Argue in support of each of the following statements. (I know that you may not b

Question

Argue in support of each of the following statements. (I know that you may not believe in these statements, but this exercise helps you to see both sides of an issue.)

(a). Biotechnology is the best solution to feeding the extra 2 billion human beings that will be added to Earth’s population over the next 40 years.

(b). Humans can count on the world’s oceans to supply additional food products to feed humans over the next 20 years.

(c). Meat consumption should be decreased in HDCs so that more food can be exported to the world’s poorer countries.

(d). Aquaculture has too many problems associated with it – for it to be the ultimate answer in increasing non-vegetable protein consumption by humans.

Explanation / Answer

(a). Biotechnology is the best solution to feeding the extra 2 billion human beings that will be added to Earth’s population over the next 40 years.

i) Biotechnology is producing a dramatic increases in staple crops like cotton, soybeans and corn that feed and clothe millions of population. The ability to improve crops by introducing multiple traits will likely produce even higher crop yields in the future.

ii)Diseases and pests currently reduce global food production by more than 35 percent. Now with the use of biotechnology, we can control this ;oss. Corn and cotton seeds enhanced with Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), a bacteria used widely in conventional and organic agriculture, have a built-in defense against the most threatening insects, reducing the need for pesticides. This benefit will be vital in maintaining the food security of the world

iii) With the help of biotechnoly, plants with high tolerance for conditions of salinity or high iron toxicity could be developed and they could help to improve agricultural production in marginal areas.

B) i) marine aquaculture,the food-producing sector is least dependent on freshwater availability. Since in future, there will be shortage of freshwater, Marine agriculture will play the promising role in feeding the humanity.

ii) Marine agriculture can have production comparable to global terestrial production. But marine production has not been utilised enough, leaving enough scope for our future generation.

iii)The production of edible macroalgae will not only solve the food problems but also reduces the environmental impacts by conventional fishing.

C)i) Reducing meet consumption Highly developed countries can increase non-veg food stock that can be exported to poorer countries.

ii) Meat contains animal protien, and most people of third word countries are defecient in animal protien. So a decrease in consuption in developed countries will give poor countries a chance.

iii) Meat doesnt get spoiled as easily as vegetarean items. So it can be better preserved and exported.

D)i)Aquaculture can spread parasites and disease just like commercial chicken coops do.

ii)By aquaculture, new foreign species of fish are introduced into new areas, creating invasive species under the right conditions. Farmed fish can escape from their ecosystem and damage environment as well as native fish populations.

iii) The aquatic wildlife and amphibeans can lose their habitats y construction of aquaculture facilities along the coast, where clean and natural water can be accessed easily.

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