Technology, Agriculture & Technology, Agriculture & Public ConcernPublic Concern

Review: Benefits of TechnologyReview: Benefits of Technology Technology can: Technology can:

Feature Benefit

make our lives more efficient

less time, energy and resources

reduce labor reduced expenses (wages, workman’s compensation)

increase diversity more products for more customers

increases availability increased production rates

improve mechanization

smaller and faster

increases communication

reduces lag time in the production line

Review: Public Concern Areas Review: Public Concern Areas Regarding TechnologyRegarding Technology

Land/EnvironmentLand/EnvironmentLaborLaborCapitalCapitalEnterpriseEnterpriseControversial TopicsControversial Topics

Land/EnvironmentLand/Environment

Landfills – accumulating old technologyLandfills – accumulating old technologyEffects on renewable and non-renewable Effects on renewable and non-renewable

resourcesresourcesAir emission levelsAir emission levelsWater contamination Water contamination Nutrient depletionNutrient depletionBiodegradable potentialBiodegradable potential

LaborLabor

Human workers replaced by computers, Human workers replaced by computers, robotics, machinesrobotics, machines

Level of training and education increasesLevel of training and education increasesWages for higher skilled work doesn’t Wages for higher skilled work doesn’t

match minimum wagematch minimum wageDisplaced workers in struggling economyDisplaced workers in struggling economyPower to run new technology highPower to run new technology highNo back up system (human workers) No back up system (human workers)

during power outageduring power outage

CapitalCapital

Obsolete/outdated equipment can’t be Obsolete/outdated equipment can’t be used – shortage of parts suppliersused – shortage of parts suppliers

New machinery is often very expensiveNew machinery is often very expensiveTechnology changes too rapidly to Technology changes too rapidly to

purchase newest equipmentpurchase newest equipment

EnterpriseEnterprise

Technology is expensiveTechnology is expensiveSole proprietors vs Corporations – How Sole proprietors vs Corporations – How

can they compete?can they compete?Cooperatives – Possible solutionCooperatives – Possible solutionNiche markets – can they compete? How Niche markets – can they compete? How

long?long?

Controversial TopicsControversial Topics

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)Labeling Laws for food productsLabeling Laws for food productsCloningCloningBiotechnology – Are we crossing the line?Biotechnology – Are we crossing the line?

Food Supply Food Supply Cleaning our water resourcesCleaning our water resources

Transgenic cropsTransgenic cropsTransgenic animalsTransgenic animals

Group DebateGroup Debate

When you hear “GO”When you hear “GO”Form a group of 3Form a group of 3One member will report to the teacher the One member will report to the teacher the

group’s selected topic and their stance (PRO group’s selected topic and their stance (PRO or CON)or CON)Each topic and stance will be represented ONCEEach topic and stance will be represented ONCE

Use the remainder of the period to research Use the remainder of the period to research your topic……(questions on next slide)your topic……(questions on next slide)

What do you research?What do you research?

What is it?What is it? What laws are there the “govern” this technology?What laws are there the “govern” this technology? How does it work?How does it work? Why is it good? OR Why is it bad?Why is it good? OR Why is it bad? Who does it affect?Who does it affect? When did this start?When did this start? Where is this being done?Where is this being done? Why is it being done?Why is it being done?

Reliability of SourcesReliability of Sources

What is a credible Internet source?What is a credible Internet source? .gov or .edu.gov or .edu

What is not a credible Internet source?What is not a credible Internet source?All others need teacher approvalAll others need teacher approval

Why are some more reliable than others?Why are some more reliable than others?Authors listedAuthors listedSchools they are affiliated withSchools they are affiliated withGovernment entityGovernment entity

What will tomorrow look like?What will tomorrow look like?

5 minutes of team collaboration time – 5 minutes of team collaboration time – entire classentire class

One team member will retrieve voting One team member will retrieve voting cards (1 per member)cards (1 per member)

Team debatesTeam debatesVote after each debate for the team with Vote after each debate for the team with

the best presentation of the evidencethe best presentation of the evidence

DEBATE FORMAT:DEBATE FORMAT: Opening statement (1 minute each team)–PRO, CONOpening statement (1 minute each team)–PRO, CON Evidence #1 (1 minute each team) – PRO, CONEvidence #1 (1 minute each team) – PRO, CON Questions Questions fromfrom IN FAVOR team (1 minute) IN FAVOR team (1 minute) Evidence # 2 – (1 minute each team) – CON, PROEvidence # 2 – (1 minute each team) – CON, PRO Questions from OPPOSED (1 minute)Questions from OPPOSED (1 minute) Closing Statement (1 minute each team) – CON, PROClosing Statement (1 minute each team) – CON, PRO

Total Time: 10 minutesTotal Time: 10 minutes

Here are the topics again….Here are the topics again….Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)Labeling Laws for food productsLabeling Laws for food productsBiotechnology – Are we crossing the line?Biotechnology – Are we crossing the line?

Food Supply Food Supply Cleaning our water resourcesCleaning our water resources

Transgenic cropsTransgenic cropsTransgenic animalsTransgenic animals

What questions are there? GO.What questions are there? GO.