The foods we eat could kill tons of other species!

I feel that humans have to realize that everything isn’t about us. It may seem that humans run this earth; but we actually wouldn’t be able to do it without cooperation with other living species on this planet. That’s why biodiversity is vital. Biodiversity isn’t just the variety of species of plants and animals, it’s also genetic diversity, variety of habitats, biological communities and ecosystem biodiversity.

Firstly, genetic diversity is the difference in traits due to heritable characteristics. It’s important as it provides differences in individuals, which some variations can help populations survive better because they’re better adapted. Suppose humans lost the Y chromosome, then males wouldn’t exist! Genetic diversity’s the foundation of biodiversity!

Industrial agriculture is modern farming where genetic technology is used to produce large amounts of food but it has little concerns for the environment, animal welfare or food safety.

Sustainable agriculture is the traditional way of farming.

This table’s self-explanatory.

Industrial agriculture is said to be the end of world hunger, but that’s wrong! There’s enough food in this world to feed everyone! If we rely only on genetically modified foods, we’re losing genetic diversity and causing extinction of species.

Industrial Farming’s:

Pros: low product costs, fast production, pest/disease resistance, herbicide/cold/drought tolerant

Cons: massive wastes, creates health problems for all organisms, replaces sustainable farming, treats animals terribly, pollutes environment, destroys genetic diversity.

Although the food’s cheaper, there’s more behind that cost. Industrial agriculture uses a lot of chemical pesticides and fertilizers, polluting the soil, water and air, harming all life on earth. Animals that naturally feed on grass are fed with processed grain, corn and hormones and antibiotics so they can fatten up, grow faster and fight off diseases. That’s very unhealthy and causes high levels of E. coli. Think about it, we’re eating all that. Don’t you realize the increased numbers of new diseases from animals?

Earth’s experiencing a rapid loss of biodiversity. The rate of loss right now is predicted as the greatest in history. I’m shocked to see what’s happening to the Earth right, as aftermaths of our actions. Industrial agriculture is pushing weaker breeds to extinction, and when a specie becomes extinct, they break their food web, which will destroy other organisms.

I think that most people in the world don’t put much thought into what they eat. When we eat, our first preference is taste. We don’t look at the long term effects it’ll have on us. I bet you didn’t know that beef in hamburgers could kill us! We’re oblivious to what our food is made up of, and how our choices of food can push species to extinction. What happened to living in harmony with nature? Right now we’re like a dominos chain, we’re the ones starting it, and we’ll be the last to fall. We’re destroying others, and in the end, we’ll only end up destroying ourselves. So help our environment and all living species by purchasing locally grown products, supporting our local farmers who practice sustainable agriculture.

References:

"Biodiversity And Its Loss...What does it all mean?" Eco-Action. N.p., n.d. Web.
     18 Nov. 2010. <http://www.eco-action.org/dod/no8/biodiversity.html>.

"Factory Farming, what is factory farming?" Sustainable Table. N.p., n.d. Web.
     18 Nov. 2010. <http://www.sustainabletable.org/issues/factoryfarming/>.

"Genetically Modified Foods - Harm or Helpful." CSA. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov.
     2010. <http://www.csa.com/discoveryguides/gmfood/overview.php>.

"Industrial agriculture." Economy watch. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2010.
     <http://www.economywatch.com/agriculture/types/industrial.html>.

"Industrial agriculture." Grinning Planet. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2010.
     <http://www.grinningplanet.com/2004/04-06/industrial-agriculture-1-article.htm>.

"Industrial Agriculture - What's the real cost of cheap foods." Trusted. MD. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2010. <http://trusted.md/blog/vreni_gurd/2008/11/15/industrial_agriculture_whats_the_real_cost_of_cheap_food#axzz15ZsS2hCb>.

"The Issues, Biodiversity." Sustainable Table. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2010.
     <http://www.sustainabletable.org/issues/biodiversity/>.

"Problems - Loss of Species." Web of Creation. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2010.
     <http://www.webofcreation.org/Earth%20Problems/species.htm>.

"What is genetic diversity." Wise Geek. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2010.
     <http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-genetic-diversity.htm>.

"What is sustainable agriculture?" Sustainable Table. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov.
     2010. <http://www.sustainabletable.org/intro/whatis/.>

Comments on other blogs:

http://waynebioblog.blogspot.com/2010/11/reap-as-we-had-sown.html#comments

http://claudia-d-123.blogspot.com/2010/11/stop-before-its-too-late.html#comments