Image by Sterling College
Summer Sustainable Agriculture Semester – Mitch Hunt, Farm Manager, Faculty wtih students.
Question by Judith Sears: In order to switch to sustainable agriculture, which of the following practices would not be favorable?
A. give subsidies and tax breaks to those who use the method
B. shift to full-cost pricing
C. increase government support of research on sustainable agriculture
D. expand the use of the crops of the green revolution
E. discourage monocultures
Give your answer to this question below!
B. People will buy the cheapest thing they can get, which tends to favor monoculture.
Brian G
October 2, 2011 at 7:07 pm
E. Monocultures are very effective when the correct crops are grown.
rabbithorsegirl
October 2, 2011 at 7:55 pm
D. expand the use of the crops of the green revolution.
This is because the green revolution was based on advancements in the hydrocarbon-based (oil-based) fertilizer and pesticide industry, which are not sustainable, and can be harmful to the environment.
Cotton is an excellent example. It is very pesticide-intensive crop, and has a very large ecological footprint.
Thor's Holiday
October 2, 2011 at 8:34 pm
its E
sweety
October 2, 2011 at 8:39 pm
A. could be favourable, but “the method” is not a single method, but more a set of principles or ideals.
B. would favour some forms of sustainable agriculture, because when all the costs of “conventional” agriculture (including the “downstream” costs of pollution) are taken into account, it is on a very close footing with sustainable agriculture.
C. would clearly be favourable.
D. may not be favourable, depending on the sustainable system used. Some systems prefer the return to traditional crops and varieties.
E. Monocultures grow better with pesticides, and the addition of synthetic herbicides, because monocultures provide extremely favourable conditions for pests and diseases to develop.
Adrian
October 2, 2011 at 9:20 pm