1. Birth of Modern Commercial Agriculture

2. 2 What’s the deal with Organic? Organic agriculture – food grown w/out the aid of herbicides, pesticides, growth hormones (rBGH: a growth hormone) etc. One of fastest growing industries in U.S.; from food, to clothing to personal care products

3. 3 Total U.S. organic sales, including food & non-food products = $17.7 billion in 2006, up 21% from 2005. They are estimated to have reached $21.2 billion in 2007, and are projected to surpass $25 billion in 2008. Today you can buy everything from organic food to cleaning products to clothes

4. 4 Organic Food Global demand for organic products continues to grow, with sales increasing by over $5 billion a year Most important import markets for organic products continue to be European Union, U. S. & Japan

5. 5 Recent push by MDCs to grow own food & buy locally Consumer demand for locally grown food in U. S. expected to rise from estimated $4 billion (2002) to $7 billion by 2012 Much healthier & safer Even when not organic, small farms tend to be –Less aggressive about dousing with chemicals –Likely to grow more variety, protecting biodiversity & preserving wider agricultural gene pool (important factor in long-term food security) Better economically for you & your country –Farmers receive full retail value (a dollar for each food dollar spent) –Encourages use of local farmland for farming, keeping development in check while preserving open space Local Food Production

6. 6 Genetically Modified Organisms GMO’s = organisms (plants & animals) whose genetic code has been artificially altered using techniques known as recombinant DNA tech. Crops such as rice, corn and tomatoes being modified to include pesticides, antibiotics other attributes –British scientists have even created a breed of genetically modified chickens that lay eggs containing cancer fighting drugs

7. 7

8. 8

9. 9 Genetically Modified Organisms 3 agencies share responsibility for overseeing GM foods: USDA, FDA, and EPA Currently, none of these agencies require food companies to label GM ingredients

10. 10

11. 11 4 Intriguing GM Foods The lemato (tomato & lemon) Grapple (apple & grape) Pluots (plum & apricot) Strawfish (Strawberry & flounder)

12. 12

13. 13 Would you like fries with your McClone burger?

14. 14

15. 15

16. 16

17. 17 Factory Farming