Soybean Production - Essay Example

Running Head: Soybean Production Name: Course Code: Name of Institution: Date of Submission: Introduction Soybean is a very prominent oil crop in South America. The origin of soybean is not quite clear though the recent developments that came with genetic engineering of crops and animals led to the rise of the latest soybean with high yields and low cost of production. Soybean is a highly nutritious protein crop with its use widespread across the globe. Apart from its potential for high yield, the crop possesses a very high nutritional value (Patel, 2008). By approximation, soybean contains over 20%edible oil and over 34% protein that is rich in nutritional value. The protein in soybean is rich in amino acid known aslysine (5%) that is rarely found in most cereals and contains a considerable amounts of salts and vitamins. Soybean cereals have a variety of uses. A large number of western dishes use soybean. Such dishes include bread , chappati, milk, and pastries apply soybean powder to make tasty and nutritious food. Soybean also produces an oil used in the manufacturing of vanaspati ghee alongside other industrial products. Besides its industrial use in making antibiotics, soybean can also be used for making protein food for chicken farming. Its products such "Nutri-nugate" when mixed with potato can be consumed as a vegetable (Messina, 2003). Soybean can also be used to make hay for cattle through integration of fodder and forage. Research indicates that soybean forage and cake improves on more livestock and poultry production. Therefore, to sum it, soybean has many uses and is the richest crop in protein and more accessible and affordable, it is for this reason that the food industry calls it the wonder crop (Riaz, 2006). However, just like any other crop, soybean production in South America touches on various aspects such as society, technology, and sustainability. This paper aims to unravel the technology, sustainability, and societal aspects of soybean production in South America with views from three hypothetical people; Native South American Indian spokesperson, A cattle feed / biofuel industry spokesperson, and an influential politician of Brazil. Native South American Indian spokesperson Sustainability, society, and technology aspects of soybean production in South American countries such as Brazil are far reaching yet not so much explored. Firstly, on sustainability, most individuals across the globe think of sustainability in the lines of the crop’s ability to enhance and satisfy human food and fiber needs as well as sustaining the economic viability of farming and its operations. It is a fact that the seeds for genetically modified crops are quite higher than those of natural crops. Therefore, despite the high yields associated with GE crops, farmers may opt for natural crops (Onyango et al, 2006). With some negative and misguided notion on genetically engineered crops such as soybeans, their sustainability remains at stake. The above idea is partly in contrast with the societal aspect of soybean production. Although the society appreciates the production as an important source of food and nutrition, business, and income, some drawbacks such as high cost of production, low prices, and poor profits demoralize farmers. Research indicates that the energy exchange ratio has farmers delivering over six times the energy in the production of soybean than what they get in return (Patel, 2008). There is also the question of potential ethical questions that come with genetically engineered crops and the potential environmental impacts such as soil conservation and Bioprocessing for forestry products, loss of flora and fauna, and the eventual effect on soil microbes. Finally, on a technological aspect, application of pesticides and weed prevention measures are some of the technologies associated with soybean production. The use of machinery and the entire technology of seed production can prove so expensive as the research charges are quite demanding and often passed on to farmers (Patel, 2008). Furthermore, the use of chemicals comes along with increased environmental pollution and putting human, animal, and plant life at risk. A cattle feed / biofuel industry spokesperson Sustainability of soybean is quite high compared of other types of foods that are non-genetically engineered. This is accelerated by the entry of more genetically engineered food crops and people turning their attention and focus on adopting the trend (Patel, 2008). It is also worth noting that soybean production is one of the greatest supplier of proteins and nutrients commendable on the food market. This gives the crop an added advantage in the market than any other protein crops. However, most researchers undermine the economic sustainability or the environmental sustainability of soybean production and focus much on the negative impacts (NRC, 2010). It is for this reason that social, economic, and ecological interaction associated with soybean production is quite uncommon. However, it is evident that the sustainability of soybean production is non-debatable. A societal aspect of soybean production touches on the societal impact of soybean in South America and across the globe. The domination of food production by a few companies and nations that control economies and technology brings about food monopoly. This impact on food prices in the market. Alongside this point is the aspect of bio-piracy that includes the foreign exploitation of natural resources by superpower status (Schimmelpfennig & Pray, 2004). Additionally, soybean, just like any other genetically engineered crops increases the dependence on industrialized nations by third world developing nation. However, the general society enjoys high yield production of sebum that translate to greater food security and production of surplus for export. This increases per-capita income and hence economic growth. Although technology is blamed largely for the widely debated myth that the soybean is not safe for consumption as any other genetically engineered food crops, it is important that people start focusing on the food itself other than the process it is made. This is because research indicates that the level of safety for consumers in genetically modified crops is equivalent to that of natural food crops (Murphy, 2007). Furthermore, additional developments in technology to provide more pesticide resistant breeds of soybean will provide farmers with breeds that come with reduced costs of production. A powerful and influential political from Brazil With the low cost of soybean production, economic benefits go far beyond farming and reflect on government developments. Revenue generated from export of soybeans and levy imposed on production companies help authorities in financing social nets such as infrastructure, health facilities, education, and provision of services which social amenities like water provision (Patel, 2008). Furthermore, soybean production is an issue of social equity between members of the society. In this regard, large farms that produce few crops have highest chances of benefiting from soybean production than small farms that are labor intensive and diverse in nature. This is for the simple reason that large farms are primarily developed with the purpose of cutting down inputs and costs of labor within a mass-production stem. Sustainability of soybeans revolves around the emphasis of economic, ecological, and social factors that encompass the general quality of life of the actual farmers, consumers, and the entire society at large (Patel, 2008). These aspects therefore should be handled and managed in a very integrated manner to ensure that sustainability of soybeans is maintained and encouraged. Finally, the adoption of genetically engineered crops in general tends to put a downward pressure on food prices in the market, thus making food more affordable and available in low-income areas. Finally, technology that reduces mass-production has the tendency of reducing the social benefits of soybean product. This implies that the primary benefits accrued to farmers and society by soybean production such as reduced tillage have higher chances of disappearing because of the spread of weeds that resist glyphosate. Technology applied in weed and pest control also reduces losses accrued by owners and thus the maximum realization of high yields coupled with reduced risks for farming (Welsh et al, 2002). Conclusion Since the adoption of soybean farming and production, a highly polarized debate on how they foster agricultural sustainability has been catching the attention of researchers and shows no signs of ebbing. This sustainability is fuelled by the outraging proponents that emphasize the potential of technology and integration to facilitate agricultural production with the intend of minimizing the utilization of costly and environmentally harmful farm inputs and its potential to cope with the ever-changing climatic conditions (Patel, 2008). Therefore, sustainability aspect of soybean concerns its ability to meet food and fiber production for the population in South America. It is evident that the crop’s sustainability is commendable. Although soybean production in South America is beneficial to farmers and the entire society, its technology is the key to the success of farming. Since soybean has developed resistance to major herbicides such as glyphosate, researchers and farmers need to adopt new methods of weed control. It is also the duty of technological expertise to develop new breeds and traits that are less resistant to herbicides. However, the importance of technology application in production of soybean is acceptable as it improves worker safety, enhances high simplicity, and considerable flexibility n farm management (Patel, 2008). Finally, the societal aspect of soybean production is another important factor discussed. Soybean production is quite important for the provision of food security and nutrition in the society. Through its production, food security is taken are off and farmers earn profits through the sale of the commodity both in local and international markets. Furthermore, employment opportunities in companies that process soybean and in the farms is another important benefit of the society accompanying soybean production. Finally, farmers enjoy a high yield of products that come with highly reduced costs of production (Patel, 2008). References Messina, M 2003, Potential Public Health Implications of the Hypocholesterolemic Effects of Soy Protein, Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.)(BioMed Central),19(3), p. 280–281. Murphy, D 2007, Plant Breeding and Biotechnology: Social Context and the Future of Agriculture, Cambridge, UK, Cambridge University Press. National Research Council (NRC) 2010, Impact of Genetically Engineered Crops on Farm Sustainability in the United States, Washington, DC, National Academies Press. Onyango, B., Nayga, R and Govindasamy, R 2006, ‘U.S. Consumers Willingness to Pay for Food Labeled ‘Genetically Modified’, Agricultural and Resource Economics Review, 35(2) pp. 299-310. Patel, R 2008, Stuffed & Starved From Farm to Fork, the Hidden Battle for the World Food System, Londo, Portobello Books Ltd. Riaz, N 2006, Soy Applications in Food, Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. Schimmelpfennig, D & Pray, M 2004, The impact of seed industry concentration on innovation: a study of US biotech market leaders, Agricultural Economics, 30, p.157–167. Welsh, R., Hubbell, D and Jahn, M 2002, GM crops and the pesticide paradigm [Correspondence], Nature Biotechnology, 20, p. 548-549. Read More

Finally, on a technological aspect, application of pesticides and weed prevention measures are some of the technologies associated with soybean production. The use of machinery and the entire technology of seed production can prove so expensive as the research charges are quite demanding and often passed on to farmers (Patel, 2008). Furthermore, the use of chemicals comes along with increased environmental pollution and putting human, animal, and plant life at risk. A cattle feed / biofuel industry spokesperson Sustainability of soybean is quite high compared of other types of foods that are non-genetically engineered.

This is accelerated by the entry of more genetically engineered food crops and people turning their attention and focus on adopting the trend (Patel, 2008). It is also worth noting that soybean production is one of the greatest supplier of proteins and nutrients commendable on the food market. This gives the crop an added advantage in the market than any other protein crops. However, most researchers undermine the economic sustainability or the environmental sustainability of soybean production and focus much on the negative impacts (NRC, 2010).

It is for this reason that social, economic, and ecological interaction associated with soybean production is quite uncommon. However, it is evident that the sustainability of soybean production is non-debatable. A societal aspect of soybean production touches on the societal impact of soybean in South America and across the globe. The domination of food production by a few companies and nations that control economies and technology brings about food monopoly. This impact on food prices in the market.

Alongside this point is the aspect of bio-piracy that includes the foreign exploitation of natural resources by superpower status (Schimmelpfennig & Pray, 2004). Additionally, soybean, just like any other genetically engineered crops increases the dependence on industrialized nations by third world developing nation. However, the general society enjoys high yield production of sebum that translate to greater food security and production of surplus for export. This increases per-capita income and hence economic growth.

Although technology is blamed largely for the widely debated myth that the soybean is not safe for consumption as any other genetically engineered food crops, it is important that people start focusing on the food itself other than the process it is made. This is because research indicates that the level of safety for consumers in genetically modified crops is equivalent to that of natural food crops (Murphy, 2007). Furthermore, additional developments in technology to provide more pesticide resistant breeds of soybean will provide farmers with breeds that come with reduced costs of production.

A powerful and influential political from Brazil With the low cost of soybean production, economic benefits go far beyond farming and reflect on government developments. Revenue generated from export of soybeans and levy imposed on production companies help authorities in financing social nets such as infrastructure, health facilities, education, and provision of services which social amenities like water provision (Patel, 2008). Furthermore, soybean production is an issue of social equity between members of the society.

In this regard, large farms that produce few crops have highest chances of benefiting from soybean production than small farms that are labor intensive and diverse in nature. This is for the simple reason that large farms are primarily developed with the purpose of cutting down inputs and costs of labor within a mass-production stem. Sustainability of soybeans revolves around the emphasis of economic, ecological, and social factors that encompass the general quality of life of the actual farmers, consumers, and the entire society at large (Patel, 2008).

These aspects therefore should be handled and managed in a very integrated manner to ensure that sustainability of soybeans is maintained and encouraged.

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