Using the readings in this module and the previous assignments, establish your knowledge of how food resources affect humanity, both now and in the future. Submit your answers to the following questions. Two to three sentences will suffice for those that require a brief explanation:
Using the readings in this module and the previous assignments, establish your knowledge of how food
1. What are two concerns of genetically modified crops? https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/food-genetically-modified (dont answer this question because is already have an answer)
The main concerns of Genetically Modified (GM) crops are: the potentials to provoking an allergic reaction, gene transfer and outcrossing. Genetically-modified plants have a possibility of triggering an allergic response if a host plant protein is allergenic, or if the new transgenic protein is allergenic in nature. Thus, they may become a cause of concern. If gene transfer from GM foods to cells in the body or to gut flora would cause concern if the gene being transferred has an adverse effects on human health. Such as if antibiotic resistance genes that were used as markers while creating GMOs, were to get transferred. So to avoid this use of gene transfer technology leaving the antibiotic resistance genes is encouraged. Outcrossing happens when the genes from GM plants migrate into conventional crops of same or related species in the wild.
2. What is meant by the term "food security"? https://www.usaid.gov/what-we-do/agriculture-and-food-security (dont answer this question because is already have an answer)
Food security is describes the state of having access to enough amount of food at all times. This includes both physical and economic ability to meet the dietary needs of a person in order for them to lead a productive and healthy life. A family is said to be food secure when all its members do not live in hunger or in fear of hunger. Despite food security being a basic human right hundreds of millions of people, are deprived of it. Thus, creating an impact on an individual as well as community level leading to food insecurity. The four main components that describe food security are: Availability simply means the existence of food within a community. The presence of necessary resource and ability to efficiently carry out food production from them. Access means the individuals are able to obtain the available food in a sufficient quantity without compromising on the quality of nutritious food. Utilisation refers to have the knowledge about nutritious food and how to use it correctly with the tools that allow people to select, prepare, and store foods that are available and accessible to them. Stability of food security is when availability and utilisation of food stays relatively stable with respect to time. Various environmental and economic factors such as natural disasters, climate change, price fluctuations can have an impact on food security and threaten its stability.
3. What is the difference between hunger and malnutrition? https://www.fao.org/hunger/en/ (dont answer this question because is already have an answer)
Hunger is an undernourished condition that is a result of insufficient consumption of dietary energy. Dietary energy is the daily requirement of energy that is obtained through eating food. When this requirement is not met on a regular basis for a long time it becomes chronic that is accompanied by a uncomfortable or painful physical sensation. Thus, making it difficult to lead a normal, active and healthy life. Basically, it means lack of enough food or not consuming enough food. Malnutrition, on the other hand, refers to state when the body doesn't get enough nutrients including both macro and micronutrients. Due to lack of balance in the food intake that is necessary for growth and development various nutritional deficiencies occur in the body leading to different illness and a compromised immune system.
4. What are the consequences to humans of food insecurity? https://www.fao.org/hunger/en/
5. Where geographically on Earth is #4 above most prevalent? https://www.fao.org/sustainable-development-goals/indicators/2.1.1/en/
6. What are the consequences of farming for biofuels on food production? https://www.nature.com/scitable/blog/eyes-on-environment/the_biofuel_controversy/
7. Based on the readings and previous questions, what are the causes of famine in recent history?
8. What is the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 2? Briefly describe in 2-3 sentences. https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/hunger/
Based on all your readings and resources used thus far:
9. As we look to feeding a larger population in the next 20 years, name three ways we could increase food production or efficiency.
10. What would sustainable agriculture of the future look like? Give three techniques that could be employed.
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