{"id":418,"date":"2016-03-21T03:24:12","date_gmt":"2016-03-21T03:24:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.friendsofbest.org\/?p=3683"},"modified":"2023-02-01T07:58:11","modified_gmt":"2023-02-01T07:58:11","slug":"seeds-of-knowledge-bestology-week-9","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bestology.bestrobotics.org\/index.php\/2016\/03\/21\/seeds-of-knowledge-bestology-week-9\/","title":{"rendered":"Seeds of Knowledge \u2013 bESTology Week 9"},"content":{"rendered":"

Seeds of Knowledge – bESTology Week 9\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
\"Image:<\/a><\/p>\n

Image:healthharvard.edu<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Living organisms (plants and animals) require many elements to successfully grow. The \u201cseeds\u201d of life require proper growing conditions such as temperature, water, oxygen, etc. to jumpstart their growth cycle. As farmers begin to plant their crops, let\u2019s plant the seeds of knowledge of GMO\u2019s and bees.<\/span><\/p>\n

Genetically modified organisms (GMO\u2019s) are living organisms whose genetic material has been artificially manipulated in a laboratory through genetic engineering. Some benefits of genetic engineering in agriculture are increased crop yields, reduced costs for food or drug production, reduced need for pesticides, enhanced nutrient composition and food quality, resistance to pests and disease, greater food security, and medical benefits to the world’s growing population. Advances have also been made in developing crops that mature faster and tolerate aluminum, boron, salt, drought, frost, and other environmental stressors, allowing plants to grow in conditions where they might not otherwise flourish.<\/span><\/p>\n

In contrast there are concerns of health issues, environmental damage, violation of farmers\u2019 and consumers\u2019 rights, and super weeds as well as the long-term impact.<\/span><\/p>\n

Additionally, plants need pollination to flourish. Nearly one-third of the world’s crops are dependent on honeybees for pollination, but over the last decade the black-and-yellow insects have been dying at unprecedented rates both in the United States and abroad. A world without honeybees would also mean a world without fruits, vegetables, nuts, and SEEDS.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Resources<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n