Ces 210 1nd Edition Lecture 11 Current LectureWE NEED THE RIGHT KINDS OF FOOD- Generally eating s good variety of foods should give you all the nutrient you need- However Americans tend to consume too many simple sugars and starchy foods- Researchers at Harvard university recommend following a new dietary pyramid which encourages reducing red meat and starchy foods and emphasizes consumption of nuts legumes fruits and whole grains- The Harvard diet also encourages adding moderate exercise to your routineMICHAEL POLLAN- We’re consuming “edible food like substances” no longer the products of nature but of food science- Eat food and not to much mostly plantsTHE FOODS WE EAT- Of the thousands of edible plants and animals in the world only a few provide almost all our foodGENETIC ENGINEERING- Genetic engineering: splicing a gene from one organism into the chromosome of another- Genetically modified organisms: organisms with entirely new genes, and even new organisms, often called “transgenic” organismsIS IT SAFE?- The greatest danger is the ecological effects if these organisms spread into native populations- There are social and economic implications of GMOs. Will they help feed the world or will they lead to a greater consolidation of corporate power and economic disparity?- Are GMOs required if we hope to reduce malnutrition and feed eight billion people in 50 yearsThese notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.Environmental Lecture 12Sustainable food systemsAGRICULTURAL CHALLENGES- Loss of prime farmland- Improving yields- Loss of domesticated varieties- Curbing environmental impacts of fossil fuels- Dependency on fossil fuelsREGION CROPS- Near east is considered the fertile crescent and grows wheat, barley, flax, lentils, chickpea, figs, dates, grapes, olives, onions, cabbage, carrots, cucumbers, and melons, fruits and nuts- Africa grows pearl millet, guinea millet, African rice, sorghum, cowpea, Bambara groundnut, yam, oil palm, watermelon, and okra- China grows Japanese millet, rice, buckwheat, and soybean- South east asia grows wet and dryland rice, pigeon pea, mung bean, citrus fruits, coconut, taro, yams, bananas, breadfruit, sugarcaneDIRECTED SELECTION AND DOMESTICATION- Genetic change in agric versus in nature differs- Humans direct genetic change in agricultural populations (directed selection)- In domestication species altered to human desires/needs- Extreme domesticate rely entirely on humans for survivalCONSEQUENCES OF DOMESTICATION- More biomass in harvestable parts- Less energy for resistance to disease/environmental change- Require high inputs of fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and irrigation- Hormones, anitbiotics, highly controlled environment, processed feed and has a major negative impact of environmentLOSS OF DOMESTIC VARIETIES- Farmers using fewer varieties of plants and animals- Modern methods are uniformity, maximum production, loss of genetic diversity- Save germplasm for tissues that they may need laterLOSS OF AGROBIODIVERSITY- Genetic diversity raw and material for future breeding and sustainability of food systems- Important component of environmental resistance in field- Reservoir for traits that might be needed/desired/disease resistantINDUSTRIALIZED AGRICULTURE- Modern agriculture methods- Developed countries- Inputs including capital, energy, chemicals- These equal high yieldsPERMACULTURE- Permaculture is a philosophy of working with rather than against nature- Of protracted and thoughtful observation rather than protracted and thoughtless action- Of looking at systems in all their functions rather than asking only one yield of them and of allowing systems to demonstrate their own