One subject examined in the documentary The Future of Food is industrial farming. Our food is controlled by industrial farmers since organic farming and farming with the help of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is gaining ground in some of the developed nations and being adopted in the developing nations. Thanks to technology invented largely by the industrial sector, farming around the globe has changed for the better.
Tractors for tilling the land, harvesting machines, machines to sort the produce (Sortex), storage and packing mechanisms are among contributions made by the industrial sector. But, industrial farming does come with its own dose of threats to communities, particularly those that are in the immediate vicinity of the enterprise. While the future of food ought to be a major concern for all of us, the potential threats posed by industrial farming cannot be ignored. Industrial livestock farming can be particularly challenging for the residents closer to the farms.
The numerous threats posed to residents in areas surrounding industrial livestock farms include increase amounts of animal waste, improper/inadequate waste disposal, pollutants in the air from vehicles and gaseous substances, dead animals, and unprocessed animal skin. Water pollution is also a serious threat to residents and traditional farmers in nearby areas. Another thing held against livestock farming is that it centers on one area of farming that is riddled with potential risks.
Despite the risks, though, many still argue the benefits of industrial farming. The most obvious of these benefits is the ability of industrial farmers to create capital to invest in technology and equipment. Traditional farmers generally do not have the ability to do this the way industrial farmers do.
The sheer size and the professional outfit will motivate the investors/bankers to pump in large sums of money in anticipation of decent returns. Consumers of the final product/s from industrial farms can expect to enjoy better quality and more realistic prices arising from economy of scale.
With the conflicting stances on industrial farming, policy makers may have to regulate future farming practices to balance the benefits of industrial farming with the potential health and environmental risks to communities surrounding the farm locations.
Tractors for tilling the land, harvesting machines, machines to sort the produce (Sortex), storage and packing mechanisms are among contributions made by the industrial sector. But, industrial farming does come with its own dose of threats to communities, particularly those that are in the immediate vicinity of the enterprise. While the future of food ought to be a major concern for all of us, the potential threats posed by industrial farming cannot be ignored. Industrial livestock farming can be particularly challenging for the residents closer to the farms.
The numerous threats posed to residents in areas surrounding industrial livestock farms include increase amounts of animal waste, improper/inadequate waste disposal, pollutants in the air from vehicles and gaseous substances, dead animals, and unprocessed animal skin. Water pollution is also a serious threat to residents and traditional farmers in nearby areas. Another thing held against livestock farming is that it centers on one area of farming that is riddled with potential risks.
Despite the risks, though, many still argue the benefits of industrial farming. The most obvious of these benefits is the ability of industrial farmers to create capital to invest in technology and equipment. Traditional farmers generally do not have the ability to do this the way industrial farmers do.
The sheer size and the professional outfit will motivate the investors/bankers to pump in large sums of money in anticipation of decent returns. Consumers of the final product/s from industrial farms can expect to enjoy better quality and more realistic prices arising from economy of scale.
With the conflicting stances on industrial farming, policy makers may have to regulate future farming practices to balance the benefits of industrial farming with the potential health and environmental risks to communities surrounding the farm locations.
About the Author:
This site is strongly recommended for more information: http://pinterest.com/mariodeal/raw-superfoods/.
No comments:
Post a Comment