WEEK 3: FOOD PRODUCTION Flashcards
1
Q
What is agricultural industrialization?
A
- application of modern industrial manufacturing, production, procurement, distribution, coordination concepts to food and industrial product chain
- extensification and intensification
2
Q
What are the steps of industrialization?
A
- specialization = narrow range of tasks/roles in production
- mechanization = agricultural machinery to increase productivity
- chemification = fertilizers and pesticides
- selective breeding = AKA artificial selection
3
Q
What are genetically modified organisms?
A
- animal, plant, or microbe whose DNA has been altered using genetic engineering techniques
- In Canada: corn, canola, potatoes, soybeans, sugar beets, alfalfa, apples, papaya
4
Q
What is biotechnology?
A
- application of scientific and engineering principles to processing/production of materials by biological agents to provide goods/services
- manipulation, synthesis, eventual creation of genes
5
Q
What is agricultural biotechnology?
A
- collection of scientific techniques used to improve plants, animals, microorganisms
- increase productivity
- improve crops and livestock
6
Q
Genetic engineering and genetically modified crops
A
- gene cloning –> new dimension to crop breeding –> directed changes made to genotype of a plant –> avoid processes inherent in conventional breeding
- all crops with transferred DNA are developed to increase productivity and reduce damage
7
Q
2 general strategies in genetic engineering
A
- gene addition = cloning is used to alter characteristics of a plant by providing 1 or 2 more genes
- gene subtraction = inactive 1 or more of the plant’s existing genes
8
Q
Application of biotechnology
A
- molecular diagnostics = detect genes/products that are specific
- vaccines = biotechnology-derived vaccines are used in livestock and humands
9
Q
What are the benefits of biotech?
A
- increased and enhanced crop productivity
- select genes for disease resistance and transfer to important crops
- improved nutritional value
- better flavour
- fresher produce
- environmental benefits
10
Q
What is herbicide resistance?
A
- chemical herbicides are used to control weeds
- if a crop is engineered to be resistant to a broad-spectrum herbicide - weed management could be simplified and safer chemicals could be used
11
Q
What is virus resistance?
A
- many plants susceptible to disease caused by viruses often spread by insects from plant to plant
- can be difficult to control and damage can be severe
- insecticides have little impact on spread
- genetic engineering can provide resistance to viral diseases
12
Q
What is delayed fruit ripening?
A
- allows more time for shipment of fruit from fields to grocery stores
- increases shelf life
- fruit that is genetically engineered to delay ripening can be left to mature on plant
13
Q
Health challenges with genetic engineering
A
- allergens and toxins
- people with food allergies usually react to 1 or few allergens in 1 or 2 specific foods
- major concern is the risk of introducing allergens and
14
Q
What is antibiotic resistance?
A
- Antibiotic resistance genes are technique that ensures a gene transfer during course of genetic modification was successful
- raised concerns that new antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria will emerge
- Rise of diseases that are resistant to treatment with common antibiotics is a serious concern of some opponents of genetic engineering technology
15
Q
Labelling of GMO foods
A
- some consumer groups want foods from GMO crops to have a special label
- In USA there are only special labels if they are nutritionally different
