Energy and Industrialized Agriculture Essay - 1599 Words

Agricultural practices throughout the ages have evolved dramatically. Having started off as simple pastoral management and shifting cultivation, these methods have been altered substantially in the name of â€Å"progress†, primarily in the US and other industrialized nations. Through this progression the energy inputs and outputs has been drastically altered. The industrialized food system as we know it is much more complex today than the simple agricultural practices used thousands of years ago. Today, the industrialized agricultural system is dependent on extraordinary amounts of fossil fuel inputs in order to maintain its complexity. Energy is needed for growing, processing, packaging, distributing, preparing and disposing of food. With the†¦show more content†¦These factors account for the calculation that on average each person in the US consumes 400 gallons of oil equivalent each year. [4] Most of this energy is used for the production of fertilizers which are n ecessary for the high yielding crops we have grown accustom to. Fertilizer is produced using the Haber-Bosch process which uses methane from natural gas in order to complete nitrogen fixation from the atmosphere. Another source of this petroleum use on a smaller scale is for the production of pesticides. The crops being grown, like corn and soybeans, are monoculture which are typically more prone to insect infestation and therefore covered in energy-intensive pesticides. Most pesticides are derived from ethylene and propylene, which are obtained by catalytic cracking of crude petroleum oils, or from methane from natural gas. These crops are being grown in large part to continue the energy-inefficiency of our industrial food system. Energy on Earth is almost entirely derived from the sun. Plants are able to absorb this energy, and through photosynthesis, convert it into energy that is useful to other living organisms on Earth. Western culture has distorted this simple process and created a much more complex way of consuming this energy. Monoculture crops, like corn, are being produced on very large scales, however the energy absorbed by these autotrophs aren’t what is being served on our plates. Typically this energy is transportedShow MoreRelatedThe Impact of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations1629 Words   |  7 Pagesway human beings raise and keep animals meant for food. While in the past there were great numbers of widely spaced small individual farms, now there are relatively few, but extremely large industrialized farms. And as the numbers of animals kept and slaughtered for human consumption increases, these industrialized farms, known as Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations or CAFOs, are having more and more of an impact on the environment and people around them. The concentration of animals causes a majorRead MoreOrganic Farming Can Not Feed The World Essay1740 Words   |  7 Pagesotherwise in â€Å"Organic Agriculture Cannot Feed the World†. Even though organic farming has plenty adv antages over conventional farming, we should stick to improving conventional farming because the projections for organic farming that Hamer and Anslow use are misleading. Hamer and Anslow state 10 arguments on why organic farming can feed the world. The first argument they make is that organic farming yields exceed those of conventional farming. It has greater yields in less-industrialized countries, whichRead MoreLocally Grown Food1617 Words   |  7 Pagesestablishment and current food production methods. Although in conflict with commercial agriculture; the locally grown food paradigm uses sustainable agricultural methods, protects the environment, and supports local economies. Tracing its origins back to the natural and organic food movements, local food producers regularly use ecological farming techniques developed through the years. Sustainable agriculture employs methods of food production which are healthy, not harmful, or destructive toRead MoreAppropriate Technology Essay934 Words   |  4 Pageseffects on the environment and social ethics when compare to the more advance technologies. Furthermore, appropriate technology usually describes uncomplicated technologies proponents reflect on suitable for use in developing countries and less industrialized nations. Besides that, appropriate technology further consider the use of labor-intensive instead of capital even though devices that save labor are use but they are not high cost and require less cost of maintenance. The following sections willRead MoreState Institutions Are Different For North And South Korea.1221 Words   |  5 Pagesnamed after their individual country, the North Korean won and the South Korean won, and are not related to each other. South Korea is a highly industrialized and technologically advanced country. Its main industries are electronics, telecommunications, and the production of automobiles (â€Å"Korea, South† 2017). North Korea is significantly less industrialized and spends most of its resources on building its military; therefore, its main industries are military products and machine building (â€Å"Korea, North†Read MoreSustainability is one of the most controversial topics throughout the history, and as our society1800 Words   |  8 Pagesdeliver sustainability, and issue 16 and 17 discusses the sustainability of food and energy. While issue 16 and 17 are well-presented, the arguments in issue 8 are not very strong. Issue 8 Can Technology Deliver Global Sustainability? As our culture develops, we gradually realize that we have to find a sustainable way of living so that we can protect our race as well as all other races on the planet. Industrialized countries and some developing countries are continuously researching new technologyRead MoreEssay on The Effects of Global Climate Change1013 Words   |  5 Pageseffects of climate change such as those in agricultural areas, melting icecaps and the increase in sea level. In 1997, governments took the next step and agreed to the Kyoto Protocol which set as its goal the reduction of greenhouse gases emitted by industrialized countries. Global Climate Change is a fact, although there are always skeptics, do not represent in any way a majority group. That is why governments around the world have reacted to the growing threat of climate changes nearest liable toRead MoreThere Has Been Confusion About What A Carbon Tax Is And1296 Words   |  6 Pageswe have much to fear from rising sea levels and ocean acidification. Advertisements from the resources sector urges Australia to do little, wait for bigger emitters to take action first, not get out in front; but our cities, infrastructure and agriculture are precariously vulnerable to climate change, and with our precious natural assets at risk we have a direct interest in showing leadership. By linking the need to tackle climate change to economic reform, the government has sent a clear messageRead MoreIndian Foreign Policies : India s Free Global Market And Predictability Of More Economic Development799 Words   |  4 Pages G7 the group of seven is informal block of highly industrialized democracies. Representing countries with more than 64% of net global wealth e.g. U.S.A, U.K, Japan, Canada, France, Germany and Italy. Previously known as G8, but the suspension of Russia, reduces it to G7 in March 2014 after Russian annexation of Crimea, which led G7 to put sanctions on Russia and condemns its act. G7 summit 2015 in Schloss Elmau has created a new chapter to many developing and developed nations like India and ChinaRead MoreThe Bretton Woods System On The World s Natural Riches872 Words   |  4 Pagesnatural riches. The fall of Communism in the world gave more power to the corporations and led to the creation of the free market system. The US government tried to help underdeveloped nations to export wood, livestock and other commodities to industrialized countries. The establishment of new financial institutions helped the â€Å"public works projects† to rise. One of the examples of these projects was the Tennessee River Valley in 1933. The government constructed 20 dams and coal-fired power plants