Transcript Session 5 Slides - Food, Farming and Community

Session 5 Slides
Slides for Activity 1
Origins of Food by Region
North America:
Avocados,
sunflower seeds,
Maize (corn)
Central
America:
Peppers,
beans, cocoa
India: Cotton
Africa: Coffee,
Radishes, Watermelon,
yams
South America:
Potatoes, tomatoes,
Peanuts
Asia: Sugar
cane, rice,
mangoes,
yams
Europe:
Apples, green
beans, carrots,
wheat, beets
Origins of food: Did you know
...
Over 25 species of rice exist.
Over 30 species of sugar cane exist.
Yams were first cultivated in western Africa and Asia c. 8000 BCE and
can grow to 2.5 meters!
Cotton has been grown in India for over 6,000 years. It was found in
caves in Mexico at least 7,000 years ago.
At least 50 species of maize exist.
A cocoa tree looks like this:
Slides for Activity 3
The Agricultural Revolution
Domestication of plants and animals emerged on
different continents from +/- 9500-3500 BCE (before
“common era”).
Enabled permanent settlements, population growth,
and the development of cities.
Enabled specialization of labor; bureaucracies
emergence to manage growing trade
New tools and methods impacted the landscape;
overgrazing and deforestation were likely problems
Emergence of Domestication of Plants and Animals
Southwest U.S.
4,200 BCE
Sunflower
seeds
Central Mexico c.
9,000 BCE.
Squash, beans,
maize
South Centra l
Andes, 7,000 BCE:
Squash, beans,
quinua, manioc,
potatoes, llamas,
guinea pigs
Southern Europe
5,700 BCE. Cattle,
tuna
Eastern U.S., 4,500
BCE: wild
gourd,sunflower
seed in western
U.S.
Near east (fertile
North China 8,700
Crescent) 9,500
BCE, Rice pigs,
Sheep, goats, pigs,
wild barley & emmer
South China
8,500 BCE Water
caltrop, foxnut
Sub-Saharan Africa
4,000 BCE. Cattle,
Columbian Exchange/Colonialism
Columbus’ journey set had economic, environmental
and ecological changes:
•Exchange of food between New and Old Worlds
(tomatoes and potatoes from Americas to Europe;
cattle from Europe to Americas)
•Change in agriculture and grazing impacted the
landscape.
•Establishment of colonies and subjugation of
indigenous people.
Origins Of Food By Region
Over 30 species of
sugar cane exist
North America:
Avocados,
sunflower seeds,
Maize (corn)
At least 50
species of
maize exist
Cotton was found
in Mexico at least
7,000 years ago
South America:
Potatoes, tomatoes,
Peanuts
Asia: Sugar
cane, rice,
mangoes,
yams
Europe:
Apples, green
beans, carrots,
wheat, beets
Central
America:
Peppers,
beans, cocoa
Cotton has been grown in India for
over 6,000 years
Africa: Coffee,
Radishes, Watermelon,
yams
Yams were first
cultivated in western
Africa and Asia c. 8000
BCE and can grow to 2.5
meters!
Cycle of debt created by colonial economic system
Indigenous people
colonized; best lands
taken for export crops;
taxes imposed.
Debt increases; more
land needed to export
agriculture.
Colonizing countries
control purchasing;
products sell for very
little.
Colonized people
pushed into exportbased farming to get
cash for taxes.
Food production for
local people pushed
to marginal lands.
(Lappe, 1986)
Scientific Revolution: 15-16th century
Changes in how the world was viewed:
•Global circumnavigation
•Sun (not the earth) is the center of the universe
Thinkers of the era establish a ‘mechanistic’ worldview:
•Bacon: From parts to whole; the world is a machine
•Descartes: Separation of physical and spiritual; nature
must be mastered
“Expert” knowledge valued over traditional ways of
knowing
“Eating the Leftovers of WWII”
Nitrogen is plentiful in atmosphere, but lightning or
certain bacteria are needed to make it available to
plants. This was a limiting factor in plant growth.
Fritz Haber developed a process to “fix” nitrogen directly
from the atmosphere. Technology use for explosives in
WWII.
Technology then used for agriculture. Enabled
explosive growth by removing reliance on ‘naturally
fixed’ nitrogen.
The Green Revolution
1960s: High Yield Variety seeds designed to increase
production on large-scale farms with high levels of
fertilizers and other inputs. Goal: End hunger.
Results in dramatic increases in production in some areas,
but in 2008, 800 million still hungry.
Unintended consequences: loss of biodiversity,
environmental damage, debt and economic
dependency.
Cycle of debt and the Green Revolution
Governments adopt High
Yield Variety seeds.
Farmers take out
loans to buy seeds,
fertilizers,
machinery.
Debt results. Need to
boost production.
A small # of buyers
control purchasing;
farmers sell crops for
less than cost of inputs.
(Lappe, 1986)
1970s: “Get big or get out.”
1960s: High Yield Variety seeds designed to increase
production on large-scale farms with high levels of
fertilizers and other inputs. Goal: End hunger.
Results in dramatic increases in production in some areas,
but in 2008, 800 million still hungry.
Unintended consequences: loss of biodiversity,
environmental damage, debt and economic
dependency.
“Get big or get out”: Cycle of expansion and debt
Farmers must
expand production
to stay competitive.
Smaller farms are
driven out of business
or take out more
loans to increase
production.
Farmers take out
loans to expand
production.
Increased production
can reduce crop prices,
reducing farmers’
profits.
The Gene Revolution
Humans have practiced selective breeding (in multiple
forms) since the beginning of agriculture. Methods
traditionally bred within the same species
Current practices of genetic modification introduces genes
from different species - this is a key difference from earlier
practices.
1980: Supreme Court ruled “anything under the sun
made by man” can be patented; human-created
genetic alteration necessary for patent.
GMOs: Key Arguments
Supporters say
•
GMOs are just another form of
selective breeding, which has
been practiced by humans for
thousands of years
•
GMOs are needed to boost
production.
•
GMOs can improve nutrition for
the poor.
•
GMOs are natural and therefore
safe.
•
Companies should be rewarded
for innovation; regulation will stifle
this.
Critics say
•
Current GMO practices cross-breed
genes from different species.
•
The world already produces more than
enough food to feed everyone; scarcity
isn’t the problem.
•
The poor need increased access to health
care and existing nutritious foods.
•
GMOs create new life forms and
precautions needs to be taken.
•
Genes are the basis of life. Decisionmaking and oversight should occur in
open, democratic forums.