Human population growth over the last few centuries has skyrocketed to a level previously unseen in human history. Although a wealth of new technologies now exist to make life easier and the overall standard of living higher, scientists and consumers alike are facing ever-increasing ethical questions regarding the intersection of consumable items and technology.
Food production changed forever during the Industrial Revolution, a western social, technological, and philosophical movement that spanned the late eighteenth and entirety of the nineteenth century (Underhill). Technological innovations like the cotton gin and the steam engine allowed for more effective food harvesting, while agricultural practices improved simultaneously. During this time, there was also a physical and social movement towards large cities, where factories were set up for mass production of textiles and metals; for the first time, more people were living in cities than in the countryside. These factors, in combination, drove individuals in food production into a special niche: food production was now a large-scale affair, rather than the small family affair it had been in the past.
The Positive Impacts of New Technology on Food Production
People in the Western world live a relatively privileged existence. It is a strange experience to walk into a grocery store and be told that there is no more chicken for that day, or that the bananas will arrive next week. Westerners live in a world of abundance; individuals may not necessarily have the money to purchase every food item they wish to consume, but there is certainly no shortage of food.
An abundance of food is a new phenomenon. Genetically-engineered plants are becoming more and more common; these plants are hardier, much more resistant to drought and insect activity, and often yield much more plentiful crops than plants that have not been genetically engineered (Pickrell).
While genetic engineering is frequently used on various plants to increase crop yield, genetic engineering can also be used on animals. The genetic modification of animals for consumption is one of the primary ethical questions facing scientists and consumers today. Animals that are genetically modified often have more consumable meat than their non-genetically-modified counterparts and also to come to maturation more quickly (Avise). Animals and plants that are genetically modified can also be modified to produce chemicals or byproducts that the original plant or animal would not produce, or would produce in minimal amounts, such as chemical components to certain drugs that would be very expensive to create in the laboratory.
A fantastic example of the positive impact of technology on food production is what experts have termed the “Green Revolution” in Asia. During the time period from 1960-1990, food production in Asia more than doubled. This was particularly important for the region because it was a region on the brink of famine-- the combined introduction of fertilizer, pesticides, and improved (hardier) seeds was revolutionary for the region (Hazel).
Pitfalls of Technological Expansion
As humans become smarter and more capable of manipulating the world around them, they invariably cause problems by meddling in forces they do not completely understand. The invention of the atomic bomb is a great example of an accidental creation that caused untold damage.
One of the biggest problems facing the world is the problem of global climate change. Agriculture requires the use of many different types of technologies, many of which run on fossil fuels. When combustion engines burn fossil fuels, they release emissions into the atmosphere. These emissions are a major environmental problem today. If humanity continues to utilize fossil fuels at the rate it currently does, the global climate will be irrevocably changed within the next fifty years.
In addition to the environmental factors that agricultural technology affects, many people are worried about the unseen effects of genetically-modified organisms. Certain plants and animals may be genetically modified with the genes of another plant or animal. This can be problematic for individuals who have allergies-- for instance, individuals with a nut allergy may express symptoms of the allergy when a different plant has nut genes spliced into its genome. While this is a simplistic overview of the very complex topic of genetics, it expresses a very real problem that many individuals have with genetically-altered food (Avise). In the United States, genetically-modified foods do not have to be labeled, and many people are concerned that people with severe allergies may not know exactly what they’re ingesting.
Another problem with genetically-modified food is much more nebulous and visceral. Although there is no scientific proof that says that genetically-modified food is worse for the individuals who are consuming it, many people still fear the long-term effects of eating food that has been genetically-modified. In reality, very few studies have been done that study the long-term effects of genetically-altered food products, so there is no real answer as to whether or not these food products are harmful in the long run.
What does it mean?
It seems, that like many other things, the answer to many of the problems caused by technological expansion is forward movement. There is no way to regress technologically; the only way to improve as a species and solve these problems is to move forward and solve them with alternative energy sources and further innovation. Technology has obviously had both positive and negative impacts on the world and humanity as a whole, but technological innovation is unavoidable. What must happen, instead, is that humanity must continue to develop responsible ways of dealing with the problems posed by new technological advances.
Bibiography
"Agriculture Since The Industrial Revolution." Encyclopedia of Food & Culture. Ed. Solomon H. Katz. Vol. 1. Gale Cengage, 2003.eNotes.com. 26 Jan, 2013
Avise, John C. The Hope, Hype, and Reality of Genetic Engineering: Remarkable Stories from Agriculture, Industry, Medicine, and the Environment. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2004. May 2011. Web. 25 Jan. 2013.
Hazel, Peter B.R. Transforming Agriculture: Green Revolution in Asia. Publication. International Food Policy Research Institute, n.d. Web. 26 Jan. 2013.
Pickrell, John. "Introduction: GM Organisms". New Scientist. (4 September 2006). Retrieved January 26, 2013.
Underhill, Paco. "The cotton gin, oil, robots and the store of 2020". Display & Design Ideas. 20. No. 10 (2008): 48. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
Vos, Robert, and Manuel Montes. "The Great Green Technological Revolution." Triple Crisis. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2013.
