Agriculture

Malnourishment

a nutrient imbalance caused by a lack of a specific dietary component

Kwashiorkor

the form of malnourishment that causes children to develop puffy, discolored skin and a bloated belly

Corn & soybean

the two primary farm products grown in the United States

Benefit of confined animal feeding operations

large amounts of meat can be efficiently produced

Fish

the only worldwide major source of animal protein that is still wild-caught

Why global hunger levels are not reduced (amid high food production levels)

distribution of food can be corrupt and/or lacking; speculation on food commodities leads to food crises; much of the food produced is wasted

seafood/fish

the main animal protein source for about 1 billion people in developing countries

Aquaculture

the growing of fish in tanks or pens for consumption

Small farms

produce the vast majority of the world’s food

Causes of increased crop productivity

use of synthetic fertilizers, irrigation, improved crop varieties

Transgenic organisms

genetically modified organisms (GMOs)

Green revolution

the dramatic increase of yield from newly developed crop varieties that spread around the world in the 1950s

Sustainable agriculture/regenerative farming

aims to reduce or repair the damage caused by destructive practices

Contour plowing

done across a hill, following the shape of the land surface, and is a way to reduce soil erosion*

Elements of soil conservation

land terracing, ground cover, reduced tillage

Strip farming

the planting of different kinds of crops in alternating rows along land contours

Terraces

created to hold earth and water on steep hillsides in order to cultivate the land

Advantages of sustainable farming

lower operating costs and less ecological damage

Disadvantage of sustainable farming

crop yield- produces 20% less than modified crops

Negative aspects of crop residue usage

increase in disease and pest problems and use of pesticides

Community-supported agriculture behavior

local residents paying ahead for a share of a farm’s products

Negative impacts of cheap-food policies

low prices allow people to buy and eat more and get fat, U.S. gov spends billions to support prices or repay farmers whose value is lower than cost paid to produce them

Soil Organic Matter (SOM)

Carbon, Nitrogen, and phosphorus are essential to health and function of the crops

Soil Organic Carbon (SOC)

roughly the same as SOM (SOC = SOM x 0.57)

Blue Baby Syndrome (methemoglobinemia)

NO3- → NO2-; NO2- oxidizes the blood to methemoglobin which doesn’t carry O2 well

⅓ of food production

is lost or wasted globally each year (roughly 1.3B tons)

Ways to rebuild soil

cover crop, diverse rotation, livestock rotation

4R Nitrogen Management

right… source, time, rate, place

SOM importance for sustainable agriculture

enhances soil structure, fertility and moisture retention

Challenges of monoculture for sustainable agriculture

leads to soil nutrient depletion and higher vulnerability to pests

How long to form 1cm of soil

400 years

Partial Factor productivity (PFP)

grain yield/nitrogen applied = PFP