Technology, Agriculture & Public Concern

Review: Benefits of Technology Technology can: Technology can: FeatureBenefit make our lives more efficient less time, energy and resources reduce laborreduced expenses (wages, workman’s compensation) increase diversitymore products for more customers increases availabilityincreased production rates improve mechanization smaller and faster increases communication reduces lag time in the production line

Review: Public Concern Areas Regarding Technology Land/Environment Land/Environment Labor Labor Capital Capital Enterprise Enterprise Controversial Topics Controversial Topics

Land/Environment Landfills – accumulating old technology Landfills – accumulating old technology Effects on renewable and non-renewable resources Effects on renewable and non-renewable resources Air emission levels Air emission levels Water contamination Water contamination Nutrient depletion Nutrient depletion Biodegradable potential Biodegradable potential

Labor Human workers replaced by computers, robotics, machines Human workers replaced by computers, robotics, machines Level of training and education increases Level of training and education increases Wages for higher skilled work doesn’t match minimum wage Wages for higher skilled work doesn’t match minimum wage Displaced workers in struggling economy Displaced workers in struggling economy Power to run new technology high Power to run new technology high No back up system (human workers) during power outage No back up system (human workers) during power outage

Capital Obsolete/outdated equipment can’t be used – shortage of parts suppliers Obsolete/outdated equipment can’t be used – shortage of parts suppliers New machinery is often very expensive New machinery is often very expensive Technology changes too rapidly to purchase newest equipment Technology changes too rapidly to purchase newest equipment

Enterprise Technology is expensive Technology is expensive Sole proprietors vs Corporations – How can they compete? Sole proprietors vs Corporations – How can they compete? Cooperatives – Possible solution Cooperatives – Possible solution Niche markets – can they compete? How long? Niche markets – can they compete? How long?

Controversial Topics Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) Labeling Laws for food products Labeling Laws for food products Cloning Cloning Biotechnology – Are we crossing the line? Biotechnology – Are we crossing the line? Food Supply Food Supply Cleaning our water resources Cleaning our water resources Transgenic crops Transgenic crops Transgenic animals Transgenic animals

Group Debate When you hear “GO” When you hear “GO” Form a group of 3 Form a group of 3 One member will report to the teacher the group’s selected topic and their stance (PRO or CON) One member will report to the teacher the group’s selected topic and their stance (PRO or CON) Each topic and stance will be represented ONCE Each topic and stance will be represented ONCE Use the remainder of the period to research your topic……(questions on next slide) Use the remainder of the period to research your topic……(questions on next slide)

What do you research? What is it? What is it? What laws are there the “govern” this technology? What laws are there the “govern” this technology? How does it work? How does it work? Why is it good? OR Why is it bad? Why is it good? OR Why is it bad? Who does it affect? Who does it affect? When did this start? When did this start? Where is this being done? Where is this being done? Why is it being done? Why is it being done?

Reliability of Sources What is a credible Internet source? What is a credible Internet source?.gov or.edu.gov or.edu What is not a credible Internet source? What is not a credible Internet source? All others need teacher approval All others need teacher approval Why are some more reliable than others? Why are some more reliable than others? Authors listed Authors listed Schools they are affiliated with Schools they are affiliated with Government entity Government entity

What will tomorrow look like? 5 minutes of team collaboration time – entire class 5 minutes of team collaboration time – entire class One team member will retrieve voting cards (1 per member) One team member will retrieve voting cards (1 per member) Team debates Team debates Vote after each debate for the team with the best presentation of the evidence Vote after each debate for the team with the best presentation of the evidence

DEBATE FORMAT: Opening statement (1 minute each team)–PRO, CON Opening statement (1 minute each team)–PRO, CON Evidence #1 (1 minute each team) – PRO, CON Evidence #1 (1 minute each team) – PRO, CON Questions from IN FAVOR team (1 minute) Questions from IN FAVOR team (1 minute) Evidence # 2 – (1 minute each team) – CON, PRO Evidence # 2 – (1 minute each team) – CON, PRO Questions from OPPOSED (1 minute) Questions from OPPOSED (1 minute) Closing Statement (1 minute each team) – CON, PRO Closing Statement (1 minute each team) – CON, PRO Total Time: 10 minutes Total Time: 10 minutes

Here are the topics again…. Here are the topics again…. Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) Labeling Laws for food products Labeling Laws for food products Biotechnology – Are we crossing the line? Biotechnology – Are we crossing the line? Food Supply Food Supply Cleaning our water resources Cleaning our water resources Transgenic crops Transgenic crops Transgenic animals Transgenic animals What questions are there? GO. What questions are there? GO.