Conventional Farming

artificial fertilizers:

plant nutrients produced through chemical processes to nurture soil and foster plant growth

biotechnology:

a range of tools, including traditional breeding techniques, that alter living organisms, or parts of organisms, to make or modify products

climate:

the prevailing weather conditions in a specific area over a long period of time

conventional farming

a system of farming practices that may include the use of GE crops, synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and other chemical and biological inputs

crop:

a cultivated or raised plant that is grown as food, especially a grain, fruit, or vegetable

ecosystem:

plants, animals, and other organisms, and the physical environment with which they interact

erosion:

to gradually destroy or be gradually destroyed by natural agents

farming:

the activity or business of growing crops and raising livestock

farmland:

fertilizer:

a chemical or natural substance added to soil or land to increase its growth

food security:

the state of having reliable access to a sufficient quality of affordable, nutritious foode

genetically engineered:

a plant that has had DNA inserted into its genome using laboratory techniques

herbicide:

chemicals used to manipulate or control undesirable vegetation.

herbicide-tolerant crops:

crops that can survive applications of herbicides that kill most other plants. HT crops, are created via the insertion of genes from soil bacteria

high yield:

producing a large amount

irrigation:

the supply of water to land or crops to help growth

nutrients:

substances that provide nourishment essential for growth and the maintenance of life

organic:

a term used to classify farming methods that limit the use biotechnology and certain types of fertilizer or pesticide

organism:

individual animals, plants, fungi, or single-celled life forms; living things

pest:

any organism that spreads disease, causes destruction or is an inconvenience

pesticide:

a substance used for destroying insects or other organisms harmful to cultivated plants or to animals

runoff:

water from farm fields due to irrigation, or precipitation that flows over the earth and can be absorbed into the ground, enter bodies of water or evaporate

synthetic fertilizers:

man-made chemicals designed specifically to increase plant growth