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When presented with this topic, I considered food sources in America and the effects of agriculture on society and the environment. We, as a society, in the United States expect our local grocery stores to be stocked with fresh produce and give little thought to the process that brings these items to our table. Our society is affected by immigrant farm workers that often bear the burden of labor to harvest plants and our environment is affected by mass production processes. The use of pesticides, genetic engineering, lack of crop rotation, and irresponsible farming practices have negative effects on the environment and the quality of plants being produced for us to consume.
*Image credit: Mike Blake (Reuters)

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I found this video to be the most relatable way to explain photosynthesis to a wide range of age groups and learning levels. The style and animation appeals to visual learners and makes the process easy to remember without sacrificing scientific fact. Seeing the process of plant production, from molecule to table, makes the viewer consider the plants we consume in a different light. Videos such as these allow viewers to access knowledge and learn about basic principles while being entertained and considering how food sources are built.
The Simple But Fascinating Story of Photosynthesis & Food

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The simple story of photosynthesis and food - Amanda Ooten

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Photosynthesis is an essential part of the exchange between humans and plants. Amanda Ooten walks us through the process of photosynthesis, also discussing the relationship between photosynthesis and carbohydrates, starch, and fiber -- and how the air we breathe is related to the food we ingest.

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A valuable and informative website by the University of Georgia Extension details the types of native plants found in Georgia, categorized by type of plant. The Native Plants of Georgia: Ferns section was enlightening, in part because Georgia was partially underwater in prehistoric times and ferns have since flourished from an evolutionary standpoint. The variety of ferns, or Pteridophytes, found in Georgia is evident when hiking through various parts of the state.Nettled chain fern (Woodwardia areolata), commonly-found and native to Georgia

Credit: Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org

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Of all the world biomes, the temperate grasslands are one of the most threatened. As witnessed during the early 20th century, human impact on this environment can be devastating and drastic. Clearing land in the prairies and plains of the Midwestern United States to make way for farms and crops resulted in barren, dusty areas and this practice still exists today, despite creating dust storms and degrading the quality land for agricultural purposes.  The qualities of grasslands, such as plains and prairies, make them ideal for crops and grazing because the flat, fertile land lacks trees and is covered with a food source for livestock. Human effects on temperate grasslands can greatly affect species of plants and animals that are exclusive to only one area of grasslands with a particular set of environmental conditions. These small ecological habitats collectively make up vast expanses of grasslands with a large amount of biological diversity. By leaving a footprint on parts of this biome with poor agricultural and ecological practices, our society can upset the delicate balance found in nature by altering ground covering, soil quality and characteristics, and removing native species.

Image: North American Grasslands (Blue Planet Biomes)

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The First Agricultural Revolution had a dramatic impact on societies across the world. Despite differences between the methods and beginning of subsistence farming, each region of the world experienced similar effects once societies were no longer only hunting and foraging but became centered around food production and storage. People as a whole experienced an initial wave of disease, reduced population growth, and slow recovery as new agricultural methods and ways of life were developed.

Image: New York K-12 Social Studies Toolkit, Agate Publishing, Inc., 2015.

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As an adult learner fortunate enough to see the film Idiocracy (2006) during my first college years in Athens, I am consistently amazed at how current events mirror this seemingly-humorous film. It is not funny that current political, economic, social, and agricultural practices will lead us into a future much like the one seen in Idiocracy, where corporations have trumped all other forces to create a dumbfounded population that has destroyed everything natural on the planet in the name of consumerism. I lived behind the Daily Co-op, had roommates that were vegan solely due to wanting to reduce their environmental footprint, and changed my own habits drastically while living in such an eco-friendly town. Small changes, such as turning my husband into someone who recycles everything instead of carelessly littering, can prevent a dire future; more is needed from political leaders and companies in the agricultural industry to truly change direction from the path we are headed down. Teaching our children to value nature and live a life that supports a sustainable future is possibly the most difficult and important thing we can do to prevent this"Idiocracy" from continuing.

*Image credit: Idiocracy, 2006.

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Morphine, derived from the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum), is the most influential chemical in the world. All other opiates and pain medications are judged on a "morphine standard" and synthetic opiates, such as oxycodone, are based on compounds found within the same plant (Veeresham, 2012). While usually used to treat pain, it is also commonly used to dilate arteries and veins in the event of a heart attack. Obviously we are experiencing an era of fear in the US related to opiates, demonstrating how powerful a very commonly prescribed drug and its derivatives can affect society.

References

Veeresham, C. (2012). Natural products derived from plants as a source of drugs. Journal of Advanced Pharmaceutical Technology & Research, 3(4), 200-1. doi:10.4103/2231-4040.104709

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The Scientist Magazine, February 2014

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The Green Revolution, or third agricultural revolution, was characterized by increased production of crops due to new technologies and farming methods. The use of nitrogen fertilizers was key to increased yields, but the history of nitrogen fertilizer goes back much farther than the 1960s-1970s. This article detailing the long-standing use of nitrogen and the world impact of its extraction and trade is fascinating. Though we take fertilizer for granted when feeding our home plants or considering use in the foods we eat, the history of this prized material had a great human impact during the Green Revolution and prior to that time.

The First Green Revolution: Debt Peonage and the Making of the Nitrogen Fertilizer Trade, 1840–1930