Feeding a Growing Population vs Conserving Biodiversity

Every time I step inside a grocery store, the question that I always wondered was where did this food come from? The obvious answer that I would receive is from farms or factories. These places have been providing the community with different food resources. Though this is true, with our growing population it seems hard for the agricultural industry to keep up.

Productive livestock and crops could be seen to some people as the "best of the best" but if you rely on a few highly productive livestock and crop varieties there would be a lesser chance of genetic diversity. To reduce the genetic diversity of less productive breeds to become extinct could pose problems to the health of the breeds. The obvious benefit of highly productive breeds is that we would be able to distribute more food products. We are clear of these benefits but that doesn't mean we should reduce genetic diversity.

Although highly productive breeds may produce numerous amounts of crops, there still might cause some problems. Biodiversity allows species to mate with other species allowing the transfer of genetics. Imagine if the highly productive livestock and crop varieties carried a recessive gene for a type of disease and the less productive breeds carried the gene that reduces the risk of getting that disease. If the genetic diversity of the less productive breeds were to become extinct the highly productive breeds are sure to suffer.

"Maintaining genetic diversity within species is important for maintaining yield stability and crop ability to adapt to ever-changing environmental challenges and diseases." (1)

This topic is relatable to sustainable agriculture and industrial agriculture. Sustainable agriculture is a way of farming that tries to create products that is healthy for everyone.Some farmers stay away from things like pesticides, biotechnology, and mechanization. Instead they use different manners, for example like growing products organically. Industrial agriculture is the term used to describe factory-made livestock and crops. Most food products now-a-days are made by using industrial agriculture. This type of agriculture has made food plentiful and cheap but has caused problems to the community like erosion, deforestation and contamination.

Industrial Agriculture

Sustainable Agriculture

It is clear what our choices are:

• several food products for a cheaper price but leaving us with the consequences that deal with the environment. OR
• buy products that are healthy and doesn't harm the earth but costs more in terms of prices

With the rapid increase of the global human population it seems hard for the agricultural industry to keep up. If they continue to use industrial agricultural they would be able to make food for the growing population but at what cost? There would be a loss of biodiversity and as discussed earlier it is hurting the environment. In my opinion, the benefits on a few highly productive breeds do not outweigh the risks of reducing genetic diversity. Most of us would agree that genetic diversity is healthy.

REFERENCES

1. Industrial Agriculture
2. Importance of Diversity
3. Sustainable Agriculture
4. Agriculture Today
5. Impotance of genetic Diversity in Livestock

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