Agroecology, Part 2

By Mario Ritter

Broadcast: October 7, 2003

This is Doug Johnson with the VOA Special English Agriculture Report.
Today we finish a two-part series. A listener in Brazil asked about 1)agroecology. This is a field of ideas about how to farm 2)productively² but also protect natural resources.
Last week, we discussed how agroecology is seen in many ways as an answer to the Green Revolution. That movement has given us modern farming methods.
Agroecology and the Green Revolution both want to increase productivity³. But they work toward⁴ this common goal in different ways. Many agroecologists question how long modern farming methods can continue.
Modern farming uses land intensively⁵. Often the same crop is grown on the same land year after year. Soil breaks down and washes away. Also, fewer kinds of the same plant are grown. This can limit the number of kinds that may have useful genetic⁶ qualities.
Another issue is fertilizer⁷. Agroecologists say they would use organic⁸ materials and 3)compost in place of chemicals. The Green Revolution has shown that chemical fertilizer can greatly increase crop productivity. But it can also pollute water supplies.
To water crops, agroecologists say they would use methods that reduce the need for 4)irrigation. Irrigation is an ancient idea. Water is pulled from the ground or brought from another place. Irrigated⁹ crops are highly¹⁰ productive¹. Sixteen percent of all farmland in the world is irrigated. But this sixteen percent of the farmland produces forty-percent of all food.
Yet irrigation systems can use up groundwater faster than nature can replace it. And there are costs to taking water from other areas.
To control pests, agroecologists say they would use helpful insects to kill harmful ones. In the last fifty years, however, farmers have increased the use of 5)insecticides. These chemical poisons do destroy harmful insects. But they also kill helpful ones, and can cause pollution and health problems. Also, pests can develop the ability to resist chemicals.
One place to learn more about agroecology is at the Web site agroecology dot o-r-g. This site is operated by the University of California at Santa Cruz. Steven Gliessman is a professor in the Center for Agroecology there. He has written several books on the subject.
This VOA Special English Agriculture Report was written by Mario Ritter. If you have a question for us, write to special@voa <mailto:special@voa>news.com. This is Doug Johnson.

注释：
1) agroecology [ 7A^rEu7i:5kClEdVi ] n.农业生态学
2) productively [prE5dQktivli] adv.有结果地, 有成果地
3) compost [ 5kCmpCst ] n.混合肥料, 堆肥
4) irrigation [ 7iri5^eiFEn ] n.灌溉, 冲洗
5) insecticide [ in5sektisaid ] n.杀虫剂

1 productive   

adj.能生产的，有生产价值的，多产的

参考例句：

• We had a productive meeting that solved some problems.我们开了一个富有成效的会议，解决了一些问题。
• Science and technology are part of the productive forces.科学技术是生产力。

2 productively   

ad.多产地

参考例句：

• Asia should use all saving more efficiently and more productively. 亚洲人在使用任何储蓄时应该更富有成效。
• HIV replication kills productively infected CD4+ T lymphocytes and innocent bystander cells. 复制的HIV病毒杀死了被感染的CD+T淋巴细胞及相应的组织。

3 productivity   

n.生产力，生产率，多产

参考例句：

• Farmers are introducing in novations which increase the productivity.农民们正引进提高生产力的新方法。
• The workers try to put up productivity.工人设法提高生产率。

4 toward   

prep.对于，关于，接近，将近，向，朝

参考例句：

• Suddenly I saw a tall figure approaching toward the policeman.突然间我看到一个高大的身影朝警察靠近。
• Upon seeing her,I smiled and ran toward her. 看到她我笑了，并跑了过去。

5 intensively   

adv.加强地；集中地；密集地；透彻地

参考例句：

• The calves are grazed intensively during their first season.小牛在生长的第一季里集中喂养。
• The land here has been intensively cultivated for generations.这片土地经过了几代人的集约耕作。

6 genetic   

adj.遗传的，遗传学的

参考例句：

• It's very difficult to treat genetic diseases.遗传性疾病治疗起来很困难。
• Each daughter cell can receive a full complement of the genetic information.每个子细胞可以收到遗传信息的一个完全补偿物。

7 fertilizer   

n.肥料，化肥

参考例句：

• Fertilizer enriches the soil.肥料使土壤肥沃。
• Get some more fertilizer for the garden.给花园再多施些肥料。

8 organic   

adj.有机的，有机物的；有组织的

参考例句：

• Organic farming is expanding everywhere.有机农业正在各地迅速发展起来。
• The organic fertilizer shall keep the soil in good heart.这有机肥一定会使土壤保持肥沃。

9 irrigated   

[医]冲洗的

参考例句：

• They irrigated their crops with water from this river. 他们用这条小河里的水浇庄稼。
• A crop can be sown, weeded, irrigated, and fertilized uniformly. 一种作物可以均匀一致地进行播种，除草，灌溉和施肥。

10 highly   

adv.高度地，极，非常；非常赞许地

参考例句：

• It is highly important to provide for the future.预先做好准备非常重要。
• The teacher speaks very highly of the boy's behaviour.老师称赞这个男孩的表现。