Food choice- Environmental Issues

Question 1

What are GM foods?

Answer 1

Genetically modified foods which are produced from plants which have had their genetic make up tweaked in a lab.

Question 2

How are GM foods made?

Answer 2

Scientists alter the genes from another organism into a plants DNA to give it a new characteristic.

Question 3

What is the function of GM foods?

Answer 3

To increase the yield or to make plants survive in a more hostile environment.

Question 4

Name an advantage of GM foods?

Answer 4

Means that they are cheaper, more complete foods.

Question 5

Name a disadvantage of GM foods?

Answer 5

A lot of people are worried about the consequences of meddling with nature.

Question 6

What are pesticides?

Answer 6

Pesticides are substances meant for destroying pests.They are chemicals or biological agents.

Question 7

What are the main uses of pesticides?

Answer 7

Plant protection products which protect plants from weeds, diseases or insects which would damage them.

Question 8

What do the target pests include that are killed or discouraged by pesticides?

Answer 8

Insects, plant pathogens, weeds, birds, mammals, fish etc.

Question 9

Why are the target pests killed or discouraged by pesticides? what is the aim?

Answer 9

As they cause nuisance, spread disease or destroy the plants.

Question 10

What are the disadvantages of using pesticides?

Answer 10

Potential toxicity to humans and other animals.

Question 11

What are herbicides?

Answer 11

They are substances meant for getting rid of unwanted plant life.

Question 12

What are functions of herbicides?

Answer 12

They are mainly used to rid of unwanted plant life e.g. weeds and other growth which takes away the nutrients from crops.

Question 13

What are herbicides based on?

Answer 13

they mainly act by interfering with the growth of the weed and are often based on plant hormones.

Question 14

What are the disadvantages of using herbicides?

Answer 14

They can be toxic to humans and animals as well as good plants.

Question 15

What types of Herbicides are available?

Answer 15

Two main types- non selective and selective.

Question 16

What is a non selective herbicides function?

Answer 16

To kill growth, generally reserved for agricultural use or for clearing large or heavy grown areas.

Question 17

What is a selective herbicides function?

Answer 17

Used to target certain types of plant life, works to curb growth, usually through hormones and should not affect other vegetation.

Question 18

Which type of herbicide is organic and is better for home growth?

Answer 18

Selective

Question 19

What does fair trade involve?

Answer 19

It is about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability and fair terms of trades for farmers and workers.

Question 20

What does the fair trade foundation aim to do?

Answer 20

To tackle poverty and injustice through trade.

Question 21

Why do people choose fair trade products?

Answer 21

Because a difference can be made to farmer’s lives as they are paid fairly. Fairtrade also enables farmers to provide education for their children. It benefits communities, helps to protect the environment.

Question 22

How may food mileage affect a person’s choice on food?

Answer 22

As the further the food is derived from, it has to travel and produces carbon emissions. Use of locally sourced produce can help the environment as they wouldn’t of had to travel a long distance.

Question 23

What is Organic food?

Answer 23

Organic food is defined by how it cannot be made rather than how it can be made. It must be produced without pesticides, herbicides, fertilisers, genetic engeneering, growth hormones etc.

Question 24

What sorts of products can be made organically?

Answer 24

A variety of agricultural products such as meat, dairy, fruit, vege and processed food products.

Question 25

What does the term ‘organic’ mean?

Answer 25

It does not mean ‘natural’ it means that it has been minimally processed and is preservative free. Natural foods can be organic but not all natural foods are organic.

Question 26

Why may people choose to buy organic food?

Answer 26

Because organic food has been minimally processed and is preservative free. It hasn’t been treated with chemicals which could be harmful to us.

Question 27

What alternative sources of energy are there which don’t cause harm to the planet?

Answer 27

Wind, solar.

Question 28

What causes our planet to warm up (global warming effect)?

Answer 28

The amount of carbon emissions being released into the atmosphere.

Question 29

What are the aims of alternative energy?

Answer 29

They don’t release any carbon emissions and are renewable whereas fossil fuels are non renewable.

Question 30

What other advantages are there of using renewable energy sources?

Answer 30

Cheaper as it doesn’t cost anything to run them.