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8/10/2019 Science Technology Sustainability
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Science, Technology and
Sustainability
Integrated pest management,
organic food, sustainableagriculture, genetically modified
food
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In tegrated Pest
Management Management of pests w/ combination of
natural and biological controls rather
than indiscriminate application ofpesticides
Developed in 1959 by University ofCalifornia entymologists
Incorporates some pre-pesticide ideasabout how to control pest problems
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Steps of IPM
1. Prevention Take steps to discourage pest build-up
2. Identify pests3. Set action thresholds
Set a level of loss that is acceptable
Past that threshold, action is warranted
4. Control, in this order: Mechanical control
Biological control
Chemical control
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IPM Techniques
Crop RotationChange crops each year to discourage pestbuildup. Disrupts life cycles of insects
Biological controlUse living organisms to reduce pestproblems, i.e. release natural predators
Increase natural resistance
Breed plants that are resistant to variouspests
Genetic EngineeringModify genes in an organism using
recombinant DNA technology
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Complications of IPM
IPM philosophy:
Pests should be managed, not completely
eradicated
Pesticides should be used only as a last resort, if
at all
BUT, managing pests is more complex than killing
them
IPM relies heavily on farming skills
Farmers must be in fields almost continually
monitoring conditions
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Complications of IPM
IPM must be custom-developed foreach farm depending on crop, local
insects, climate Farmers can work with local universities
to develop individual programs
IPM appeals to younger, better-educated farmers
15-25% of farmers are practicing IPM
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IPM: Key elements for
Success1. Responsiveness to farmers needs
A. community organization as a base for
implementation and sharing of knowledge
B. partnering among institutions with two-way flow
of information (university researchers,
government agencies, local farmers groups)
2. Absence of subsidies and incentives for non-
sustainable agricultural practices
3. Policies that support sustainable practices
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Organ ic farm ing
Based on use of Naturally-derived, not synthetic, pesticide and
fertilizers
Farming practices that restore, maintain, andenhance ecological harmony
Methods used crop rotation, mechanical cultivation,
biological pest controls
Difference from IPM no genetically-modified organisms, no
synthetic chemicals
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USDA National Organic
Program Not allowed:
antibiotics (for prevention) or growthhormones
genetically-modified organisms irradiation, synthetic pesticides
petroleum-based or sewage sludge-basedfertilizers
animal feed that contains manure, parts ofslaughtered animals, plastic pellets, or urea
Animals must have outdoor access andfreedom of movement
Farming should minimize erosion and runoff
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Biopesticides
Microbial Pesticides
Contain a micro-organism as an active agent
The compound is a specific strain of bacteria:Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)
Non-toxic to animals, including humans
Various strains of Bt bacteria make proteins toxic
to specific classes of insectsBiochemical Pesticides
Include naturally occurring substances thatcontrol pests by interfering with growth cycle
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Certification Process
Certification agencies are registered withgovt
Fields must be organic for 3 years(transition)before they can be labeled andsold as such
Annual inspections
Must document all soil inputs in fields
Farmers must develop soil fertility and pestcontrol plans
Buffer zonebetween them and conventional
farms
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Organic Definitions
100% Organiclabel only organic
ingredients
Organiclabel 95% organicingredients
Made with organic ingredientslabel
70% organic
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Why does organic food cost
more? Not a mass-market item (this is changing)
Produce is picked ripe, so shorter shelf-life
Environmentally-friendly practices are morelabor intensive
Methods used are not subsidized by
taxpayers
Therefore, consumers are paying the full
cost of growing the food
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Organic Controversies
Cost for small farmers may be prohibitive,
both in terms of time and money
Ideal diluted by large agribusinesses?
Beyond organicmovement: farmers have
opted out of organic certification
Some small farmers burdened by new
requirements - example: new antibiotic
regulations
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Shop Wisely: Organics
Consider buying organic:
The Dirty Dozen
Dairy products or rBGH-free
Things you eat daily
On the other hand:
Dont fall for organic junk food, organicwild
fish
Eat more locally produced whole foods(farmers markets, CSAs), less processedfood
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EWGs Dirty Dozen& Clean 15
Environmental Working Group lists
Updated periodically, latest version
http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary.php Description of the criteria used to develop
these rankings and the complete list of fruitsand vegetables tested www.foodnews.org
Smart phone apps available
http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary.phphttp://www.foodnews.org/http://www.foodnews.org/sneak/EWG-shoppers-guide.pdfhttp://www.foodnews.org/http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary.php8/10/2019 Science Technology Sustainability
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The Dirty Dozen Plus (Buy
Organic)1. Apples
2. Strawberries
3. Grapes4. Celery
5. Peaches
6. Spinach
7. Sweet bell peppers
8. Nectarines - imported
9. Cucumbers
10. Cherry Tomatoes11. Snap Peas - imported
12. Potatoes
13. Hot Peppers +
14. Kale/Collard greens +
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Sustainab le Agricu l ture
Integrates 3 main goals:
Environmental health
Economic profitability
Social and economic equity
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Sustainable Agriculture-
Themes We must meet needs of present without
compromising the ability of future generationsto meet their needs
Stewardship of both natural and humanresources is of prime importance
Stewardship of human resources includes:
working and living conditions of laborers the needs of rural communities
consumer health and safety in present and future
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Sustainable Agriculture-
Themes A systems perspective: system is envisioned
in its broadest sense, from the individualfarm, to the local ecosystem, and tocommunities affected by this farming systemboth locally and globally
A systems approach gives tools to exploreinterconnections between farming and otheraspects of our environment
A systems approach implies interdisciplinaryefforts in research and education
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Sustainable Agriculture-
Themes Transition to sustainable agriculture is a
process: for farmers, transition to sustainable
agriculture normally requires a series ofsmall, realistic steps
Reaching toward goal of sustainable
agriculture is responsibility of all participants
in system, including farmers, laborers,policymakers, researchers, retailers, and
consumers
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More Principles: Sustainability
Dealing transparently and systemically
with risk, uncertainty and irreversibility
Ensuring appropriate valuation,appreciation and restoration of
nature
Conservation of biodiversityandecological integrity
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More Principles: Sustainability
Ensuring inter-generational equity
Recognizing the global integration of
localities
A commitment to best practice
No net loss of human or natural capital
Principle of continuous improvement
The need for good governance
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Precautionary Principle of
Sustainability If there is riskthat an action could cause
harm, and lack of scientific consensus on thematter, the burden of proof is on those who
would support taking the action If competing "experts" recommend
diametrically opposing paths of actionregarding resources, carrying capacity,sustainability, and the future:
Serve cause of sustainability bychoosingconservative path
Leaves society in less precarious position ifchosen path turns out to be wrong path
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Biotechnology
Any technique that uses living organisms orparts of organisms to make or modify aproduct OR to improve an organism for a
specific use
Cross breeding/selective breeding Crossing different strains within closely
related species in attempt to re-create desired
characteristics
Genetic Engineering Manipulation on molecular or genetic level to
transfer specific genes
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DNA (Deoxyribonucleic
Acid) Genetic code of DNA: instructions specifying
amino acid sequence of all proteinssynthesized by an organism
Organismsinborn characteristics aredetermined by their DNA
The portion of DNA that codes enough
information to build one protein is called agene
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Advantages of Genetic
Engineering(When compared to cross-breeding)
Precision
Only transfer genes that code for thecharacteristics you are interested in
Speed
Can involve distantly-relatedorganisms
Tomato and fish!
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How to add a fish gene into
a tomatoScientists attempted to create a frost-resistant
tomato plant by adding an antifreeze genefrom the cold-water flounder, a fish that can
survive in very cold conditions, to the tomato:
The flounder has gene to make chemicalantifreeze. This is removed from thechromosomes within a flounder cell
The antifreeze DNA is joined onto a piece ofDNA called a plasmid. This hybrid DNA,which is a combination of DNA from 2different sources, is known as recombinantDNA
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How to add a fish gene into
a tomato (cont.)
The recombinant DNA, including the
antifreeze gene, is placed in a bacterium
The bacterium is allowed to reproduce manytimes producing lots of copies of the
recombinant DNA
Tomato plant cells are infected with the
bacteria. As a result, the antifreeze gene inthe plasmids, in the bacteria, becomes
integrated into the tomato plant cell DNA
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How to add a fish gene into
a tomato (cont.)
Tomato cells are placed in a growth medium
that encourages cells to grow into plants
Tomato plant seedlings are planted
GM tomato plants contain copy of flounder
antifreeze gene in every one of their cells;
plants are tested to see if fish gene still works
and whether they are now frost resistant
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Examples of Genetic
Engineering Medicine
Insulin
Decreased allergic response
HIV
Food Processing
Chymosin/rennet Delayed ripening, Flavr-Savrtomato
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Examples of Genetic
Engineering Agriculture
Insect resistant plants
Herbicide-tolerant plants
Nutrition Increased protein quality
Increased micro-nutrient content
Decreased fat absorption
Aquaculture GM salmon under consideration, FDA review
process has been stalled, and consumers areincreasingly against approval
Whole Foods, TJs say they wont sell it
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Who regulates
biotechnology?In U.S., regulation by 3 federal agencies:
Environmental Protection Agency
Evaluates the production process of creatinggenetically altered organisms
U.S. Department of Agriculture Evaluates whole foods and the production process
Food and Drug Administration
Evaluates whole foods, food ingredients, and foodadditives
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Concerns about Genetic
Engineering Environmental Issues
Pesticide-resistant insects
Increase in use of herbicides Transfer of characteristics to undesirable
species (outcrossing)
Decrease in biodiversity
Unintended harm to other organisms
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Concerns about Genetic
Engineering Safety issues
unnaturally occurringhormones, i.e.
rBGH
Food allergies
Unintentional change in nutrient
content
Unintended changes to DNA
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Concerns about applications of
genetic engineering Who will it benefit?
Farmers in developed nations?
Farmers in developing nations?
People in developing countries?
Biotech industry?
Ethical and Religious concerns
To label or not to label
Anti-competitiveness in the seed industry
Anti-trust issues
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Cloned Animals
In January, 2008, the FDA concluded thatfood from cloned cattle, pigs and goats andtheir offspring is safe to eat
USDA immediately cleared the offspring ofcloned animals for sale but asked owners ofclones to continue to observe a voluntarymoratorium on marketing them
USDA is working with industryrepresentatives on a plan to usher clones intothe food supply
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Cloned Animals -
Controversy Consumer groups maintain FDA's study
based on insufficient evidence; are pushingfor government programs to track and label
food derived from cloning Animal welfare organizations also object to
cloning, which often produces malformednewborns
Biodiversity issues