Read the extract below by an environmental activist, and assess the feasibility of organic farming replacing “modern farming methods” in the long term. [8]
Today’s modern farming methods are destructive to both man and nature, and should no longer be carried out further. Organic farming is a more environmentally sustainable system over the long term.
Answer
· Today’s farming methods include the use of chemicals as well as the development of genetically modified (GM) crops. These methods help to increase the production of food, but may bring about adverse effects to both man and nature, as mentioned by the environmental activist.
· For example, the use of chemical fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides may lead to environmental effects such as water pollution and destruction of animal life. In addition, they may also be harmful to the health of consumers, as strains of these chemicals may be found in the food that is produced.
· GM food also contains risks such as the loss of natural species if GM crops genetically pollute natural crops. Potential health hazards are also possible if the food contains genes or substances that are harmful to humans.
· Organic farming minimises these risks, as they practice farming methods that do not use chemicals or GM crops.
· For example, instead of using chemical fertilisers, organic farmers make use of animal manure as fertiliser. They also rear natural predators to pests, instead of spraying pesticides on crops that may end up polluting water bodies or being consumed by man. They also practise crop rotation so as to keep the soil fertile over a long period.
· If current farming methods are employed, the environment may not be sustainable as more and more pollution occurs. By replacing these practises with organic farming, both man and nature would benefit in the long term.
· However, there are several limitations of organic farming that must be overcome if it was to be feasible. As the world’s population grows, the demand of food is ever increasing. Organic farming practises may not be able to produce enough quantity of food to supply the world’s population.
· As organic farming methods require higher costs, these costs would also be transferred to the consumers, thus making food more expensive. This would greatly affect consumers, especially those in less developed countries (LDCs), since they may not be able to afford expensive organic food products. More people may go hungry and suffer from starvation as a result.
Level 1 (0–3 marks)
• Generic responses without details on how modern farming methods are unsustainable
• Simple statements about organic farming
• No attempts at evaluation
Level 2 (4–6 marks)
• Brief descriptions on how modern farming methods are unsustainable
• More developed statements about organic farming
• Some attempts at evaluation, e.g. ‘Organic farming is less harmful to man and nature, but may also not be sustainable.’
Level 3 (7–8 marks)
• Detailed descriptions of how modern farming methods are unsustainable
• Clear statements about organic farming
• Evaluation of the pros and cons of organic farming, e.g. ‘there are several limitations of organic farming that must be overcome if it was to be feasible. As the world’s population grows, the demand of food is ever increasing. Organic farming practises may not be able to produce enough quantity of food to supply the world’s population.’
Today’s modern farming methods are destructive to both man and nature, and should no longer be carried out further. Organic farming is a more environmentally sustainable system over the long term.
Answer
· Today’s farming methods include the use of chemicals as well as the development of genetically modified (GM) crops. These methods help to increase the production of food, but may bring about adverse effects to both man and nature, as mentioned by the environmental activist.
· For example, the use of chemical fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides may lead to environmental effects such as water pollution and destruction of animal life. In addition, they may also be harmful to the health of consumers, as strains of these chemicals may be found in the food that is produced.
· GM food also contains risks such as the loss of natural species if GM crops genetically pollute natural crops. Potential health hazards are also possible if the food contains genes or substances that are harmful to humans.
· Organic farming minimises these risks, as they practice farming methods that do not use chemicals or GM crops.
· For example, instead of using chemical fertilisers, organic farmers make use of animal manure as fertiliser. They also rear natural predators to pests, instead of spraying pesticides on crops that may end up polluting water bodies or being consumed by man. They also practise crop rotation so as to keep the soil fertile over a long period.
· If current farming methods are employed, the environment may not be sustainable as more and more pollution occurs. By replacing these practises with organic farming, both man and nature would benefit in the long term.
· However, there are several limitations of organic farming that must be overcome if it was to be feasible. As the world’s population grows, the demand of food is ever increasing. Organic farming practises may not be able to produce enough quantity of food to supply the world’s population.
· As organic farming methods require higher costs, these costs would also be transferred to the consumers, thus making food more expensive. This would greatly affect consumers, especially those in less developed countries (LDCs), since they may not be able to afford expensive organic food products. More people may go hungry and suffer from starvation as a result.
Level 1 (0–3 marks)
• Generic responses without details on how modern farming methods are unsustainable
• Simple statements about organic farming
• No attempts at evaluation
Level 2 (4–6 marks)
• Brief descriptions on how modern farming methods are unsustainable
• More developed statements about organic farming
• Some attempts at evaluation, e.g. ‘Organic farming is less harmful to man and nature, but may also not be sustainable.’
Level 3 (7–8 marks)
• Detailed descriptions of how modern farming methods are unsustainable
• Clear statements about organic farming
• Evaluation of the pros and cons of organic farming, e.g. ‘there are several limitations of organic farming that must be overcome if it was to be feasible. As the world’s population grows, the demand of food is ever increasing. Organic farming practises may not be able to produce enough quantity of food to supply the world’s population.’
No comments:
Post a Comment