Mihajlo Drajer
16/12/13
IB DP ESS SL
Mrs. Medenica

Current Event #3:

New Material to Enhance Crop Yield

The article was published on 'sciencedaily.com' which was written by A. Mendez. The article was published on the 16th of December, 2013.

In a couple of words, the article is talking about the newly created 'lab material' called "Biochar". By 'lab-material' it's implied that the material was forged in a laboratory environment, meaning it's artificial and not a product of nature/natural causes and occurrences. The article mentions how this new material can and does improve soil quality by making the soil more prone to become moisturized to the extent where it doesn't harm the health/quality of the soil. BY enhancing the soil quality, Biochar also enhances crop yield - which makes crops more available to humans for our needs. Biochar is the ideal material since it can turn a field with bad crops and poor soil quality, into an area which is flourishing with 'green' and is overall healthy. As more and more artificial fertilizers are used , the soil quality is slowly but steadily dropping on a global scale. Due to abusive treatments of farmers and those who grows large quantities of grain/vegetables/plant the soil's physique, texture and quality are being altered over time. Excess amount of water makes the soil more prone to becoming like sand, where it's not thick and composed by is similar to sand grains. This new characteristic is negative for farming since it'll make the water seep right through the soil and into groundwater - whilst dodging the seeds planted for growth. Biochar, of course, will make the soils quality and durability more effective over time. It's still in the process of being perfected, prior to being applied to larger amounts of soil. 

I find this substance to be quite beneficial to mankind, and that it should be bought/purchased and supported by governments. Soil is essential to life on Earth, since it serves multiple purposes such as; being a water filter, being a medium for raising plants, and so on forth. Without soil, or with soil of a really poor quality, the consequences would be severe. People would be affected by the scarcity in crops which are caused by unhealthy soil, which would cause starvation. Crops are essential to the diet of the majority of humans on Earth, and without it turmoil would be evoked. Therefore, biochar plays in perfectly since it will assure that the health of soil is positive - therefore making growing and harvesting crops more reliable to us. 

Link to article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/12/131216080318.htm