Genetically Modified Organism (GMO)
Explain what is a GMO.
A Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) is a plant, animal, or microorganism whose genetic makeup has been modified in a laboratory using genetic engineering or transgenic technology.
What is a commodity?
Commodities are goods or raw materials that can be bought, sold, or traded. A product is a commodity when all units of production are identical, regardless of who produces them.
What is food security?
A situation of "limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods or limited or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways" (USDA).
The growing consumer concerns around ________ and ____________ have led to an increasing adoption of several emerging food trends.
Health and Sustainability
Will the global crop production growth mainly be driven by?
Increased productivity
Provide at least 3 examples of GMOs available to consumers in the United States.
Corn, Soybean, Cotton, Potato, Papaya, Apple, Canola, Alfalfa, Sugar Beets, Pink Pineapple, etc.
Provide at least two advantages of the commodity market?
No Need for Traceability
Allows for Efficient Contracting
Low Cost Production
Consumers Generally Gain
What are the main factors that have increased hunger in the world recently?
The war in Ukraine together with the pandemic has pushed prices to near all-time highs.
What is flexitarianism?
Often called casual vegetarianism, flexitarianism centers on eating plant-based food, with only occasional consumption of meat.
Where agricultural expansion possibilities still exist?
South America, Africa, and Ukraine.
What percentage of corn is GMO in the United States? (approximately)
Currently, up to 92% of U.S. corn is GMO in the United States.
What are differentiated products? List at least two examples of that.
To be a differentiated product, a company’s product is different than those of its competitors.
Examples: Non-GMO soybeans, Grass Feed, Organic Milk, Cage-Free, etc.
What is Corn Law?
The Corn Laws were tariffs and restrictions put in place from 1815-1846 in the United Kingdom. The Corn Laws caused the price of corn and other grains to increase. The Laws were designed to protect English farmers from inexpensive imports of grain.
What are the pros and cons of lab-produced meat?
Pros: few animals, rapid process, less land use, less pollution, and more sustainability.
Cons: social contradiction, expensive, limited manufacturing, no meat cuts, sensory quality.
List at least two trends around the future of agriculture.
1. Food Demand Increases
2. Consolidation Accelerates
3. High Tech Solution
4. Gene Editing Booms
5. By-The-Plant Crop Management
When did the mandatory labeling require GMO foods to be marked in the United States?
Mandatory labeling began Jan. 1, 2022, and foods and packages include a small seal or text that says “bioengineered,” or “derived from bioengineering.”
What are some challenges about non-commodity?
More costly to produce
Lower volumes
Requires premiums and a supply chain.
What do we mean by digital agriculture?
Employing sensors and technologies to capture data in digital form and using tools and techniques to analyze data to improve decision making.
List at least three companies that have created carbon market programs to engage farmers.
Indigo, Bayer Crop Science, Truterra, Nutrien, Nori, etc.
What are the three highest-potential countries to expand agriculture in Africa?
Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Tanzania.
What are the federal agencies within the U.S. government that work together to regulate most GMOs?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) ensure that GMOs are safe for human, plant, and animal health.
Explain the Treadmill Theory (1958).
It begins when a small number of farmers adopt new technology early. These farmers make profits for a short while because their production costs are lower than others. As more farmers get on the treadmill and adopt the technology, overall production goes up, prices go down, and profits are no longer possible. Then, new technology must be created to make profits possible again.
What is the Gartner Hype Cycle?
The Gartner Hype Cycle is a graphical representation of the lifecycle stages a technology goes through from the initial development to its commercial availability and adoption, as well as its eventual decline and obsolescence.
What is the gene editing of foods (CRISPR Cas9).
Gene editing is the capacity to make exact alterations to a live organism's DNA sequence. The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR Cas9) allowed molecular scissors to precisely target a gene in the genome.
What are the main challenges faced by small-scale farmers in Africa? List at least three.
Land Fragmentation
Lack of infrastructure and market access
Vulnerable to climate change
Poverty