In the United States, we are fortunate to have an abundant supply of food. However, this abundance is largely due to

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In the United States, we are fortunate to have an abundant supply of food. However, this abundance is largely due to advances in agricultural technology, which have in turn created numerous concerns surrounding our food sources. Provide at least two modern examples of how the United States has increased its food production. Using at least two scholarly or reputable resources and your textbook, discuss how these changes have affected the environment, and what impact they have on food safety? Your initial post should be at least 150 words in length. Utilize at least two scholarly or reputable resources and your textbook to support your claims. Cite your sources in APA format. Respond to at least two of your classmates’ posts by Day 7.

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Two of the ways the United States has increased its food production is through the green revolution and genetic engineering. Genetic engineering is a process that takes place when the characteristics of an organism are manipulated genetically. When this process is applied to food such as crops, the new trait that is introduced can benefit farmers and manufacturers by reducing damage from insects, disease, and tolerance to herbicides (Barrows, Sexton, & Zilberman, 2014). The green revolution introduced a variety of different rice, wheat, and different grains. The yield on these crops doubled the amount of what was previously produced. To produce these products a large amount of irrigated water, fertilizers, and pesticides/herbicides are needed. The combination of these things helps to control insects and weeds (Folger, 2014). Throughout the years since using these processes we have learned that there are and can be some negative effects. As stated in the text, "Poorly managed fields can lead to soil degradation through three processes: physical degradation, such as via wind and water erosion and soil compaction; chemical degradation, such as toxification, acidification, and salinization; and biological degradation, such as loss of organic matter and decline in the activity of soil fauna. Poor management can also increase runoff of nutrients and pesticides to surface and groundwater systems" (Turk & Bensel, 2014). One of the largest contaminants of surface water is major

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In the United States, we are fortunate to have an abundant supply of food

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