Developments in food production
- · Irrigation
- · Use of chemicals
- · Genetically modified (GM) food crops
IRRIGATION
Positive
àOvercomes physical limitation (drought)
àEnable more plants to grow healthily, thus increasing output of crop production.
Negative
Salinisation of soil (building of salt in soil)
àtoo much salt in the soil due to continuous cycles of flood irrigation
àlowering quality of soil
Waterlogging
àtoo much water using in the soil
àsoil saturated with water
àplant unable to take in air & nutrients = D I E !
USE OF CHEMICAL (fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides)
Negative
Water pollution
àthe chemicals are washed into nearby river when raining or irrigation
àriver water contaminated with chemicals
àharm marines animals or users of the water.
Eutrophication in water bodies
àexcess fertilizers washed into river
àcause rapid growth of algae
àreduces oxygen supply for aquatic plants and animals = D I E !
Imbalance in soil nutrients
à2 or 3 nutrients replenished, not all
àlack of humus
àlose fertility
GENETICALLY MODIFIED (GM) FOOD CROPS
Positive
àIncrease income for farmers
àImprove crop resistance to harsh weather conditions, reduces environmental pollution as there is lesser usage of chemicals on crops.
àHigher crop yield
àIncrease food production, solve problem of food shortages
àImprove nutritional value of food, reduce malnutrition
Negative
àloss of biodiversity
àlack of scientific evidence that food is safe for consumption
àmay contain traces of food substances that some people might be allergic to
àreligious concern about the substance used in GM food not permissible to be consumed by people in certain religions
àincrease production results in drop in price$, forcing small scale farmers to be out of job
àpotential environment hazards(“ contamination” of species)
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