Discuss Food Security Through Biotechnological Engineering - 1650 Words

Discuss Food Security Through Biotechnological Engineering (Coursework Sample) Content: Food Security NameCollege Food SecurityAbstractThe research paper will discuss food security through biotechnological engineering. It will also point out the potential benefits that society can derive from using advanced agricultural methods in food production. The writer will also discuss the research material derived from the years of experimentation. Finally, the paper will concludesummarize with the writers opinion on the subject matter.Key words: Genetic modification, Food Security, crops, livestock and environment. Thesis Statement: Man must come up with an ethical way to guarantee food security for present and future generations. II. Consequence of Personal ActionsAnimals, the ecosystem and people may suffer the effects of advanced agricultural methods in food production. However, animals and people benefit most from personal actions.III. Actual HarmActual harm includes increased global warming, environm ental degradation, and high incidences of disease in animals and human beings (Thomspon, 2011). Unethical agricultural techniques using excessive herbicides and pesticides can result in increased chemical residues on foodstuffs. The techniques can also expose farm workers to toxic chemicals. Unethical practices such as cloning can have negative effects on animals like sheep, goats and cows. Cloning increases the likelihood serious genetic defects occurring in animals (Ruse Castle, 2011). The first cloned sheep, Dolly, suffered deformed bones and a weak excretory system. People who eat cloned animals or meat that is enhanced with steroids are at the risk of suffering hormonal imbalances. Processing does not remove additives from the meat. Increased herds of cows will increase the amount of methane in the atmosphere. This affects the climate and causes temperature variations that can harm the environment. Actual BenefitsActual benefits include high yields, food security, and effic ient agricultural methods. A farmer practicing zero grazing can raise heavy beef cattle in the confined space (Fedorrof Brown, 2011). Food security will improve because people will use technology to increase the yield per plant. For example, one crop could produce multiple yields in a single year.IV. Potential HarmPotential harm can come from substitutes that replace actual products. Scientists in Boston recently created a full beef patty from stem cells (Fedorrof Brown, 2011). StemThese cells contain DNA that can trigger cancer causing cells. Genetically modified plants can change the soil composition; it may become too acidic to support farming.Potential BenefitsPeople will obtain food that caters to existing medical conditions easily. This will reduce the money they spend on hospital billsV. Reality checkTypes of information and amounts availableThe information is analyzed from academic journals, books and websites. According to the research material, a farm in the 1900's avera ged 80 hectares in size (Thompson, 2011). The manager employed 30% of the American labor force. By the year 2000, individual small scale farms shrunk to 2two million in number. These employed three percen3% of the entire population (Thompson, 2011). Currently, large farms predominate and produce 80% of America's agricultural commodities (Thompson, 2011). SourcesThe information comes from several international organizations like the UNFAO, WTO, animal rights activists, scholarly journals/books and agricultural think tanks". The Eexamples of scholarly journals include "Ethically and genetically modified Foods" by the University of California-Berkley SCOPE research group. One can also obtain information from the books such as "Vexing nature: On the Ethical Case against Agricultural Technology". Academicians like Peter Hartel and Paul Thompson also provided useful information. Some of the authors teach agricultural engine ering and biotechnology in universities. Others work for Non-Governmental agencies like the United Nations Food and Agriculture Association.ReliabilityThe aAcademic journals provide factual and reliable information. The best informationdata comes from the NGO's because they keep updated records of agricultural developments. They compare these records againstwith the data from around the world. Animal activists base their data on assumed similarities between animals and people (Ruse Castle, 2011). They consider animals equal to man. The information provides accurate data in terms of numbers and percentages. For example, one can see the percentage and actual numerical decline in the number of small American firms. The information lacking here includes data from the American surgeon general and the WHO (World Health Organization). This data would provide a breakdown of the negative effects of genetic modification and biotechnology.AlternativesPeople can turn to natural farming methods that entail the use of organic fertilizer and fallow methods to keep the soil fertile. Organic fertilizer does not increase the soil's acidity or Ph (Ruse Castle, 2011). Keeping free range cattle or livestock will build their resistance. The livestock will provide quality meat without harmful additives. VI. Application of Ethical Theories to Selected IssueRights TheoryAccording to this theory, human beings have certain rights to ensure that others treat them in a just and fair manner. Therefore, no one can inflict physical harm or damage on another person's property without justification (Thompson, 2011). Any action that harms an individual constitutes an ethical violation.Utilitarian Theory The utilitarian theory says that the consequences of an action determine whether it is right or wrong (Thompson, 2011). One can interpret good or adverse consequences differently. According to the utilitarianism theory, pe...