the _____________.

Vertical Gardening

• Vertical gardening is a technique used to grow plants on a ____________ suspended

__________ by using _________________.

Aquaponics

• The combination of _________________ (raising fish) and _______________ (the

soilless growing of plants) that grows _________ and ___________ together in one

integrated system.

• The _____________ waste provides an organic food source for the ___________, and the

____________ naturally ____________ the water for the fish.

Aeroponics

• The process of growing plants in an ______ or _______ environment without the use of

soil. Aeroponic systems grow plants _____________ in a closed or semi-closed

environment by ____________ the plant’s dangling roots and lower stem with a nutrient-

rich ___________ solution.

Hydroponics Vertical

Gardening Aquaponics Aeroponics

Ben

efits

Ris

ks



EPS2.22

Date _______________Topic_____________________________


----------------------------------Notes--------------------------------------

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

---M

ain

Idea

s, K

ey P

oint

s, F

orm

ulas

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

---

----

----

----

----

----

----

-

New Technologies in Plant Health 1. Variable rate application technology: 2. Enhanced efficiency fertilizer technology: 3. Cultural practices:



EPS2.24

Date _______________Topic_____________________________


----------------------------------Notes--------------------------------------

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

---M

ain

Idea

s, K

ey P

oint

s, F

orm

ulas

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

---

----

----

----

----

----

----

-

The benefits and risks of new plant health technologies:



EPS2.25

Buffer Zones in Agriculture Laboratory Observation Sheet Directions: Record your thoughts and observations for each step listed below. Step 2: Step 3: Step 4: Step 5: Step 6:



EPS2.26

Biofuels Crossword Puzzle

Across: 3. If we produce our own fuels, we may be able to become ________ secure. 7. The process of producing biodiesel from vegetable oils, yellow grease, used cooking oils, or

animal fats. 8. A second example of a biofuel. 9. In the United states, 95% of ethanol is produced from this crop. 12. This crop commonly grown in Missouri is often used to produce biodiesel. 13. A benefit of biofuel technology is job _______ in rural areas. 14. Biodiesel is safer than petroleum diesel because it is less ______, and it’s safer to handle,

store, and transport. 15. Ethanol is made from ______ from many plants. Down: 1. A challenge of biofuel production is the cost of ______. 2. Biofuels is a type of _____ fuel produced from corps. 4. Biodiesel is a clean-burning _____ substitute to petroleum-based diesel. 5. There are ______ benefits to using biofuels. 6. Often ethanol is mixed with _____ to make blends such as E10, E15, or E85 for sale at fueling

stations. 10. One example of biofuel. 11. A challenge of using biofuels is that not all _____ can use biofuels that are produced today.



EPS2.26

Biofuels Crossword Puzzle

Word Bank:

• Corn • Renewable • Soybeans • Gasoline • Creation • Sugars • Ethanol • Energy

• Transesterification • Environmental • Combustible • Biodiesel • Alternative • Plants • Vehicles



EPS2.27

Date _______________Topic_____________________________


----------------------------------Notes--------------------------------------

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

---M

ain

Idea

s, K

ey P

oint

s, F

orm

ulas

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

----

---

----

----

----

----

----

----

-

Biofuels crop list: Oil extraction lab notes:



EPS2.28

The Final Project Part 1

From the list below, select and circle one plant technology that you would like to learn more about.

• Plant biotechnology

• Precision agriculture technology

• Pest control technology

• Growing systems

• Plant health and nutrition technology

• Biofuels

Now, get specific! What part of this technology will you investigate? For example, if you choose precision agriculture technology, you might investigate drones or another specific piece of equipment. Next, research the following information about the specific technology selected above.

• Description:

• Uses:

• Local or regional companies that offer this technology:

• Producers who use this technology:

• Careers related to the technology:

• Benefits of adoption:

• Risks of adoption:

• Potential future trends in the technology:



EPS2.29

Guided Notes

Factors that Influence Technology Adoption: • __________________ To what extent does the new technology offer an advantage

over the ____________?

• ___________ How well does the new technology fit with the _________, past

_____________, and ___________ of the operation?

• _______________ How easy or difficult is the new technology to ____________ and

______________ in the operation?

• _______________ How easy or difficult is it to ___________ the new technology

before being fully implemented?

• ____________ How easy or difficult is it to see the _____________ of adopting the

new technology?

Assessing the Potential Impact of New Technologies: When assessing the impact of a new agricultural technology on an operation, there are several factors to consider:

• _______ How much will it _____ to implement the new technology?

o Consider:

§ _________________ Cost to purchase the technology and or required

equipment?

§ _________________ Costs to implement changes to other aspects of

the operation to accommodate the new technology.

• _______ How much will technology impact productivity on the operation?

o Consider:

§ Efficiency ___________/___________

§ Changes in _________ or ______________

• _______ How will the technology impact _____ on the operation?

o Consider:

§ Required _________ practices and equipment

§ Changes to existing operating procedures

• ____________ How will the technology impact ___________ with regulations?

o Consider:



EPS2.29

§ Current ____________

§ Regulations in the ______________

• __________ What __________ or __________ will be required to implement the

technology?

o Consider:

§ Helpful ____________________

§ ________________/____________ required by law

• ____________ How will this technology impact the ______________?

o Consider:

§ _______ quality

§ _______ quality

§ _______ quality

• ____________ How will use of this new technology impact other ________ near my

operation?

o Consider:

§ Sensitive _________/__________

§ ______________ with neighbors

• ____________ How might this new technology impact ___________?

o Consider:

§ _________/_________

§ Consumer __________



EPS2.30


Directions:

Refer back to the technology you selected and the research you completed on Activity Sheet

2.28. Using what you learned on Activity Sheet 2.29, brainstorm at least eight questions to ask

when adapting this technology.



EPS2.31


For the final component of the project:

• Identify a local producer or company who could benefit from adopting the technology you selected.

• Brainstorm factors that might interfere with adoption.

Finally, create a poster or display that includes the information gathered from all components of the project. This includes Activity Sheet 2.28, Activity Sheet 2.30, and prepared to share your poster with the class.

Documents

Emerging Plant Technologies EPS2...Source: University of Nevada Cooperative Extension After determining which insects and other animal pests, diseases, and weeds attack your crop,