Discuss the role agriculture plays in modern society with its Essay

Discuss the role agriculture plays in modern society with its implications on the environment - Essay Example However, agriculture is said to be one of the biggest contributing factors in the climate change, so here is the dilemma; we need to double our food production in order to feed billions of people and even the spiraling population growth of the world in the future. Regarding this, here's the very basic point of Dr. Jonathan Foley, director of the Institute on the Environment at the University of Minnesota, "How do we feed the world without destroying it?† (TEDxTalks 1; University of Minnesota’s Institute on the Environment 1). This is a great area of concern considering that agriculture is absolutely linked with environmental issues, but on the other end, people need it as absolute necessity in order to survive. Agriculture in modern society According to Dr. Foley, â€Å"Feeding nine billion people in a truly sustainable way will be one of the greatest challenges our civilization has ever faced† (Gillis 1). This emphasizes the fact that the world’s populatio n growth is inevitable and the ultimate concern today is on how to feed billions of people in the future with great consideration of sustainability. Dr. Foley accepted the fact that it is only through agriculture people will be fed, but in line with sustainable way doing it, the answer remains to be created in great detail knowing the fact that there are various concerns that need to be taken into account. As the society becomes modern, people around the world also think differently and become health conscious at some point. Thus, complex diets are rising to the extent that people are looking forward to more healthy diets. This means enhancing modern agriculture is a must in order to meet the prevailing needs and demands of the society. After all, healthy diets are remarkably in line with agriculture as far as food production is concerned. Society at the top end are rich enough with food supplies due to their ability to produce them and avail their distribution, but the impoverish g roups continue to experience malnutrition and even starve to death (Gillis 1). The answer may be certain that appropriate food distribution and regulation is the key, but in order to address health concerns in a more efficient way, food modification and research need to be integrated with food production with agriculture. In fact, the rise of biotechnology and the breakthrough of genetically modified crops to enhance food diets have become integral components of modern agriculture in the modern society. Furthermore, the occurrence of energy crisis paved the way for enhancing or improving agriculture practices or techniques in order to provide maximum production of raw materials. These raw materials at some point may be staple food requirements which in this case using them as raw materials to answer energy crisis competes against the humans’ absolute necessity for food. One basic example is the possibility of biofuel as an alternative source of energy to answer the prevailing energy crisis. In addition, animals compete with humans on certain types of foods. This requires doubling or increasing production of these kinds of foods. In order to meet this, the answer still boils down to how agriculture should be maximized up to its full potential. However, the real issue is that the available land for agriculture needs to be increased while globalization and population increase continue to limit

Economic comparison Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Economic comparison - Research Paper Example Immigration was totally restricted and farming was the main occupation there that time. The period of 1900 – 1910 saw a fall and increase in unemployment. The average unemployment in the period was 1406 (000s), which indicate a decrease in unemployment. The percentage of non-farm employees in the work force was on an average of 7%. The percentage of farm employees was decreased by 1910, which shows that farming activity had increased that time. According to the ‘Historical Statistics of the US 1890-1929’, the GDP in1910 was around 600 billion. From 1900 -1910 the real GDP growth increased, whereas at the beginning of 1910, the GDP recorded a straight decrease. The early 1930s was a period of great depression and the production of goods and services plunged. (Chantrill para. 1). The rate of inflation estimate provided by the US department of labor (Bureau of labor statistics) in 1910 was 3.7%, while in 1920 it was 15.6%. The Emergency Quota Act was passed in US par liament in May 1921 and this restricted free immigration into the US. Until that period immigration was on a large scale in the state. Four groups existed in the labor market in the US in the 1900-1910 era and they consisted of workers from the American federation of labor, knights of labor and the unorganized labor. These groups opposed unrestricted immigration into the US, which created less employment opportunities for the Native Americans. â€Å"Since 1900, the unemployment rate has fluctuated widely, rising during contractions and failing during expansions. During the great depression of the 1930s, the rate hiked to 25%† (McEachem 2009, p. 465). Comparison of 1910 with the Present US Economy: Today’s US economy is a very developed and established economy, even though economic recessions have caused a setback to the nation. Comparing the year 1910 with the present day, the economic development of the nation has grown by leaps and bounds. Although, the US GDP has ex perienced an uncertain trend especially during the times of economic recession, but it always shows signs of fast economic recovery. â€Å"The 1910s was a decade of great change for America. It was during this decade that the United States was first considered a world leader† (America 1910 – 1920: The End of Innocence 1910). A data chart released by Bureau of economic analysis points out that in the third quarter of 2011 the US economy showed a GDP annual increase of 2%, while in the second quarter the real GDP increase was 1.3%. Comparing the US economy of 1910-1920 with the present, it shows that the GDP rate has shown both an increasing as well as decreasing trend. The period of economic depression of 1930s witnessed a fall in GDP. Similarly the period between 1956-1960 also saw a decrease in the GDP. The 1980s also witnessed a fall in GDP. After that period the latest recession of 2007 has also brought an uncertain trend in the GDP of the US economy. World developm ents had also played a considerable influence on the US economy, especially the two world wars. Unemployment also experienced a very high increase in times, when the GDP was high. But during the periods of recession unemployment cropped up in high numbers. An increase in unemployment and an increase in inflation, especially of food products also had negative impact on the GDP of the nation. Even though there were employment opport