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Flashcards in Food choice- Environmental Issues Deck (30)
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1
Q

What are GM foods?

A

Genetically modified foods which are produced from plants which have had their genetic make up tweaked in a lab.

2
Q

How are GM foods made?

A

Scientists alter the genes from another organism into a plants DNA to give it a new characteristic.

3
Q

What is the function of GM foods?

A

To increase the yield or to make plants survive in a more hostile environment.

4
Q

Name an advantage of GM foods?

A

Means that they are cheaper, more complete foods.

5
Q

Name a disadvantage of GM foods?

A

A lot of people are worried about the consequences of meddling with nature.

6
Q

What are pesticides?

A

Pesticides are substances meant for destroying pests.They are chemicals or biological agents.

7
Q

What are the main uses of pesticides?

A

Plant protection products which protect plants from weeds, diseases or insects which would damage them.

8
Q

What do the target pests include that are killed or discouraged by pesticides?

A

Insects, plant pathogens, weeds, birds, mammals, fish etc.

9
Q

Why are the target pests killed or discouraged by pesticides? what is the aim?

A

As they cause nuisance, spread disease or destroy the plants.

10
Q

What are the disadvantages of using pesticides?

A

Potential toxicity to humans and other animals.

11
Q

What are herbicides?

A

They are substances meant for getting rid of unwanted plant life.

12
Q

What are functions of herbicides?

A

They are mainly used to rid of unwanted plant life e.g. weeds and other growth which takes away the nutrients from crops.

13
Q

What are herbicides based on?

A

they mainly act by interfering with the growth of the weed and are often based on plant hormones.

14
Q

What are the disadvantages of using herbicides?

A

They can be toxic to humans and animals as well as good plants.

15
Q

What types of Herbicides are available?

A

Two main types- non selective and selective.

16
Q

What is a non selective herbicides function?

A

To kill growth, generally reserved for agricultural use or for clearing large or heavy grown areas.

17
Q

What is a selective herbicides function?

A

Used to target certain types of plant life, works to curb growth, usually through hormones and should not affect other vegetation.

18
Q

Which type of herbicide is organic and is better for home growth?

A

Selective

19
Q

What does fair trade involve?

A

It is about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability and fair terms of trades for farmers and workers.

20
Q

What does the fair trade foundation aim to do?

A

To tackle poverty and injustice through trade.

21
Q

Why do people choose fair trade products?

A

Because a difference can be made to farmer’s lives as they are paid fairly. Fairtrade also enables farmers to provide education for their children. It benefits communities, helps to protect the environment.

22
Q

How may food mileage affect a person’s choice on food?

A

As the further the food is derived from, it has to travel and produces carbon emissions. Use of locally sourced produce can help the environment as they wouldn’t of had to travel a long distance.

23
Q

What is Organic food?

A

Organic food is defined by how it cannot be made rather than how it can be made. It must be produced without pesticides, herbicides, fertilisers, genetic engeneering, growth hormones etc.

24
Q

What sorts of products can be made organically?

A

A variety of agricultural products such as meat, dairy, fruit, vege and processed food products.

25
Q

What does the term ‘organic’ mean?

A

It does not mean ‘natural’ it means that it has been minimally processed and is preservative free. Natural foods can be organic but not all natural foods are organic.

26
Q

Why may people choose to buy organic food?

A

Because organic food has been minimally processed and is preservative free. It hasn’t been treated with chemicals which could be harmful to us.

27
Q

What alternative sources of energy are there which don’t cause harm to the planet?

A

Wind, solar.

28
Q

What causes our planet to warm up (global warming effect)?

A

The amount of carbon emissions being released into the atmosphere.

29
Q

What are the aims of alternative energy?

A

They don’t release any carbon emissions and are renewable whereas fossil fuels are non renewable.

30
Q

What other advantages are there of using renewable energy sources?

A

Cheaper as it doesn’t cost anything to run them.