ORGANIC FOODS AND SUSTAINABLE FARMING WEBQUEST
1. What is industrial agriculture? (also known as conventional farming or factory
farming).
Pesticide, increased production of food, lower cost, farm is like a factory,
animals/produce as output, mass production, more food
http://www.ucsusa.org/food_and_agriculture/science_and_impacts/impacts_indust
rial_agriculture/industrial-agriculturefeatures.html#Features_of_Industrial_Agriculture
2. What are some of the benefits of industrial agriculture?
Food is cheaper, more food for the land, genetic technology,
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Industrial_agriculture
3. What are the some of the costs to the environment of industrial agriculture?
Pesticides/chemicals run into lakes, energy use, water, change genetic structure
http://www.ucsusa.org/food_and_agriculture/science_and_impacts/impacts_indust
rial_agriculture/costs-and-benefits-of.html
4. What is sustainable farming?
Doesn’t overuse resources, doesn’t hurt the environment,
http://www.sustainabletable.org/intro/whatis/
5. What are the benefits of sustainable farming?
Doesn’t hurt the environment, saves resources for future generations, gives
nutrients back to soil.
http://www.ucsusa.org/food_and_agriculture/solutions/big_picture_solutions/sust
ainable-agriculture-a.html
6. What are some of the disadvantages of sustainable farming?
Not as efficient, higher price, not as much food is produced, hard to control
pests/disease, less variety
http://www.abc.net.au/rural/content/2008/s2392296.htm
7. What is organic food?
Naturally made, can still use pesticides from a certain list, no growth hormones,
pasture, grass.
http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/nop
8. What are the benefits of organic food? (To health? To environment?)
http://www.observer.com/2008/environmental-benefits-organic-and-local-food
http://www.ecologycenter.org/bfm/whybuyorganic.html
9. Are organic foods healthier?
http://www.cnn.com/FOOD/specials/2000/organic.debate.ciampa/index.html
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE56S3ZJ20090729
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-03-23/health/ct-met-organics20100323_1_organic-label-national-organic-program-organic-center
10. What is your position? Should we move to sustainable farming and organic
food? Is it all a hype?
11. Questions that came up during your research: