HNSC 1200 unit 2

what are the steps of food production?

1. farm
2. food processor
3. distributor
4. seller

farm

all foods, in some form or another, begin on a farm

food processor

foods will be cleaned or sorted in preparation for shipping, to produce packaged foods

distributor

agent or company who will transport food to sellers

seller

location where the food can be purchased by the consumer

Food Production in Canada

• Canadian Farmers Produce:

• Variety of fruits and vegetables

• Chicken, egg, beef pork

• Diary- diary products, cheese, yogurt , cream

• Wheat- flour, cereal, bread,

• Maple syrup and maple products

growing oats

• preferred crop because their ability to thrive in the cooler climate and handle varying weather conditions (rain, heat)

• oats are used for milling and are processed into flaked for consumption

harvesting oats

• requires the right time based on kernel hardness and moisture content, timing affects quality

• cutting and separating the seeds from the straw plays a crucial part

• affects the ability to flow through machinery and shelf life

• moisture prevents spoilage and maintains quality

• cool temp. + low moisture ensures oats to be stored for a long period

processing

• oats go through a process of steps including cleaning, dehulling and sizing

• mill produces a wide range of oat products

• screenings and hulls are utilized for livestock and maximizing resource utilization

• oats are versatile and provide health benefits

what farming encompasses now

• organic farming

• soil management

• horticulture

• aquaculture

• water management

• raising animals

• animal breeding

organic farming

aimed to grow crops and in ways that are sustainable and harmonious with and share many practices with non-organic farmers

without the use of certain pesticides, fertilizers, antibiotics growth hormones, and genetically modified organisms.

soil management

topsoil eroded into ditches and waterways, we are trying improve our land by doing practices such as soil tilling

horticulture

science and art of growing fruits, vegetables , flowers, and ornamental plants
-over 120 different fruits and crops are commercially grown in Canada

aquaculture

the farming of aquatic organisms in fresh or salt water

water management

meeting the demand for food production while protecting the on which the world depends

raising animals

Farmers raise beef cattle, pigs, chickens, turkeys, sheep, bison, goats, deer and elk.

Farmers andranchers refer to their farm animals as livestock.

animal breeding

farmers choose different breeds of animals for different reasons

agriculture

art and science of cultivating the soil, growing crops, and raising livestock. includes the preparation of plant and animal products for people to use

changes in agriculture: food accessibility

before: root cellars, canning drying-lacking options for preserving food

after: climate control storage facilities, flash freezing and greenhouse tech.

changes in agriculture: harvesting grains

before: basic tools able to feed 5 people

after: new tech and tools. feed more than 120 people

changes in agriculture: managing pests

before: no pest control options

after: many ways to protect crops

changes in agriculture: soil preservations

before: tilling soil

after: new practices

changes in agriculture: milking cows

before: bucket and stool. 1 cow produces 1000 litres of milk per year

after: new practices including genetics, customized diets. 1 cow produces 8,5k litres of milk per year

farming tech.

• crucial role in modern agriculture

• contributes to increased crop productivity, decreased pesticide use

• water conservation and quality enhancement

• provide safe and nutritious food for consumers while minimizing environmental impact

how many acres could farmers harvest per day in the past versus now?

in the past: only 1 per day, feeding around four people
now: able to harvest around 150 acres per day, feeding 120+ people

environmental changes that may have negative effects on food production

1. climate change

2. greenhouse gas production

3. resistant to pesticides

4. resistance of pathogens to antibiotics and chemicals

5. fresh water shortages

6. ocean pollution

7. overfishing depleting populations

8. deforestation

9. fossil fuel use

10. inappropriate agricultural systems and/or use

11. extinction of species

12. loss of biodiversity

will crop yields increase in the warmer climate?

no they dont

do fertilizers and pesticides increase crop yield and quality?

when appropriately, yes they can

biodiversity

variety and variability of living organism and their ecosystems, diversity within species, among species and among ecosystems

how many species become extinct every day?

over 140

what of species is expected to go extinct over the next 10 years?

20%

environmental contaminants/pollutants include

• Industrial pollutants

• Toxic metals

• Contaminants from packaging.

how harmful can a contaminant be

depends on how long it persists in or body

lead

displaces minerals , causing function failure of the kidneys, liver, nervous system, and/or bone marrow

Cadnium

slows down developing. irreversible damage to the liver and kidneys

arsenic

used as medication for animals . Can also be found in lower quantities in fish, eggs, rice, and drinking water

mercury

• naturally occurring element in soil, , rocks, streams, and oceans

• pulp and paper processing, mining operations, and burning of and fuels can also release mercury into the environment

• high amounts can damage the nervous system in people and animals

• tends in the food chain so that predatory species have higher levels (bioaccumulation)

bioaccumulation

when a toxicant accumulates in the food chain so that predatory species have higher levles

which fish tend to be heavily contaminated with mercury?

1. shark
2. swordfish
3. king mackerel
4. fresh tuna steal (Albacore)
5. tilefish

which fish tend to be lower in mercury levels?

1. shrimp
2. canned light (canned albacore "white" tuna contains more than light tuna)
3. salmon
4. pollock
5. catfish

what is the CFIA mercury for fish?

cant contain more than 0.5-1.0 parts per million (ppm)

what are the recommendations to reduce your mercury consumption?

-consume of fish
-limit of shark, swordfish, (excluding canned light tuna), orange roughy, escolar, and marlin to no more than 150 g per week
-more restricted for pregnant women, children, and woman of child bearing age

why should kids restrict their consumption of certain fish more than adults ?

-because of their higher metabolic rates , they can absorb toxicants faster than adults
-their immature organs are also less able to get rid of mercury as well as deal with the damage caused by the mercury

what does health canada recommend to health adults about fish consumption

limit their consumption to no more than 150 g per week

why is mercury more dangerous for a pregnant woman to ingest?

methyl mercury can be passed from the maternal blood to fetus by crossing the placental
-can accumulate at higher concentrations in the baby's blood than in the mothers
-can also be passed through breast to infants

maternal fish

infants may appear normal during the few , but later display
1. IQ deficits
2. abnormal muscle tone
3. reduced motor function
4. lower attention and visuopatial performance
-neuropsychological deficits can be detected in children aged seven years following the exposure
-increased blood pressure also reported

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

refers to group of at least 50 widely used components containing chlorine, which can accumulate in the food chain and cause a variety of harmful effects including:
1. fatigue
2. eye irritation
3. growth radiation in children when exposed prenatally
-man made; were banned in 1977
-can still be found in the environment because they do not break down (but not enough to cause harm)

what can farmers do to protect their crops?

1. pesticides
2. climate-smart
3. climate services

types of pesticides

-herbicides: protects against weeds
-fungicide: protects against
-insecticide: protects against insects

climate-smart

an approach that helps to guide actions needed to transform and reorient agricultural systems to support development and ensure food security in a changing climate

what is needed to help climate-smart to succeed?

-expand base
-improve
-support and empower local institutions
-combining financing options in a new way

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

includes crop rotation, selecting and disease resistant crops, adjusting seed rate and timing of planting, and maintaining wetlands for biodiversity

what can you do to help with climate change?

1. Walk/bike instead of drive
2. Choose foods lower on the food chain (plants)
3. Choose plant foods more ; grains are the lowest on the food chain (require the least amount of energy to produce), followed by fruits and , and legumes
4. Choose smaller fish more often (lower on the food chain)
5. Limit use of canned beef products, because they cause cleared rain forest land (200 square feet can be lost per 1 pound of beef produced)
6. Choose locally grown foods (require less transportation, packaging and refrigeration)
7. Avoid overly packaged foods (choose bulk)
8. Use reusable products
9. Use fast cooking (ex: stir fry, , pressure cooking)
10. Practice wise use: reduce, reuse, recycle

what is that food has on the influenced by?

- the type of food
-where it comes from
-how it is: packaged, processed, produced, and transported

what happens when food is thrown in ?

it ends up in and produces the greenhouse gas methane

what are the main causes for at home food waste?

-storing food improperly
-preparing too much
-impulse shopping or not prepping

four general principles of organic food production

1. health (should be safe for soil, plants, animals, and humans)
2. ecology (should work with and sustain living ecological systems)
3. fairness (should ensure fairness with regard to the common and life opportunities)
4. care (should protect the health and of the current and future generations as well as the environment)

which practices does organic farming use to promote sustainability ?

• crop rotation

• covering crops (to prevent soil erosion)

• using renewable resources

• enhancing biodiversity

• the use of compost to improve soil

• balancing host/predator relationships

how many of organic foods are sold each year in canada?

1 billion

producers cannot claim products are organic if they have been

• irradiated

• genetically engineered

• grown with certain fertilizer

what are the major organic foods produced in canada?

grains, organic milk, maple syrup, and tree fruits (especially apple)

when did the organic products regulation come into effect and what does it mean?

came into effect in June 2009.
Means that only products with organic content that is greater than or equal to 95% may have the organic label or be advertised as "organic"
-products containing 70% or higher organic ingredients may add their precent organic to but may not use the logo or advertise as "organic"

are organic foods better?

mildly supported, organic produce have higher vitamin c and higher levels of phytochemicals

GMO

modified organism
-also referred to as genetic engineering

genetic engineering

refers to specific used to precisely change an 's DNA. this is used by to enhance or modify the characteristics of an individual organism

transgenic organism

between species

Cisgenics

within species

how are animals and plant targeted

animals

• microinjection method

plants

• particle gun

benefits of GMOs

-better weed and control
-herbicide resistant crops can withstand herbicides
-can also reduce from things like mold

what are some typical GMO foods?

products: Corn, Canola, Potatoes, Tomatoes, Squash, Soybeans, Flax, Cottonseed, oil, Sugarbeets

derived products: Corn syrup, Tofu, Canned foods, Soya sauce, Animals that feed on GMOs

what is of cross-breeding and what are ?

to create the perfect variation within a species. benefits:
1. high yield
2. better nutritional and sensory qualities
3. better resistant
4. more tolerant
5. more extreme tolerance

concerns involving GMOs

1. concern of a monopoly: very few have to develop organisms with this expensive
2. due to patents and "suicide seeds", farmers need to purchase new seeds every season
3. there have been instances of contamination of GMO
4. GM gene can hump onto other crops (ex: weeds becoming herbicide resistant)
5. some people are concerned about the risk to human health (no evidence to prove this)

how many GMO foods have been approved to sell in Canada?

over 140 GM foods

novel foods

produced by novel tech. or ingredients that don’t have a long history of use

is there in Canada saying that GMO foods must be labelled as such?

no

golden rice

• rice has no vitamins

• lead to the development of golden rice

  • inserting beta-carotene (vitamin A) gene plants into rice

• yellow colour

enviropig

• expel high amount of phosphorus, pollutes soil and water

• inserted genes from e. coli

• ability to produce phytase (breaks down phosphorus containing phytate)

Bt corn

• transgenic organism, contains gene from bacillus thuringiensis

• produce a protein that kills specific types of insects

• protein binds to the receptors on the organism that wants to kill

herbicide resistant plants and suicide seeds

genetically engineered to be resistant to herbicide

what do greenhouse gases do?

Greenhouse gases absorb radiation from the sun and trap heat in the atmosphere, which can lead to warming of the Earth's surface.

in greenhouse gases, does nitrous oxide primarily produced by plant decay?

no, carbon dioxide is the primary source

whats included in greenhouse gases

carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, halocarbons

what is something incorrect about hydroponic farming

The vegetables grown by this technique can be at increased risk of microbial contamination.

what is something correct about hydroponic farming

Artificial light can be regulated to enhance the nutritional properties of the vegetables