Different isoenzymes in the reference material and soil may also have contributed to variation in enzyme stability towards fumigation with different pesticides. In order to show whether there is a direct relationship between the activity of any enzyme and its protein concentration in soil enzyme protein concentrations were calculated for acid phosphatase, β-glucosidase and arylsulfatase in the nonfumigated and fumigated soils. Specific enzyme protein concentrations were suggested to serve as a suitable measure to quantify the effects of environmental changes related to soil management, fertilization or pesticide application on soil biological properties . These numbers are indented to give an indication of enzyme protein concentrations in soils, not a precise measurement. Generally, lower enzyme protein concentrations in recently fumigated soils compared to control soils suggest that fumigation with MeBr + CP and the alternative biocides denatured the accumulated fraction of this enzyme protein in soil or was lethal to that portion of microorganisms that is the major source of the specific enzymes studied. The response of enzyme protein concentrations, however, varied within the enzyme and fumigant studied. Even though the arylsulfatase protein concentration was comparable high among the three soil enzymes, it showed the lowest activity values in soils. These results suggest that arylsulfatase has a lower catalytic activity than acid phosphatase or β- glucosidase or is associated with locations in soil different from those of the other two enzymes. Our results suggest that the activity rate of any enzyme does not necessarily correspond to the protein concentration of this enzyme in a soil. In conclusion this study has shown that microbial and enzymatic processes were not affected by soil fumigation with the alternative pesticides propargyl bromide, InLine, Midas and chloropicrin in the longer term.
Fumigation with the standard methyl bromidechloropicrin combination significantly affected some enzymatic processes in soil. However,blueberry box results were inconsistent over the two study sites. These findings imply that the application of alternative fumigants will not affect the longer-term productivity of agricultural soils because hydrolytic enzymes regulate the rate at which organic materials are degraded and become available for plants. Despite the importance of these findings for strawberry production systems with a history of soil fumigation as a pest control tool, results may not apply to soils previously not fumigated. Further studies should test whether soil fumigation with these alternatives is affecting microbial and enzymatic processes relative to soils without fumigation history and other functional properties and the structural diversity of microbial communities. Animal agriculture causes many unsustainable, destructive problems on individuals, the environment, and the economy. These problems stem from animal agriculture on a broad scale and on a small scale – globally and at the University of California, Merced. Globally, animal agriculture causes deforestation, species extinction, drought, disease, ocean dead zones, greenhouse gas emissions — more than all transportation combined — water and air pollution, and global warming . Because the University of California, Merced has pledged to consume zero net energy, produce zero waste, and zero net greenhouse gas emissions –– referred to as “triple zero” –– these issues should come to light when the University of California, Merced talks about their 2020 Project . However, these problems have been neglected and thus, by supporting a plant based diet, the University can model a sustainable environment, healthy faculty and students –– free from high levels of stress, anxiety, and disease, caused by unhealthy food options –– and the ultimate “triple zero”. Not offering healthier food causes busy students and faculty to either choose unhealthy food, that affects them physically and mentally, or skip eating; thus, leaving them with distorted eating. Students that are healthy both mentally and physically can put their full effort in their studies, as the type of food that students eat directly relates to their ability to produce their highest quality of work. Previous studies demonstrate how plant-based diets can lower stress, anxiety, and depression levels . Unfortunately, with the type of food offered in the cafeterias at the University, many students find themselves trapped in a spiraling downfall – mentally and physically – that leads to the inability to stay focused, increased stress and anxiety, and may lead to life threatening diseases and disorders, such as eating disorders.
The amount of destruction that animal agriculture does to the planet, to environments and to species is devastating, as animal agriculture is the root problem for the worlds increasing temperatures, species extinction, deforestation, and water quality. As many previous studies have shown, animal agriculture drains the earth of major resources . Animal agriculture enables the destruction of rainforests, ocean dead-zones, drought, production of greenhouse gases, and the “murder” of over six million animals every hour . An abundance of research supports the idea that animal agriculture –– industrial and free-range –– is unsustainable. While free-range farming is considered “better” than industrial farming it still causes many environmental, personal, and economical destructions. Farmers have forgotten that the methods of production determine the final value of their products; as results show that industrial farming increases the amount of food and money wasted, deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions, air and water pollution, species extinction, disease and poor food quality . In the United States alone, animals raised for food excrete 7 million pounds of waste every minute. This waste gets dumped into rivers and toxins are released into the air, destroying water and air purity. The drought in California is greatly due to the amount of water used by animal agriculture, because the animal agriculture industry uses 34 trillion gallons of water and 660 gallons to produce a single hamburger . The amounts of greenhouse gas emissions produced, by feces, pesticides, and fertilizers, is more than all means of transportation, combined . As more space is needed for the farming of these animals, rainforests are cut down, and species habitats are destroyed; thus, killing off the populations . Because of the “efficient” way cattle, pigs, and chickens are slaughtered, food quality has declined, and even though 70 billion animals are slaughtered for food a year, 340.6 million never make it the the shelves of the grocery store. . If slaughter houses had glass walls, everyone would be vegetarian.A study, conducted by Beezhold et al, shows the effects of a plant-based diet, a vegetarian diet, and an omnivorous diet, on an individual’s mental health. Individuals from the ages 25-60 years old were asked questions, via an online survey, regarding their diet, health, lifestyle, wellness, and questions that measured their stress, anxiety, and depression levels. Overall, individuals with a pant-based diet, showed a decrease in stress and anxiety levels. This study shows how plant-based diets have a positive effect on an individual’s mental health; in addition to their physical health – which has already been previously proven .
Alessandra Seiter,blueberry package in her article “From My Eating Disorder to My Life’s Purpose” explains how she saved her mind, body, and spirit from being overtaken by her eating disorder, by adapting to a plant-based diet. After a year and a half of strict meal times and cardio routines, Seiter was introduced to veganism. At first, Seiter used veganism as another excuse to reject high calorie foods, and she used veganism to mask her eating disorder. After listening to Colleen Patrick-Goudreau’s Vegetarian Food for Thought podcast, Seiter realized the devastating injustices inflicted onto the beautiful beings that reside with humans. The pain and sorrow that Seiter felt towards the individuals inflicting this pain on innocent creatures, was enough to drive her out of her eating disorder. This article specifically describes how veganism can be the driving force into recovery and the power of healing that a plant-based diet has . Further investigation will show how it is sustainable for the University to adapt a plant-based menu — or at the very least, plant-based options — and how those options can provide pathways of health, prosperity, and sustainability of the planet and its inhabitants. In the Central Valley of California, eating a plant-based diet is extremely uncommon, as it is the prime area of animal agriculture, as well as part of the culture. Therefore, college students at the University of California, Merced, that have adapted the plant-based lifestyle are likely to have difficulty finding healthy foods that are in line with their eating habits. While dining at the University provides vegetarian options, they have yet to offer options that are strictly vegan. Supplying plant-based food options is a simple and easy solution when compared to the severe destructions of animal agriculture. If the University continues neglecting to provide healthy food options, individuals and the environment will greatly suffer. In addition to supplying more food options, the University should advocate for vegan clubs and demonstrate the unsustainability of animal agriculture. Workshops and courses should be offered to teach students the importance of being knowledgeable of their food choices. These clubs and workshops would show how animal agriculture is unsustainable –– farmers are unable to keep up with the growing population and the growing demand for meat, which leads to the destruction of rainforests, species extinction, ocean dead zones, water and air quality, climate change, and disease. The perfect opportunity to discuss and teach students about animal agriculture is in the required “CORE 001” class. The class addresses water conservation and the triple zero affect; however, it fails to mention the root cause of such deprivations and overuses. The University of California, Merced will not reach their goals of sustainability without addressing animal agriculture. Thus, the University should add to their statement of sustainability that sustainability means the ability to provide enough food to nourish the world.
Plant-based diets rely heavily on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, legumes, nuts and seeds; therefore, individuals eating plant-based obtain a higher number of vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, and fiber. Purchasing these foods saves an individual $750 a year. Health benefits for these individuals include a reduced risk of many conditions such as: type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, heart disease, hypertension, stroke, obesity, and some cancers, because the cholesterol is not consumed, and plant-based foods are free of added hormones and antibiotics. In a well planned plant-based diet, little risks of deficiency exist, and the diet is fit for all individuals including children, pregnant women, and elderly . The students and faculty on campus would experience an increase in energy and focus, that is much needed to fit the high demands of student and teacher lifestyles. Thus, students struggling with stress, anxiety and depression, will find themselves overcoming such struggles. As the University shifts to offering more plant-based foods, the overall health, well being, and productivity of students and faculty will increase. As previously described, breeding, raising, and feeding animals for food is an extreme waste of the worlds natural resources. Agricultural land and the resources used in animal agriculture, takes up 40% of the earths land, while a plant based diet requires a significantly less amount of land, water, and fossil fuels. Ten billion individuals could be well nourished with the food that is grown to feed cattle, whereas only 82% of the starving children see food fed to animals that are sent to be eaten in westernized countries. Thus, as less of the worlds land is used for animal agriculture, more space is available for the growing population and the food used to feed the animals can be used to nourish the entire world. If the University can encourage and support individuals that live a plant-based lifestyle, other students and faculty will be influenced to follow suit, along with their families. Since the University is advocating that they are the most sustainable campus, they should be addressing the many destructions that animal agriculture has on the planet. Once they do, the University will be “the most sustainable” campus. As stated earlier, as the University begins to offer more plant-based food, the overall health, well being, and productivity of students and faculty will increase. Now is an impeccable time for the University to introduce plant-based eating, since they have recently commenced their 2020 Project.