Agribusiness- People, Planet, or Pocketbooks.

Agribusiness- People, Planet, or Pocketbooks. May 7, 2014

Do Genetically Modified Foods Serve the Greater Well Being of Humanity?

 

What is Agribusiness? 

Where does our food come from? Who processes it? How is it processed? These are a few of the questions that our present culture is slowly beginning to uncover and dissect. The answer that lies at the heart of each of these questions is, in fact, agribusiness. What is agribusiness? Some refer to it as Big Ag; but in short, and to state the obvious, we can define it as ‘the business of agricultural production.’ Agribusiness is founded on the commercialization of crop production, seed supply, and agrochemical farm machinery under companies, such as Monsanto and Dow AgroSciences. Big Ag is so prevalent in our society that specialized academic degrees are offered at various top-notch universities. All of the various elements of agribusiness can be bundled into the make up of modern food production, which provides nourishment and a seemingly endless supply of food to the U.S. and developing nations.


While the various benefits of agribusiness have endured the general public’s criticism, essentially due to the capability for providing food to global communities on a grand scale, we should look to companies such as Monsanto to uncover the truth behind our food’s production.Untitled

Mad Dog Monsanto

Monsanto is one of the leading producers of genetically engineered seeds.  It remains one of the top dogs in the biotechnology industry. Google Monsanto and the first subtitle result you’ll see this: “A Sustainable Agriculture Industry.” The information at the site completely denies the fact that Monsanto products are, in reality, as far from sustainable as possible. Monsanto’s products have been banned in twenty-six countries; yet, the one country that continues to contribute to its overwhelming success is, of course, the U.S.  Monsanto makes poisonous products filled with herbicides and pesticides that lack in the nutrients needed by us human beings.  Monsanto also promotes deadly illnesses, such as cancer. Studies have shown that a strand of their ‘Bt’ corn destroyed the larvae of a monarch butterfly. If minuscule creatures, such as butterflies, cannot survive within the chemically infused sphere of toxic GMOs then how can human beings live sustainable lives after consuming these products?

Monsanto is also a huge culprit when it comes to generating massive greenhouse gas pollution and global warming.  It promotes false solutions, including industrial biofuels, “drought resistant crops” and genetically engineered trees. The company’s production of crops, such as corn, cotton, and soy, uses methods that are extremely fossil fuel intensive. The extra crops are fed to animals in factory farms, which generate excessive amounts of emissions. Monsanto must clear large amounts of forests and wetlands in order to grow GMO crops for animal feeds.  This generates 20% of all climate-destabilizing greenhouse gases through such destructive measures. The production of Monsanto’s crops is estimated to amount to a grand total of 51% of global greenhouse gas emissions, which is over half of all global greenhouse gas emissions.

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Unprocess our foods, Big Ag! 

What will be the cost to our wonderful planet Earth and her well being if we continue to take ever-increasing paths of destruction? When it comes to addressing the question of Big Ag, the fact of the matter is that people, planet, and pocketbooks are mutually exclusive. The first line of action to take as a culture and society is one in which we must commit to the organic movement by supporting our local farms and agriculture, as opposed to contributing to the ever-expanding degradation of agribusiness companies like Monsanto.

As a nation, we must begin by placing our sustainability and prosperity first!  Of concern is our beehive colony population, which is in a steep decline.  For example, it now takes 60% of colonies just to pollinate one single California crop.  We must ban the pesticides that kill pollinators via the infiltration of our water systems and will, eventually, erode our top soils.  Not only will we provide a better Earth for generations to come, but we will also preserve the assets and bounties nature offers us; without the use of external forces to combat the deteriorating state of the world. By supporting our local agriculture and local farms, we help those around us by joining together as a community, rather than serving the greater interests of Big Ag, which puts the well being of our people at risk.

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Yes, No, or Neither

Do Genetically Modified Foods Serve the Greater Well Being of Humanity?

 Yes- Companies, such as Monsanto, have fed millions of people around the world via large quantities of agriculture.  It does not matter whether the food is processed, since it provides people around the world a daily meal.

No- Processed foods have not only led to obesity among all age populations world-wide, they have also led to malnourishment, various cancers, and the degradation of the environment.

Neither- Genetically modified foods can be successfully cultivated.  We could keep the food and simply get rid of the pesticides that are used to grow them.

Does agribusiness meet the standards for the quadruple bottom line?

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