This is part three of Distillations‘ four-part series Our Chemical Landscape. In this episode we head out to farm country to learn how crop production has evolved in response to exploding global population growth. First we learn about the gruesome pursuit of guano—a powerful natural fertilizer—in the 19th century. And next, producer Julia Botero visits a Louisiana farm to investigate the impact of the EU’s ban on genetically modified crops.

Image courtesy of Flickr user chefranden.