Mini-Case 16-1: the Grass Is Really Greener

question 65

Essay

Mini-Case 16-1: The Grass Is Really Greener
It's not usual for city people to be concerned about plants or grass - they see so little of green space. Nevertheless, Martha Goldman has been interested in these things since her first biology course in Brooklyn, New York. Martha won all the awards in the science fairs and eventually was the recipient of a college scholarship. She chose to major in botany and became fascinated with the creation of hybrid plants and grasses. Martha was also concerned about the problem of hunger around the world. She knew that improved plants and grains increased the productivity of American agriculture, and hoped that someday she would find a way to play a small part in reducing world hunger.
After college with the help of her dad, she opened a small wholesale greenhouse. The business was a modest success and allowed Martha to experiment with new growing methods. Two years ago, Martha's research paid off. She had been working on developing a fast-growing grass that needed less water. One of the experiments produced a grass that seemed to have real potential. She tested it with a local cattle rancher. All tests so far have shown that the new hybrid grass is better for feeding cattle. Martha may have realized her dream - a grass that will grow better in parts of the world that could not previously support cattle. High protein beef cattle may now be able to thrive in parts of the world where previously it was not possible.
-How should Martha proceed to determine the best way to export her new grass seed?

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Definitions:

Social Capital

A term representing the networks, relationships, and norms that facilitate collective action within or among groups.

Social Ties

The connections and relationships between individuals or groups that can provide support, information, or access to resources.

Power

The power to shape or control the actions of others or steer the direction of events.

Social Networks

Platforms on the internet where individuals can connect, interact, and share content with others, including sites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn.