Industrial Agriculture and the Loss of Biodiversity Essay -- Argumenta

Industrial Agriculture and the Loss of Biodiversity Preserving Diversity By Way Of Old Crop Varieties Traditional methods is indeed the most advantageous way to retain sustainable success in farming suggested by Stephen B. Brush in his research of the effect of diversity in agriculture. In "Genetic Diversity And Conservation In Traditional Farming Systems," he explains how analyzing genetic erosion and the loss of genetic resources eventually leads to environmental degradation. Various factors have led to nations turning to improved adoption varieties, primarily the Green Revolution and commercial markets. Brush explores the effects that the Green Revolution has had on resources and agriculture, and explains why nations are turning to markets. The Green Revolution brought an introduction and increase in genetic diversity, to all domains of agriculture, especially too much needed third world countries. Due to alterations in genetic resources, conventional methods were being replaced with modern agriculture that was producing exceptional yielding varieties. This surplus of yield led many small farmers to sell their products and also become principal players in the market. The success from this established the need for movement toward modern techniques and away from traditional cultures. On the contrary, Fowler and Mooney present a different viewpoint in their article "Shattering: food, politics, and the loss of genetic diversity." They assert that the Green Revolution only provided a short-lived solution to hunger, but not to the protection of the ecosystem (Fowler 176). They discussed the history and origin of the introduction of modern varieties, in which they ultimately stated that they might have created temp... ...ect diversity with traditional cultures (Nazarea 4). In my opinion, traditions need to be protected because they are the methods that have been working for so many years. Nevertheless, technology is crucial to helping to stabilize diversity. Improved varieties may not have been the best, enduring solution yet. There are other options out there that can be discovered with more research. I believe that the scientific world can find a precise median that will continuously nurture biodiversity. Until the optimal resolution is found we need to turn our ways back to traditional farming before it is too late. Works Cited Fowler, Cary, Mooney, Pat, "Shattering: food, politics, and the loss of genetic diversity."University of Arizona Press, Tucson. C.1990. Nazarea, Virginia, D., Cultural Memory and Biodiversity. The University Of Arizona Press, Tucson c.1998.