Unit 4

Question 1

GMO

Answer 1

Genetically Modified Organisms

Question 2

GMOs ARE

Answer 2

Plants with one or more genetic characteristics that were inserted into the genome using biotechnology.

Question 3

GMOs ARE NOT

Answer 3

Plants that were improved through artificial selection processes like cross breeding, hybridization, or mutagenesis.

Question 4

GMOs are created by injecting chemicals into food after it is harvested.

Answer 4

GMOs are developed through genetic engineering where scientists insert specific traits into the DNA of the seed before it is ever planted. The plant grows just like regular seeds. The trait can also be transferred to other varieties through traditional cross-breeding.

Question 5

Using GM crop varieties would be beneficial for every country.

Answer 5

false

Many developing countries do not have the technology/resources to benefit from GMOs. For example, without access to herbicides, using herbicide tolerant crops would not be beneficial.

Question 6

Question 1: Should food products made with GMOs be labeled?
Question 1: Should food products made with GMOs be labeled?

Answer 6

Pro-GM: Labeling would incite fear and prevent public acceptance of these products. The US Food and Drug Administration requires labeling based on food content and nutrition, not on how the product was created. We should NOT label food items.

Consumers have the right to know whether the product they are purchasing is genetically engineered or contains ingredients from GM crops. Consumers may object to consumption of GM foods on the basis of health, religious, or ethical concerns. We SHOULD label food items.

Question 7

Question 2: Are foods from GMOs safe to eat?

Answer 7

There are no inherent differences between foods produced from genetically modified (GM) plants and those from non-GM crops. They are totally safe to eat.

There are not enough independent (non-industry) studies of the health effects of GM foods to have confidence in their safety. We need more research to be sure they are safe to eat.

Question 8

example GMO

Answer 8

example of a GMO is a BT crop, which produces a protein toxic to certain insects. Another genetic engineering technique is the
CRISPR-Cas9 system, which allows for the precise editing of an
organism’s DNA

Question 9

Genetic engineering

Answer 9

the deliberate modification of an organism’s DNA using biotechnology techniques to produce desired traits.

Question 10

Genetically modified organism (GMO)

Answer 10

an organism that has had its genetic material altered using genetic engineering techniques.

Question 11

Transgenic

Answer 11

an organism that contains DNA from another species.

Question 12

Herbicide

Answer 12

a chemical substance used to control or kill weeds.

Question 13

Insecticide

Answer 13

a chemical substance used to control or kill insects.

Question 14

Pesticide

Answer 14

a chemical substance used to control or kill pests.

Question 15

Drought-tolerant -

Answer 15

able to withstand or survive in conditions of low water availability. Crossbreeding - the process of breeding two different species or varieties to produce offspring with desirable traits.

Question 16

Superweed

Answer 16

a weed that has become resistant to herbicides and is difficult to control or eliminate.

Question 17

Patents

Answer 17

legal protections granted to inventors of new products, processes, or designs that give them exclusive rights to sell or use their invention for a period of time.

Question 18

Biotechnology

Answer 18

the use of living organisms, cells, or biological processes to develop products or technologies.

Question 19

Genomics

Answer 19

the study of an organism’s complete genetic material, including its DNA and RNA.

Question 20

Selective breeding

Answer 20

the process of breeding plants or animals with desirable traits to produce offspring with those traits.

Question 21

Yield

Answer 21

the amount of a crop that is produced per unit of land area.

Question 22

Labeling

Answer 22

the process of attaching a label or other form of identification to a product to provide information about its contents, origin, or other attributes.

Question 23

Stages of Food Production

Answer 23

Agricultural Stage
Processing Stage
Food Services OR Grocery Retail OR Direct to consumer
Consumer Use

Question 24

What is organic farming?

Answer 24

Relies on techniques such as…
Green manure
A crop/plant that is plowed under while green to enrich the soil
Adds necessary nutrients for plants to grow
Crop Rotation
Compost
Biological Pest Control

Question 25

Crop Rotation

Answer 25

A
Growing a series of dissimilar/different types of crops in the same area in sequential seasons
Replenishes nitrogen in soil
mitigates the build-up of pathogens and pests
improve soil structure and fertility by alternating deep-rooted and shallow-rooted plants

Question 26

Integrated Pest Management

Answer 26

Pest control approach that uses current information on the life cycles of pests and their interactions with the environment combined with available pest control

Tries to manage pest damage by the most economical means with the least hazard to people, property, and the environment

Question 27

Intercropping

Answer 27

Growing more than one crop in the same field
Offers…
Stability
Reduced chemical use
Reduces fertilizer and pesticide requirement
Overyielding
Yields more than would in monoculture

Question 28

No Tillage

Answer 28

Way of growing crops from year to year without disturbing the soil through tillage (preparing the soil with methods such as digging, stirring, and overturning)
Less fuel/equipment operation time
Reduces erosion and runoff
Reduces in labor and equipment costs
Special machinery may be needed
Crop damage from disease outbreak and nuisance insects are more likely

Question 29

Controversies

Answer 29

Overuse of antibiotics in agriculture endangers humans
Chemicals in Herbicides are highly toxic to humans and animals, and can be lethal if used incorrectly
Genetic resistance because of pesticides (plants begin to become resistant to certain pesticides as a result of overuse)

Question 30

Canadian Agricultural Products Act

Answer 30

A
Designed to to set national standards and grades for agricultural products in import, export, and interprovincial trade
provide for national standards and grades of agricultural products, for their inspection and grading, for the registration of establishments and for standards governing establishments

Question 31

What is Food Security?

Answer 31

ACCESSIBILITY
AVAILABILITY
ADEQUACY
ACCEPTABILITY

Question 32

ACCESSIBILITY

Answer 32

All people should have physical and economic access to food, by purchasing it, growing it, or trading for it

Question 33

AVAILABILITY

Answer 33

All people should be able to get food consistently when they need it.

Question 34

ADEQUACY

Answer 34

All people should be able to get enough nutritious food that has been grown and prepared safely in an environmentally sustainable manner

Question 35

ACCEPTABILITY

Answer 35

All people should be able to obtain food that meets their cultural preferences, religious requirements, and or dietary needs.

Question 36

Explain how food production affects climate change?

Answer 36

Food needs to be grown and processed, transported, distributed, prepared, consumed, and sometimes disposed of. Each of these steps creates greenhouse gases that trap the sun’s heat and contribute to climate change.

Question 37

Explain ways we can make our food supply more sustainable

Answer 37

grow your own food
eat more vegatbles
reduce food waste

Question 38

How can technology help to reduce the environmental impacts of farming?

Answer 38

optimize planting, irrigation, and fertilization to reduce waste and increase efficiency

Question 39

How does deforestation impact climate change?

Answer 39

If forests are cleared, or even disturbed, they release carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Forest loss and damage is the cause of around 10% of global warming