" 

 Important issues regarding industrial agriculture include: 
 #what it is exactly  
 #how it fits into modern science/technology 
 #how it fits into modern global and national politics 
 #its place in the modern corporate world 
 #its effect on traditional farming practices and communities 
 #its effect on the environment 
 #the ethical issue of causing pain to animals 
 #the ethical issue of creating ""unnatural"" ecologies and lifeforms 
 #the need for it to keep billions of people from starving 
 #specifically, what it is as applied to  Animals  
 #specifically, what it is as applied to  Aquaculture  
 #specifically, what it is as applied to  Shrimp 
 #specifically, what it is as applied to  Chickens 
 #specifically, what it is as applied to  Pigs 
 #specifically, what it is as applied to  Cattle 
 #specifically, what it is as applied to  Crops  
 #specifically, what it is as applied to  Wheat  
 #specifically, what it is as applied to  Maize  
 #specifically, what it is as applied to  Soybean 
 #specifically, what it is as applied to  Tomato 
 #specifically, the part modern management techniques plays 
 #specifically, the part mechanical harvesting plays 
 #specifically, the part genetic modification plays 
 #specifically, the part hydroponics plays 
 #industrial organic farming 
 #innovation in agricultural machinery and farming methods 
 #genetic technology development 
 #techniques for achieving economies of scale in production 
 #the creation of new markets for consumption 
 #the application of patent protection to genetic information 
 #globalization  
 #historical development 
 #current efforts to modify it it including ""sustainable agriculture"" efforts 
 #Cheap and plentiful food  
 #Convenience for the consumer  
 #The contribution to our economy on many levels, from growers to harvesters to processors to sellers  
 #Environmental and social costs  
 #Damage to fisheries  
 #Cleanup of surface and groundwater polluted with animal waste  
 #Increased health risks from pesticides  
 #Increased ozone pollution and global warming from heavy use of fossil fuels 
 #marketing challenges and consumer tastes 
 #international trading environment (world market conditions, barriers to trade, quarantine and technical barriers, maintenance of global competitiveness and market image, and management of biosecurity issues affecting imports and the disease status of exports) 
 #biosecurity (pests and diseases such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), avian influenza, foot and mouth disease, citrus canker, and sugar smut) 
 #infrastructure (such as transport, ports, telecommunications, energy and irrigation facilities) 
 #management skills and labor supply (With increasing requirements for business planning, enhanced market awareness, the use of modern technology such as computers and global positioning systems and better agronomic management, modern farm managers will need to become increasingly skilled. Examples: training of skilled workers, the development of labor hire systems that provide continuity of work in industries with strong seasonal peaks, modern communication tools, investigating market opportunities, researching customer requirements, business planning including financial management, researching the latest farming techniques, risk management skills) 
 #coordination (a more consistent national strategic agenda for agricultural research and development; more active involvement of research investors in collaboration with research providers developing programs of work; greater coordination of research activities across industries, research organisations and issues; and investment in human capital to ensure a skilled pool of research personnel in the future.) 
 #technology (research, adoption, productivity, genetically modified (GM) crops, investments) 
 #water (access rights, water trade, providing water for environmental outcomes, assignment of risk in response to reallocation of water from consumptive to environmental use, accounting for the sourcing and allocation of water) 
 #resource access issues (management of native vegetation, the protection and enhancement of biodiversity, sustainability of productive agricultural resources, landholder responsibilities) 
 #the industrial farm owner issue of  integrated farming systems 
 #the industrial farm owner issue of  crop sequencing 
 #the industrial farm owner issue of  water use efficiency 
 #the industrial farm owner issue of  nutrient audits 
 #the industrial farm owner issue of  herbicide resistance 
 #the industrial farm owner issue of  financial instruments (such as futures and options) 
 #the industrial farm owner issue of  collect and understand own f