...streams, and lakes contaminate ground and surface waters, thus exposing the population to environmentally-related diseases. The relationship between polluted water and disease has now been firmly established and accepted. According to the World Bank, just under a third, or 31 percent of illnesses in the country, monitored for a five-year period were caused by water-borne pathogens. In the agriculture sector, application of agrochemicals (i.e. fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides) remains a common practice among farmers in rural areas. Intensive use of agrochemicals has been known to create and result to both environmental problems and diseases. The hazards accompanying this practice, especially those associated with persistent organic pollutants or POPs have been known for years and the knowledge of the extent of harm they cause has increased. According to a study by Dr. N. Maramba (1996), most farmers may be aware that pesticides are hazardous but there is a lack of awareness of exposure risks. Pesticide handlers are the ones most heavily exposed. In addition, exposure of households in farming communities may occur due to spray drift from nearby fields. This exposure is further enhanced by farmers’ practice of washing their sprayers near, or in, irrigation canals, which may then become part of agricultural runoff. They also use this water source for washing of hands and feet, clothes, and to some extent, for taking a bath. Several cases were cited in the study concerning...
Words: 2130 - Pages: 9
...It is estimated that in two years the water in Fruitvale will no longer be safe to drink. The problem is that Old McDonald spilled 106 gallons of No-Bug pesticide into two of Fruitvale’s wells. That much No-Bug qualifies as the most hazardous level on the pesticide testing key. The contaminant is already causing problems for Fruitvale residents. Pets who drink from the river are getting sick and citizen’s gardens are at risk. The longer we wait to act, the more problems will arise. Out of all the options to clean up the No-Bug pesticide in Fruitvale, bioremediation is the best. Bioremediation uses microbes to clean groundwater and soil that is contaminated. Microbes are tiny organisms that use the contaminant as food and energy while living naturally in the environment. The microbes take in the...
Words: 393 - Pages: 2
...or any other beneficial purpose for the farmers. Genetically modified food livestock have also been experimentally developed, but as of September 2013 none are currently on the market. We debate whether producing genetically modified foods have any harm toward the human body. But there is no scientific conclusion that genetically modified foods are harmful. Genetically modified foods pose no more harm toward our body than conventional foods. However, critics have objected to genetically modified foods on several grounds, including safety issues. The advantages of genetically modified foods are cold tolerance, some plants with an antifreeze gene, is able to tolerate cold temperatures that normally would kill unmodified seedlings and usually stop growth. Another advantage is pest resistance. Crop losses from insect pests can resulting in financial loss for farmers. Farmers typically use many chemical pesticides annually. Consumers do not wish to eat food that has been treated with...
Words: 467 - Pages: 2
...ORGANIC FOOD IN GROCERY SHOP Final Report On Organic Food in Grocery Shop Course name: Business Communication Course code: MBA 310 Sec-02 Submitted To: Nafees Ahmed Imtiazuddin Senior Lecturer University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) Submitted By: Date of Submission: 22/12/2014 Letter of Transmittal 22 December, 2014 Nafees Ahmed Imtiazuddin Senior Lecturer University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh Subject: Submission of final report on “Organic Food in Grocery Shop.” Dear Sir, Here is the final report on “Organic Food in Grocery Shop” that you asked us to prepare as a part of our study (course MBA 310) The preparation of the final report was a real exciting one and I enjoyed every moment of it. I tried to follow the instruction you have given and fulfil all the requirements necessary. I have tried my best to gather all necessary information relevant to the areas of my chosen project. There may be some mistakes or lack of relevant information. But I hope that this report will provide the necessary information on the chosen topics. If there is any mistake or lack of information in this report, I hope you will consider that and inform me about the mistake. If you should need any assistance in interpretation this report, please call on me. I will be grateful to you if you help me overcome the lacking and to know more about this final report. Sincerely, …………………………………………………… Name: ID: ULAB Acknowledgement At first we desire to express our deepest sense of...
Words: 4603 - Pages: 19
...As we all know, the world population is rapidly increasing year by year and is also predicted to double in the next 50 years. Ensuring an adequate food supply for this booming population is going to be a major challenge in the years to come. Scientists find that GM foods promise to meet this need and it has been more and more popular not only for the producers but also for the consumers because of its numerous advantages such as pest resistance, lower price, more nutrition and so on. Although it is undeniable that GMO’s (genetically-modified organisms) still have some challenges to overcome including environmental hazards, human health risks and influence on the food chain of our ecosystem, the development of GMO’s will not be stopped since these difficulties are slight. Scientists find that GMO’s promise to meet the needs of a growing population, and has become increasingly popular with producers and consumers a like because of its numerous advantages such as pest resistance, decrease in price, nutritional value and more. But what are GMO’s and GM Food? GMO’s and GM Food are plants that have been modified in the laboratory to enhance desired traits such as increased resistance to herbicides or improved nutritional content. The enhancement of desired traits has traditionally been undertaken through breeding. Genetic engineering, on the other hand, can create plants with the exact desired trait very rapidly and with great accuracy. For example, plant geneticists can isolate...
Words: 1336 - Pages: 6
...the water contamination, the boycotts of American goods, the low demand for carbonated drinks, the prohibition of imports, and the policies that didn’t include international companies. These issues could not have been anticipated prior to market entry, however, Coke could have agreed to start new bottling plants instead of what they actually did, which was buying out Parle, and then would have not have had to sell a whopping 49% of it’s equity. 2) For Pepsi, one advantage was that it gained 26% market share by 1993, by entering the market before Coca-Cola was able to become a popular choice in the market while it was still in development. A disadvantage was that they were forced to change their name to Lehar Pepsi. Another disadvantage for Pepsi was that the government limited their sales to less than 25% of total sales. For Coca-Cola, an advantage was that the company was able to buy four bottling plants from Parle (an industry leader), in addition to buying out some of Parle’s leading brands. A disadvantage for Coca-Cola was the fact that the company was denied entry into the market until 1993 because Pepsi already had a place before them. That made it much more difficult to establish market share while Pepsi was there. 3) For product policies, both entered with products close to those already available in India in regards to drinks. (For example, Coca-Cola introduced Sprite and new bottled water products). For promotional activities, both advertise and use promotional...
Words: 695 - Pages: 3
...Biology 160 Term Paper Genetically Modified Organisms INTRODUCTION There is a lot of controversy surrounding genetically-modified organisms and whether they ultimately do more harm than good. Genetically-modified organisms are most commonly used to refer to “crop plants created for human or animal consumption using the latest molecular biology techniques” (Whitman). The goal of modifying these organisms is to enhance or introduce a desired trait, such as increased resistance to herbicides or improving the nutritional content of the particular organism. This is generally done in a lab using a “Gene Gun” or an Agrobacterium method as described in detail in the next section. However, as convenient and simple as this idea sounds, there are many concerns that will more than likely change the course of future modifications in organisms. First, I'll be describing the methods used to date to modify the genetic composition of an organism. Then, I'll be highlighting the benefits and the potential consequences of genetically-modifying organisms. SCIENCE BEHIND GMO'S Upon researching, I discovered an interesting fact about genetically modified organism's: it has apparently occurred in nature for millions of years through a species called Agrobacterium tumefaciens, which turns out is the cause of crown gall diseases in many ornamental and fruit plants (Keefer). Agrobacterium tumefaciens is a species of soil-dwelling bacteria that has the ability to infect plant cells with a piece of...
Words: 2241 - Pages: 9
...Abstract With the production of genetically modified foods (GMFs) becoming more prevalent today, debates about whether it is right to use technology to create new forms of plant and animal life are on the rise. Proponents of GMFs believe these crops will reduce the use of pesticides and other chemicals, and are just as safe as traditional crops. Opponents, on the other hand, feel the use of chemicals is scarcely reduced in GMFs and fear contamination of traditional farm crops. One example of this was displayed in October 2000 when a brand of genetically modified corn, approved only for animal feed, ended up in taco shells and other foods intended for human consumption. It is possible that GMFs are not bad for us at all and might be rather beneficial to building a sustainable future for all forms of life. The solution to its success lies in careful moderation, and this is where research is crucial. Genetically modified foods should not be banned, though studies on the effects of human consumption and economical impacts are necessary. Genetically Modified Foods: Advancement or Shortcoming? For nearly ninety years farmers have altered crops or animals using a method called crossbreeding. In crossbreeding, breeders select desirable traits of the parent plant or animal to produce a new species of that organism to achieve improved quantity and the quality of their crops. Though many seasons may pass before growers achieve their desired results, the harvests can produce...
Words: 1541 - Pages: 7
...contain too much pesticides or should he remain silent and let the information fade from public view? Section 1: Assumptions and Stakeholder Analysis The first assumption taken in this case is Coke India is not breaking any laws and telling the truth when it comes to the level of pesticides in its products and its routine testing for chemicals. This case is not about concealing illegal activity or lying to the public, rather, it discusses the question whether or not corporations have a right to influence government to regulate various systems. If the analysis takes lying and cheating into consideration, this interesting discussion would appear convoluted. The second assumption taken in this case is the definition of “acting further” means for Coke India. Because Coke India and Pepsi already called the study “baseless” in a press conference launched independent marketing campaigns and published open letters referring to fact/myth websites, this analysis assumes acting further means more than public relations (Coke India, 12). Pepsi has already “filed a petition with the high court questioning the credibility of the CSE’s claims” and Coke India has threatened legal recourse meaning acting further means more than legal recourse against the CSE (Coke India, 1). The case also states “the Delhi High Court asked the government to convene an expert committee to test and report on the safety of soft drinks within three weeks and to revise existing standards to include pesticide norms” (Coke...
Words: 1962 - Pages: 8
...June 4, 2012 SCI 220 Although not widely publicized, genetically modified foods have been in our food supply for decades. Genetically modified foods are engineered to benefit and protect the food supply by providing an abundant supply of crops that may repel insects without the need for pesticides and less expensive crops that maintain freshness for longer. There are also disadvantages in using genetically modified foods because the genetically modified version of the food may differ from the original food, losing its nutritional value or creating an allergen. The continuous study and regulation of genetically modified foods will protect the food supply and the people who consume it. Since the onslaught of pesticide use and environmental concerns, genetically modified foods have made its way into grocery stores and supermarkets. The “Bionet” (n.d.) website states, “Genetically modified food products are plants that have had their genetic characteristics altered. Scientists change the plants' characteristics by putting new genetic material into them, genes for example from a bacterium which can withstand pesticides.” Without knowing, Americans consume GM foods daily. Most people are unaware of the modifications in their food because the United States, unlike Australia, does not require a GM food label to identify whether or not the food is modified or not (Berry, 2012). According to Berry (2012), “Determining whether a food contains...
Words: 1368 - Pages: 6
...Table X.X-X: Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Chemical Fertilizer |Advantages |Disadvantages | |Nutrients are soluble and immediately available to the plants; | Over-application can result in negative effects such as leaching, | |therefore the effect is usually direct and fast |pollution of water resources, destruction of microorganisms and | | |friendly insects, crop susceptibility to disease attack, acidification| | |or alkalization of the soil or reduction in soil fertility — thus | | |causing irreparable damage to the overall system | |The price is lower and more competitive than organic fertilizer, |Oversupply of N leads to softening of plant tissue resulting in plants| |which makes it more acceptable and often applied by users |that are more sensitive to diseases and pests | |They are quite high in nutrient content; only relatively small |Nutrients are easily lost from soils through fixation, leaching or gas| |amounts are required for crop growth |emission and can lead to reduced fertilizer efficiency ...
Words: 357 - Pages: 2
... | |Index |3 | |Introduction |4 | |Definition |4 | |Methods |5 | |Reason for genetically modifying | 6 | |Advantages of GM food |6 | |Disadvantages of GM food |9 | |Environmental Hazards |9 | |Human Health Hazards |9 | |Economic Concerns |10 | |General Risks of GM food |10 | |References...
Words: 1851 - Pages: 8
...Advantages and disadvantages of gm crops The continuously growing human population poses a great challenge to the farming industry. For centuries humanity has selected the best and most suitable crops for the environment they were living in, nowadays with over 800 millions of people being undernourished the pressure to find a better way to feed the population has never been higher (FAO, IFAD and WFP. 2014). Since the first genetically modified crop was introduced in the market in 1994 (James, C. and A.F. Krattiger. 1996.) the debate over GM crops has never stopped. Among the numerous advantages of a genetically modified crop the possibility to engineer a crop to be resistant to pests, bacteria, and fungi stands out, this allows to reduce the use of harmful pesticides, to increase the yield of the crop and the monetary income related to the crop which could help developing economies. Another important advantage of GM crops is the possibility to enhance the content of nutrients in the plant, such is the case of Golden rice a variety of Oryza sativa rice specifically engineered to biosynthesise beta-carotene to address the problem of Vitamin A deficiency in the diet of the population of many developing countries (Ye, X; Al-Babili. 2000). Besides the many advantages the scientific community has often questioned both the environmental and the health risks related to genetically modified crops. The two major concerns regarding GM are the toxicity and the allergenic properties that...
Words: 502 - Pages: 3
...My initial opinion prior to the debate is that in regards to what should be allowed to be used as pesticides, I believe that both synthetic and natural pesticides have its advantages and disadvantages. Natural pesticides that are found in certain plants have been specifically derived by that plant to protect itself from harmful pests. Although it may be effective in killing certain insects, it may not be as effective for other uses. For instance: a plant is found to secrete toxic chemicals in its nectar that target fire ants and the only way for the ant to be poisoned would be if it drank from the nectar, or bit into the plant itself. This toxin is contained inside the plant and has no exterior effects to surrounding animals. If a manufacturer extracted the pesticidal ingredients from the plant and turned it into a spray that people can use in their homes, how do we know what kind of effects it will have on the environment? Yes, the ingredients are all natural, but it was made specifically for the plant and it was fully contained in nature. The toxin could have acidic properties and enzymes that could deteriorate surrounding environments and kill other organisms, not just fire ants. Perhaps there is a reason why the toxin is found to be naturally isolated inside the plant. Although there have been negative opinions towards synthetic pesticides, sometimes man-made pesticides may actually be more beneficial to the environment than their natural counterparts. Scientists are able...
Words: 1242 - Pages: 5
...use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and genetically modified organisms, minimizes pollution of air, soil and water, and optimizes the health and productivity of interdependent communities of plants, animals and people 1. To achieve this, organic farming relies on a number of objectives and principles, as well as common practices designed to minimise the human impact on the environment, while ensuring the agricultural system operates as naturally as possible2. Typical organic farming practices include2: • Wide crop rotation as a prerequisite for an efficient use of on-site resources • Very strict limits on chemical synthetic pesticide and synthetic fertiliser use, livestock antibiotics, food additives and processing aids and other inputs • Prohibition of the use of genetically modified organisms • Taking advantage of on-site resources, such as livestock manure for fertiliser or feed produced on the farm • Choosing plant and animal species that are resistant to disease and adapted to local conditions • Raising livestock in free-range, open-air systems and providing them with organic feed • Using animal husbandry practices appropriate to different livestock species Intensive farming is an agricultural system that aims to get maximum yield from the available land. This farming technique is also applied in supplying livestock. Under this system, food is produced in large quantities with the help of chemical fertilizers and pesticides that are appropriately used to...
Words: 4013 - Pages: 17
