Cotton: Sustainable or unsustainable?
For Step 6 of the Jeans example
- Read the action in the Activity column. Decide if the activity is sustainable or unsustainable. Give reasons for your decision.
- Add more examples, share, and discuss within your group.
Sustainable Activity Unsustainable To irrigate vast cotton fields, water supply has to be increased annually. The fact that the cotton production industry will grow might create even more jobs than today in this economic sector. Modern cotton production depends on the use of specific seeds in combination with fertilizers. Production of organic cotton will increase in the next 10 years. Huge monoculture production of cotton weakens the soil fertility which leads to an increasing use of agro-chemicals. Increasing use of technology leads to improved workers conditions. The future need of cotton is satisfied with GMO cotton. Increasing use of agro-technology saves money and lowers expenses for the producer. Cotton exports improve the economic situation of countries like India and strengthen social development. Fair trade cotton offers better income and living conditions for small scale farmers and laborers. Add three activities