2014年12月29日 星期一
Aeroponics to Feed the World 9 billion people in the future?
In the first half of this century, as the world’s population grows to around 9 billion, global demand for food, feed and fiber will nearly double while, increasingly, crops may also be used for bioenergy and other industrial purposes. New and traditional demand for agricultural produce will thus put growing pressure on already scarce agricultural resources. And while agriculture will be forced to compete for land and water with sprawling urban settlements, it will also be required to serve on other major fronts: adapting to and contributing to the mitigation of climate change, helping preserve natural habitats, protecting endangered species and maintaining a high level of biodiversity. As though this were not challenging enough, in most regions fewer people will be living in rural areas and even fewer will be farmers. They will need new technologies to grow more from less land, with fewer hands.
Then the problems to be resolved:
1.Will we be able to produce enough food at affordable prices or will rising food prices drive more of the world's population into poverty and hunger?
2.How much spare capacity in terms of land and water do we have to feed the world in 2050?
3.What are the new technologies that can help us use scarce resources more efficiently, increase and stabilize crop and livestock yields?
4.Are we investing enough in research and development for breakthroughs to be available in time?
5.Will new technologies be available to the people who will need them most - the farmers?
6.How much do we need to invest in order to help agriculture adapt to climate change, and how much can agriculture contribute to mitigating extreme weather events?
All the questions are leading to the answer of 21st century Aeroponics.
Aeroponic Graduate Program:Hanoi Agricultural University, Hanoi, Vietnam
In 2006, the Institute of Biotechnology at Hanoi University of Agriculture in joint efforts with Stoner established the postgraduate doctoral program in aeroponics. The university's Agrobiotech Research Center, is using aeroponic laboratories to advance Vietnam's minituber potato production for certified seed potato production.
Aeroponic potato explants on day 3 after insertion in the aeroponic system, Hanoi
The historical significance for aeroponics is that it is the first time a nation has specifically called out for aeroponics to further an agricultural sector, stimulate farm economic goals, meet increased demands, improve food quality and increase production."We have shown that aeroponics, more than any other form of agricultural technology, will significantly improve Vietnam's potato production. We have very little tillable land, aeroponics makes complete economic sense to us”, attested Thach.
Vietnam joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) in January 2007. The impact of aeroponics in Vietnam will be felt at the farm level.
Aeroponic integration in Vietnam agriculture will begin by producing a low cost certified disease-free organic minitubers, which in turn will be supplied to local farmers for their field plantings of seed potatoes and commercial potatoes. Potato farmers will benefit from aeroponics because their seed potatoes will be disease-free and grown without pesticides. Most importantly for the Vietnamese farmer, it will lower their cost of operation and increase their yields, says Thach.
2014年12月9日 星期二
Please start eating pesticide free food
A recent study conducted by researchers from RMIT university, published in the journal Environmental Research found that an organic diet for just one week significantly reduced pesticide (commonly used in conventional food production) exposure in adults. Thirteen participants were randomly selected to consume a diet consisting of at least 80% organic or conventional food for precisely 7 days, afterwards crossing over to the alternative diet from which they started. Urinary levels were used for analysis. The study found that urinary dialkylphosphates (DAPs) measurements were 89% lower when they ate an organic diet for seven days compared to a conventional diet for the same amount of time.
A new groundbreaking discovery found that the most active ingredient in Monsanto’s best selling herbicide “Roundup” is responsible for fueling breast cancer by increasing the number of breast cancer cells through cell growth and cell division.
A chronic kidney disease has been affecting poor farming regions all over the world, and a new study that was published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health suggests that Roundup, or glyphosate, becomes highly toxic to the kidney once mixed with “hard” water or metals like cadmium and arsenic. These metals often exist naturally in the soil or are added via the fertilizer. Because of this, Sri Lanka has completely banned Monsanto Herbicide citing the deadly link to Kidney disease.
Taiwan Farmer Spraying Pesticides Caused Himself Kidney Dialysis
Just two weeks ago I had a friend that did not believe the difference between organic food and non-organic food was big, these studies clearly illustrate that it is, it’s quite significant. So hopeful this encourages you to start eating pesticide free food.
These new studies, and the several others referred to in this article further confirms the evidence relating to the negative health effects of organophosphate pesticides like glyphosate, showing that there is significant pesticide exposure in adults who feel they are on a “normal diet” in contrast with a dramatically reduced exposure when the same individuals switch to an organic diet. There is a reason that multiple countries around the world have banned GMOs and the pesticides that go with them.
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