Exam 7: Soil, Agriculture, and the Future of Food

Read the following scenario and answer the question below. Despite the high cost of the technology to design genetically modified (GM) crops, American companies have invested in their development. The first genetically engineered crop was the Flavr Savr tomato, which was created by reversing the function of a normal tomato gene. It was approved by the FDA for sale in the United States in 1994. Its grower, the Calgene Corporation, maintained that it would ripen longer on the vine, taste and ship better, and last longer on supermarket shelves compared to conventional tomatoes. It is no longer marketed because of technical problems and public safety concerns. Today, most engineered crops are modified for insect and herbicide resistance. In 1997, the Monsanto company first marketed GM corn. This Bt corn was engineered using genes from the Bacillus thuringiensis bacteria that made the corn resistant to some pests. In 1999, environmentalists were alarmed when it was reported that pollen from Bt corn could kill monarch butterfly larvae if corn pollen drifted onto milkweed plants that monarchs fed upon. Consumers feared the unknown and were concerned about potential food allergies. Presently, corn, along with soybeans, cotton, and canola dominate the GM food market. These crops are grown and distributed mostly in the United States, Argentina, Canada, Brazil, and China. They are used mostly for animal feed, clothing, or to make oil or other ingredients for processed food, which has helped them gain public acceptance. Although GM crops such as strawberries, potatoes, and lettuce have all been marketed in the United States, GM food field trials involving biotech fruits and vegetables have dropped significantly during the past several years, and the pace of new product introductions has fallen sharply. This narrow range of crops could mean that biotechnology may not realize its full potential in the future. -Why have most bioengineered crops been modified for ʺresistanceʺ traits?

The O horizon of soils consists of _______________.

Factors involved in soil formation are _______________.

_______________ % of the food we consume comes from crop species.

Describe the goals and effects of industrial agriculture.

Leaching _______________.

No-till farming would be most beneficial for farmers _______________.

Until about 10,000 years ago, our species depended on _______________.

Use the figure above to answer the following question. -Based on the information in the figure, you decide to make changes in your diet to diminish your ecological footprint (the environmental impact of your food choices) by _____________.

Organic farming _______________.

Read the following scenario and answer the question below. Despite the high cost of the technology to design genetically modified (GM) crops, American companies have invested in their development. The first genetically engineered crop was the Flavr Savr tomato, which was created by reversing the function of a normal tomato gene. It was approved by the FDA for sale in the United States in 1994. Its grower, the Calgene Corporation, maintained that it would ripen longer on the vine, taste and ship better, and last longer on supermarket shelves compared to conventional tomatoes. It is no longer marketed because of technical problems and public safety concerns. Today, most engineered crops are modified for insect and herbicide resistance. In 1997, the Monsanto company first marketed GM corn. This Bt corn was engineered using genes from the Bacillus thuringiensis bacteria that made the corn resistant to some pests. In 1999, environmentalists were alarmed when it was reported that pollen from Bt corn could kill monarch butterfly larvae if corn pollen drifted onto milkweed plants that monarchs fed upon. Consumers feared the unknown and were concerned about potential food allergies. Presently, corn, along with soybeans, cotton, and canola dominate the GM food market. These crops are grown and distributed mostly in the United States, Argentina, Canada, Brazil, and China. They are used mostly for animal feed, clothing, or to make oil or other ingredients for processed food, which has helped them gain public acceptance. Although GM crops such as strawberries, potatoes, and lettuce have all been marketed in the United States, GM food field trials involving biotech fruits and vegetables have dropped significantly during the past several years, and the pace of new product introductions has fallen sharply. This narrow range of crops could mean that biotechnology may not realize its full potential in the future. -The Flavr Savr tomato is no longer marketed because _______________.

Match the following: -Introduced for biological control of caterpillars

The breakdown of large rocks into smaller pieces is _______________.

Of the following, _______________ best describes integrated pest management (IPM).

What was the Green Revolution, and what impact did it have on developing countries? Discuss the impact of the Green Revolution on the environment.

Seed banks (institutions that store and preserve seeds) are important for _______________.

Normal Borlaug, who passed away in 2009, pioneered the development of _______________.

Briefly discuss some disadvantages to aquaculture.

Over-irrigation can result in _______________.

Terracing, contour farming, intercropping, and crop rotation all _______________.