Congratulations! You have just won a trip to Earth in the year 2050, when Scientific American writers Michael Moyer and Carina Storrs predict that the world will be in dire need of resources. Buildings are crumbling, and more people are becoming cold and hungry by the hour. Cows have been extinct since 2030, and oil and coal have been wiped from the people’s memory. A skinny man glances at you from a crowd with a sad look in his eyes, and you can see the hunger within him. You wish that you could give all of these people something to eat, but your tour guide just keeps walking along like he sees the same image all the time. This time traveling vacation is just a glimpse of what the future could be, however, the field of synthetic biology could …show more content…
The first of these is that foods with ingredients that were created synthetically could be labelled as natural because they are identical to natural foods. Another controversy comes over whether synthetic food production will actually save farm space. Because the organisms are modified to ‘think’ that they feed on sugar, the world’s demand for sugar will increase dramatically. If synthetic biology becomes a mainstream process for food production, it would put an enormous amount of pressure on sugar plantations to expand, which could lead to the destruction of many endangered species of trees and creatures (Colwell). Another controversy that arises when talking about synthetic biology, usually synthetic meats, is that most people do not find it comforting to know that they are eating something that was created in a lab. It makes people ask what they are really eating if it is not beef. Along with these social concerns, ethical concerns surround this issue as well, as some people believe that this technology could lead to some sort of mutated organism escaping from a lab and spreading a disease that harms humans (“New”
Over the last few years, awareness of organic food has risen. Due to this, the demand for organic food is a factor which is influencing the farmers to switch to use this technique, and it is being sold in specialty stores and conventional supermarkets. Organic products contain numerous marketing claims that it is healthier, it offers more value, and the farming is more environmentally friendly than traditional foods, so, how does one determine if organic is the way to go? Some argue that there is evidence that supports and demonstrates why organic foods and farming are better overall, while others insist that conventional foods and agriculture can offer the same benefits as going organic. There is no right or wrong answer. Within this
Personally, I am fortunate to live in an area that has a fairly wide array of organic foods. There is a healthy mix of large supermarkets and small, independent grocers that sell organic foods.
One of the, if not thee, most controversial topics within the scientific world and the food industry is the use of genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, in everyday food. The fear of the unknown is what has resulted in a lot of discrepancies for consumers worldwide. It has resulted in activists (see The Non-GMO Project) making waves; expressing their concerns to the public and getting governmental attention worldwide. It is important to know the difference between facts and speculation when analyzing the pros and cons of consuming modified foods.
In the United States consumers are inundated with every option imaginable for food. Among those options is the choice of organic or conventional food. Health experts will tout the virtues of organic food as being better for the consumer and preventing many diseases, however, there seems to be more to it than that. When speaking with friends, especially those living on a budget, the philosophy leans more towards the difference between fresh and processed food, and organic food is considered a luxury which few can afford. In an attempt to define the family health standards within the household, a transformation has taken place over the past four years. Where once a life filled with convenience food and college exams was reflected, now there is the attempt to ensure the most healthy food enters the home and this includes many organic options. Since the transformation has begun taking place, my family is healthier eating organic food than we were eating conventional food. Organic food keeps the family healthy because my children happily eat it, it tastes good, has more vitamins, does not contain pesticides, hormones, or antibiotics, and is almost always fresh. Every parent I have spoken with complains that it is hard to get their children to eat fresh fruits and veggies. In fact, most are even thankful if their child will eat canned corn or peas. I can't help but smile at this idea given that children are humans with an instinct toward the
Chemical-free and conventional husbandry differences stem from their own methods utilized during the comestible production. As a consequence, a wide variety of the most contentious debates have revolved around the issue of whether avant-garde farming techniques pave the way for better living standards. To elucidate this controversy, it should put in comparison with the inorganic cultivation. To begin with, thanks to the tremendous momentum of the technological advancement, natural farming utilizes substances derived from nature, which might aid people diminish the utilization of pernicious chemicals and would be highly propitious to the ecosystem. Contrarily, with the expenditure of various types of deleterious chemicals such as pesticides,
The alteration of plant and animal genetic codes for the ultimate purpose of increasing food abundance is an increasingly popular, yet controversial practice in the 21st century. Genetic engineering of food is done for a number of reasons, the biggest of which is increasing food supplies in the world, especially for the third world countries. However, there are arguments and even activist movements against genetic engineering of food, which begs the question “why is genetically engineered food so controversial?” The pro and con arguments of the genetic engineering of food cannot be overlooked. Although it is a controversial practice, genetically engineered food is more useful than harmful to people and the planet.
Research Topic: Organic and conventional foods are farmed differently, effect the environment differently, and offer different health and nutrient benefits.
“Sales of organic foods have soared in recent years, as more consumers pay attention to
In 1980, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) took an interest in organic farming, publishing a report titled Report and Recommendations on Organic Farming. (Organic Debate, 2014) As organic foods have been growing rapidly in the last 20 years there has been a lot of talking about whether or not organic foods are healthy. As people today have been eating a lot more of organic foods they are having arguments stating that organic food is not what they say on the labels. Although people think that organic food is not what the farmers say it is, it still helps people with there health and provides a healthier lifestyle. In order to maintain the apparent understanding of organic food buying behaviors of consumers, it can be helpful to examine the effect of motivating factors on both the attitude towards organic foods and the intention to buy organic foods together with the mediation effect of attitude towards organic foods (Cabuk, 2014).
In the passed couple of decades, the foods we deem to be natural or of the Earth are instead Genetically Engineered. The term Genetically Engineered does not mean that the entire vegetable or food is fake but rather means that there is at least one genetically modified ingredient in the food that is sold all over stores, which raises a great health concern for many people. In the feature production of the documentary known as The Future of Food looks at how modern day technology has changed the food we consume and the effects it can have on our health. In watching this film about all the advancements that science has come to in the world with the food being eaten everyday, both the positive and negative effects of
Lately the term organic has been trending among the food world. Everyone is curious to know what makes organic better than conventionally grown foods. Well there is a difference and its simple. One requires the use of harmful fertilizers and pesticides; the other does not. So, when it comes to choosing healthier food choices, organically grown food is your best option, here’s why.
The most wonderful activity a human being can experience is new flavors and foods. For example, the first time a person tastes a delicious juicy piece of prime rib or a delightful hamburger with cheese and ham, his world is never the same. However, since the beginning of the twentieth century, the production of food has been supplemented by science. This has triggered an angry dispute between the people who support the advances of biotechnology and people who love nature. In order to understand the controversy, we have to know the meaning of genetically modified foods. With new technological advances, scientists can modify seeds from a conventional seed to a high tech seed with shorter maturation times and
“To eat is a necessity, but to eat intelligently is an art” (Francois De La Rochefoucauld). For the past few years’ organic food has become very popular among today’s society. The topic has been spread across headlines of magazines for example, men’s and women’s health magazine. Organic food has made for some very intriguing and diverse conversions on documentaries, talk shows, and health seminars. Organic food is plain and simple it is the process in which the food is grown, but the paper will get to that more in depth later, also many claim that organic food can heal certain diseases. There are many reasons as of why organic food is so beneficial. Organic food should be the only option because it supports the environment, economy, and the overall health of the population.
“If you listen to me, the food you eat will taste better within one week.” This is what a special guest in my senior year gym class opened up with. I was hooked because I love to eat, I mean who doesn’t? I was all ears for her presentation and I am glad that I listened. I chose to change my diet and eat organic food more often because I was sick of fast food and wanted to eat better, potentially help the environment, and possibly help others.
Accordingly, to the information, organic food sales in the United States generated approximately 31.32 billion U.S. dollars (Wilson, Jamar. "Topic: Organic Food Industry."). While heart health 1 in every 4 deaths is the result of heart disease for both men and women (CDC Company. "Heart Disease Facts."). In a way 29.1 million people or 9.3% of the population has diabetes (CDC Company. "2014 National Diabetes Statistics Report."). Additionally, adding to the rest more than one-third (35.7 percent) of adults are considered to be obese ( "Overweight and Obesity Statistics." National Institutes of Health). If Colorado wants to reduce health problems, then legislators and community leaders must reduce the price of healthy food to increase the rate of people to become healthier to, improve the lives of people who struggle with chronic illness, while preventing certain health risks like diabetes, obesity, and heart diseases.