Poop Happens...

In other parts of the world, biosolids are a popular choice as sustainable agricultural fertilizer. Biosolids, also called treated sludge are organic materials that are rich in nutrients resulting from the treatment of domestic sewage in a treatment facility. When treated and processed, these residuals can be recycled and applied as fertilizer to improve and sustain productive soils and stimulate plant growth.

Biosolids are created through the treatment of domestic wastewater generated from sewage treatment facilities. The treatment of biosolids can actually begin before the wastewater reaches the sewage treatment plant. In many larger wastewater treatment systems, pre-treatment regulations require that industrial facilities pre-treat their wastewater to remove many hazardous contaminants before it is sent to a wastewater treatment plant. Wastewater treatment facilities monitor incoming wastewater streams to ensure their recyclability and compatibility with the treatment plant process.

Once the wastewater reaches the plant, the sewage goes through physical, chemical and biological processes which clean the wastewater and remove the solids. If necessary, the solids are then treated with lime to raise the pH level to eliminate objectionable odors. The wastewater treatment processes sanitize wastewater solids to control pathogens (disease-causing organisms, such as certain bacteria, viruses and parasites) and other organisms capable of transporting disease. (EPA)

Biosolids are very easy to obtain which is one of the many advantages using biosolids. More examples are:

• improves crop production
• reduce soil erosion 
• protects water quality
• reclaims strip-mined lands
• enrich forest land 
• conserve landfill space
• provide economic incentives

When there are advantages there are disadvantages. Here are some of the disadvantages of biosolids:

• potential health hazard
• effects irreversible
• contamination resulting from industrial waste
• its true composition is unknown
• odor

The advantages and disadvantages make people have second thoughts about using biosolids. In my opinion biosolids are a legitimate kind and can be used as fertilizer. Biosolids have more advantages than disadvantages. Most, if not all of the Biosolids' disadvantages can be fixed or corrected through more research on the subject. Manure being used as a fertilizer and energy source is not new to us. Biosolids through research may also become a good alternative energy source because of its common properties with cow dung. If Biosolids were indeed an energy source, it would provide the world with the cheapest and most abundant energy source and with a number of energy sources becoming depleted, all the more do we need this source. We, the people can be the potential stakeholders of this resource.

Sources:

Source

Source

Source

Source

Source

Commented On: 

Comment

Comment

A Boost of Energy

"Energy drinks are beverages whose producers advertise that they 'boost energy.' These advertisements usually do not emphasize energy derived from the sugar they contain but rather increased energy release due to a variety of stimulants and vitamins."

"A sports drink beverage is designed to help athletes rehydrate when fluids are depleted after training or competition. Electrolyte replacement promotes proper rehydration, which is important in delaying the onset of fatigue during exercise. As the primary fuel utilized by exercising muscle, carbohydrates are important in maintaining exercise and sport performance."

The G Series

Getting healthy and getting fit is a growing societal need. With the help of a few actors and actresses, athletes, and the media the society is now immersed in getting fit and getting a better looking body.  The energy drink or sports drink first emerged dating as far back to the early 1960s in Japan. It was not until the 20th to 21st century that energy and sports drinks were heavily advertised and used. Companies like PepsiCo (Gatorade) and Red Bull GmbH (Red Bull) started to make different variations of their products. For example Gatorade just came up with a new line of Gatorade sports drink called the "G Series" There have also been new energy drinks and ways to "boost" your energy. For example: Sheets Energy Strips.

Amar'e Stoudemire a professional
Basketball player of the NBA taking a Sheet

The new ways we get extra energy and the advancement in our drinks was due to our societal needs. The society wants to get fit and what better drink to replenish your tired self than an energy drink? Companies that manufacture such said drinks pounced on this opportunity to take advantage of the situation. With the growing society and growing exercise-fitness business, expect a lot more and newer energy booster products.



Sources:
Source
Source
Source
Source
Source

I Commented on:
Marc's
Brandon's

Keeping Up with Humans

In a world that is constantly growing and where new generations of humans emerge, specific aspects of daily life like food and agriculture are rapidly changing with the growing population. With the attempt to keep up with the "future" agriculture has taken many steps into making sure that their production is what people want and that they could keep up with the huge demand of their consumers.  

Sustainable agriculture is what I would say is the the old way of farming. Sustainable agriculture refers to the ability of a farm to produce food indefinitely, without causing irreversible damage to ecosystem health (newpaltz.edu). Originally farms were not supposed to hurt the environment or affect the biodiversity of an ecosystem. Sustainable agriculture existed at a time where the population of the world was not yet in the right position to demand more from these farms and where the technology was not yet as advanced as it is today.  

Industrial agriculture is the complete opposite of sustainable farming. While it also produces the same product, industrial agriculture uses things like pesticides and insecticides to ensure the successful growth of their product. 

newdream.org describes industrial agriculture as: "A food system that emerged in the 20th century that provides large scale agricultural production. Industrial agriculture has had a tremendous impact on the world's water resources and soil quality because of the massive use of chemical pesticides, herbicides, insecticides and fertilizers." 

Industrial Agriculture

Sustainable Agriculture

Industrial agriculture today has the ability to engineer our food. The biggest advancement in the food industry today is the use of corn. They use corn because corn can be easily broken down and turned into new ingredients that makes food and they can also use it to feed poultry animals like cows and chickens. You will be very surprised at the fact that most items in the grocery store contain corn or some sort of soy in its ingredients. Corn may be very cheap but also has its hazards. Cows were not designed to eat corn but were designed to eat grass (Food, Inc.). The corn that the cows eat can generate a harmful bacteria for humans when digested and that is E. Coli. (Escherichia Coli). Things to prevent E.coli has already been discovered and poultry is safe again.

The emergence of E.coli is a sign that if we further try and engineer and force evolution to our resources things that could harm us instead of help us can emerge. But with the way our technology is advancing, not only can the agricultural industry keep up with the rapid population growth, but the other industries as well

Sources:

Source 

Source

Source

Source