Question

The biologist and anthropologist Jared Diamond stated that “agriculture is the worst mistake in the history of the human race”. Based on your knowledge of genome evolution and phylogenetics (and other aspects of genetics/biology), provide arguments for and against this statement. Also give your opinion on this in the context of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of zero hunger; good health and wellbeing; and responsible consumption and production (Goals 2, 3 and 12). (10)

Answer 1

Explanation:- The biologist and anthropologist Jared Diamond stated that “agriculture is the worst mistake in the history of the human race”. The statement is correct to the extend that agriculture created several problems for humanity. The agriculture changed the hunting and gathering mode of humans to sedentary life style. Man through domestication cultivated rice,wheat,maize,potato etc from their wild relatives thereby decreased genetic diversity of crops and made them more prone to diseases. Increased human population demanded more crop productivity which turn expanded agriculture to forests leading to deforestation. Agriculture today created more sever problems to environment in the form of Eutrophication, water pollution, biomagnification etc due to use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides, herbicides ,fungicides etc. However the statement cannot be agreed wholly because agriculture has a tremendous potential delivery food to the world . Its because of agriculture human race evolved and developed through civilization. Agriculture made humans social beings saved millions from starvation. UN goal of sustainable development include zero hunger that can only be acheived through increasing agriculture productivity. Responsible production and consumption can be acheived by developing Agricultural techniques that promote high yield .