Lesson Overview

In the past, the majority of the world’s population worked to meet the demand for food.  Now less than 3% of the population has the responsibility of food production.  In this lesson you will examine how technological systems and processes have made it possible to provide food production more efficiently.  However, there are consequences…

Learning Outcomes:

Develop an understanding of and be able to select and use agricultural and related biotechnologies. (ITEA 15)

• Agriculture includes a combination of businesses that use a wide array of products and systems to produce, process, and distribute food, fiber, fuel, chemical, and other useful products (ITEA 15-K)
• Biotechnology has applications in such areas as agriculture, pharmaceuticals, food and beverages, medicene, energy, the environment, and genetic engineering (ITEA 15-L)
• Conservation is the process of controlling soil erosion, reducing sediment in waterways, conserving water, andimproving water quality. (ITEA 15-M)
• The engineering design and management ofd agriculture systems require knowledge of artificial ecosystems and the effects of technologiccal development on flora and fauna (ITEA 15-N)

Getting Started

Scientists and sociologists predict, that by the end of this century, most Americans will not know where food comes from or how it is produced. Technology has removed most of us from the process of producing food. To begin this lesson, complete this brief activity to sequence the elements of the food chain.