Banana Peel as a Potential Methane Gas

Humans have been altering the genetic makeup of plants for millennia, keeping seeds from the best crops and planting them in following years, breeding and crossbreeding varieties to make them taste sweeter, grow bigger, last longer. In this way we've transformed the wild tomato, Lycopersicon, from a fruit the size of a marble to today's giant, juicy beefsteaks. From a weedy plant called teosinte with an "ear" barely an inch long has come our foot-long (0.3-meter-long) ears of sweet white and yellow corn. In just the past few decades plant breeders have used traditional techniques to produce varieties of wheat and rice plants with higher grain yields. They have also created hundreds of new crop variants using irradiation and mutagenic

Coal’s reputation has become as black as coal itself, but without it the quality of life that hundreds of millions of people enjoy today would not be possible. Coal has been used in many ways throughout history and it will continue to be a vital resource in supplying the energy needed to fuel an energy hungry world. Research cited throughout this paper suggests that coal is an energy source for the future because it is stable and reliable with abundant reserves, it is the most affordable and efficient fuel source used to produce power, and because of new clean coal technologies, coal can be burned with minimal to no damage to the environment.

Since 1994, GMOs have started to become more prevalent in our fruits and vegetables. According to Shireen, the FDA to start the production and manufacturization of Flavr Savr, a tomato that has a longer shelf life than the conventional tomatoes, became approved as a GMO patent. When a farmer puts genetically modified seeds into the soil, the crops start to develop differently. The process of genetic

In a seminar titled “Sustainable Food Initiative – Transforming Food Systems,” Dr. Liz Krammer elaborated upon the challenges facing the human race in terms of sustainability as the population of humans steadily climbs to nine billion. There were many points I agreed with although her perspective on agricultural diversity particularly struck a chord. She described how out of the thirty thousand terrestrial plant species that are known to be edible, only thirty crops are used to feed the world. This utter lack of agricultural diversity poses a difficult problem. The genetic diversity, that was thriving beforehand, is now struggling. Although this seems like a relatively minor issue, take for example the Cavendish banana in order to see the potential catastrophic consequences. Bananas are the most eaten fruit in the world with twelve kilograms of bananas eaten

While technology has led the world into such an advanced setting with intelligent machinery and automated devices, coal has remained a loyal contributor of the energy needed by these various types of equipment to function properly. Almost half of the electricity in the United States is produced in coal plants where coal is burnt to produce this energy [1]. Both beneficial and detrimental factors come with this alternative source of energy, known by the world for centuries.

In recent years farmers have faced increasing odds against their crops – bugs building an increasing resistance to pesticides, too little rainfall, skyrocketing gas prices, and an increasing demand from the public for pure and wholesome products straight from nature. In addition to these difficulties, customers still demand that prices remain low, that goods are visually appealing and that as few chemicals as possible are used. The real questions posed is – is that even a viable possibility? Though many people are uninformed about genetically modified organisms, and hence often dislike them, their benefits cannot be ignored and due to the regulations and testing by the EPA and FDA, GMOs are considered safe for consumption. GMO use should

Whilst some refer to transgenic organisms as, “Frankenfoods”, the proponents see this as the second Agricultural Revolution. Biochemists cite the classical example of a transgenic banana which could produce vaccines as a means to continue their research. Undoubtedly if such a banana did exist it could potentially provide millions if not billions of people access to vaccinations. The chair of the Food and Agribusiness Institute at Santa Clara University states, “Bioengineering is just a more refined process [of selective breeding], which will probably result in more productive animals and plants at a

Back then, farmers relied solely on the plot of soil they owned to produce fruits and vegetables. Farmers often had to deal with the threat of damaged crops from weather changes and insect pests. However, imagine being able to not increase productivity and protecting crops being ruined or eaten. Now, with advancements in technology and genetics, scientists can genetically modify organisms by altering its DNA in a way that does not occur naturally by mating or natural recombination to introduce desired physiological traits (EFFL 235). In 2000, 68% of all genetically modified, GM, crops were grown by U.S. farmers, with soybeans and corn making up 82% of all GM crops harvested in 2000 (Whitman 5). According to the European Food & Feed Law Review, scientists may transfer simple genes from the DNA from one organism into another, and also between non- related species, such as animals, bacteria, and virus to enhance desired traits (4). The use of genetic engineering was first introduced to aid farmers in an alternative other than using pesticides. Soon after, enhanced traits that improve nutrition were inputted into plants to increase nutritional value. Although the genetic engineering of GM food may create superweeds, GM food should be encouraged since it decreases the need for pesticides, increases food supply, and improves the nutrition of food.

Did you know that 95% of the nation 's sugar beets, 94% of soybeans, 90% of the cotton and 88% of feed corn today are genetically engineered. According to the Institute for Responsible technology, Genetically Modified Organisms are the result of a laboratory process where genes from the DNA of one species are extracted and artificially forced into the genes of an unrelated plant or animal. Today in the United States there are seven major genetically altered crops including Maize, Soybean, Cotton, Canola, Sugarbeet, Alfalfa, Papaya, and Squash. GMO’s came along by farmers having flaws with a crop, like if a tomato had a beetle every year and the farmer was spending large amounts of money on pesticides every year. Then a biotechnology company comes out with a tomato that produces its own natural pesticide, you would be nuts to continue in the old ways.

Ever since the first agrochemical tomato was deemed fit for human consumption in 1994, there has been a surge of genetically engineered foods on supermarket shelves. Unlike most European countries, there is no mandate in the U.S. for food companies to label products that contain what are known as “Genetically Modified Organisms”. The foods that sit innocently on grocery shelves next to their organic

Coal has been utilized throughout history as an source of energy. From the burning of

When genetic engineering plants, all minds go on to think about the risks that come with the food. The idea of maintaining the plants, pesticides are used to control plant pathogens, weeds, the resisting to herbicides, has always been controversial. However, these thoughts have been counter-argued with more than 2,000 plants being genetically engineered. These plants then have been approved worldwide, showing the improvements in controlling pesticide, pathogens, and more. There has been a technique to replace the harmful pesticide used for breeding plants. A genetic engineered pesticide has been used to more than 50 plants crops; resulting to only pests to be harmed and not the plants, with the plants then expressing a new gene to control the chemicals given to it. The plants interaction with the environment lead to the results that there were more possible benefits than potential risks. (Yadav,

Over the past few years agriculture has revolutionized where you see growth in the biotechnology industry. Historically, there have been many different ways to grow and produce plant and animal crops. It has developed from organic farming to large-scale farming, and then to breeding and cloning plants and animals. However sometime in the late 1800’s scientists discovered DNA. Then later in the 1900’s they began to discover and identify specific genes for particular traits, and before long knew how to separate a gene from the rest of any organism’s DNA strand. These discoveries and methods led to the start of something new, where geneticists and researchers have discovered different genetic technologies that have led to altering genes of DNA in organisms, to create new plant and animal species. This is called genetic engineering. “Genetic engineering is the deliberate alteration of an organism’s genes in order to give it new abilities” Genetically modified (GM) foods, also known as genetically engineered foods, are the latest contribution of genetic engineering technology. These foods are made by inserting the genes of one species into the DNA of another species. Genetically modified foods were first introduced in the market place in the mid-1990s after years of research. Genetic engineering has many benefits but there are potential

"In a world where the population is becoming more environmentally conscious, it’s no surprise that there is an increasing concern over energy. One particular source of energy is, quite reasonably, a large agent of that concern and has even found its way onto the first presidential debate of 2016. Although once a beneficial technological advance, coal is inefficient and is responsible for a wide variety of pollution; it needs to be eliminated as a source of energy.

Over the years, new innovations, ideas, and emerging technologies have transformed our society and our daily lives. These new discoveries have not only been developed to help make our lives easier, but to also help us live longer and stronger lives. Living in a world that continues to evolve, creates opportunities for new innovations and breakthroughs to arise within our society. Genetic engineering is just one of many examples of the advancements that young, intelligent minds have developed throughout the years. Genetic engineering is defined as “isolating a desirable gene” and injecting it into a plant or organism to produce “a desired characteristic” (Nutrition & Weight Control for Longevity, 2005). This biological technology has provided many advancement opportunities “for several industrial sectors such as agriculture, food manufacture and pharmaceuticals” (Rastall, 2002). Along with everything else in life, genetic engineering has some upsides and downsides. Today I am going to discuss the positive and negative outcomes that genetic engineering is recognized for in the agricultural industry.