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Innovation and Sustainability of Modern Times

Essay by   •  October 2, 2011  •  Research Paper  •  893 Words (4 Pages)  •  2,280 Views

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Introduction

Human populations are not stagnant. They naturally change in size, density and predominance of age in response to environmental factors such as resources availability and disease, as well as social and cultural factors (Turk, J., & Bensel, T. (2011). With the combine power of science and technology human have constantly produce what we want in order to survive and go with the flow of technological innovation. This paper will discuss two examples of productions and consumption human habits related to material resources. How we connect natural resources into technology and produce what we need for our consumption.

Innovation and Sustainability of Modern Times

Agriculture

One of the biggest forms of production is agriculture, the enormous forms of resources we produce from this type of industry is our main source of food to feed the ever growing world population. The frightening demographic trend faced by humankind, rapid growth of the already massive human population, is demanding technological breakthroughs in agricultural production (Giampierto, M. 1994). In order to keep up with the demand of population growth farmers of modern times use pesticides, fertilizers, and antibiotics to lower production costs and produce miracle growths and abundant harvests.

For decades we used this type of system in agriculture and did not think what side effect or harm it could bring to our people and our land. Recently a growing number of policymakers, academics from a variety of disciplines, farmers and consumers are expressing interest in what is called multifunctional agriculture (MFA). Under the MFA rubric, farming produces not just food fiber, and energy but also a host of societal benefits (Boody, G. 2008).

This advocacy will benefit agricultural production in terms of cleaner water, sequestered carbon, landscape amenities such as wetlands and wildlife habitat, and rural community employment. According to Wilson, G. at the center of the MFA is a farm, he describes how a system's multi-functionality can be gauged using a combination of indicators such as productivity, environmental sustainability, the intensity of reliance on chemicals and other inputs, and the level of farm diversification, including the variety of crops and livestock on the land and beyond-the-farm enterprises such as agricultural tourism or processing. Also among the indicators of multi-functionality is the level of connection to the rural community that a farm attains by employing people, buying local inputs, or selling products through rural businesses Boody, G. 2008). My next example is about petroleum based products.

Petroleum Based Products

Over the next few decades as society passes the point of peak production of petroleum, human health and well-being are likely to face significant risks. Despite declines in global production rates, global demand for petroleum is likely to grow. Almost every product we use at home, work, school has petroleum contents. As a consequence, the price of petroleum-and overall

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