Unit 5 Human Geo

Agribusiness

The sector of the economy focused on the production, processing, and distribution of agricultural products.

Agriculture

The practice of cultivating soil, growing crops, and raising animals for food, fiber, and other products.

Aquaculture

Farming of aquatic organisms such as fish and shellfish in controlled environments.

Boserup Hypothesis

A theory that suggests population growth drives agricultural innovation and intensification.

Capital Intensive

Agricultural practices that require significant investments in machinery and technology.

Carl Sauer

A geographer known for his study of cultural landscapes and agriculture's impact on them.

Cash Crop

Crops grown for sale in the market rather than for personal consumption.

Cereal Grain

Grains from plants in the grass family, primarily grown for human consumption.

Commercial Agriculture

Farming primarily done for profit, involving large-scale production for sale in markets.

Commodity Chain

The series of steps involved in the production and distribution of a commodity.

Comparative Advantage

The principle that countries can gain from specializing in goods they produce efficiently.

Crop

A plant that is grown and harvested for food, feed, or other economic purposes.

Crop Rotation

The practice of growing different crops in a specific sequence on the same land.

Dairying

The business of producing milk and dairy products from animals.

Desertification

The process by which fertile land becomes desert due to various factors.

Domestication

The process by which humans selectively breed plants and animals for beneficial traits.

Double-Cropping

The practice of growing two crops in the same field within one year.

Extensive Subsistence Agriculture

A farming system with low inputs, using large areas of land for personal consumption.

Feedlot

A facility where livestock are concentrated and prepared for slaughter.

First Agricultural Revolution

The transition from hunting and gathering to settled farming occurring around 10,000 years ago.

Food Security

The condition where all people have access to sufficient and nutritious food.

Genetically Modified Organism (GMO)

Organisms altered through genetic engineering for specific traits.

Grain

The seeds of cereal crops used for food and other products.

Green Revolution

A period of increased agricultural productivity due to new technologies and practices.

Horticulture

The cultivation of plants for food, medicine, and ornamental purposes.

Hydroponics

A method of growing plants in a nutrient-rich water solution instead of soil.

Intensive Subsistence Agriculture

A farming system that requires significant labor to produce food for family consumption.

Irrigation

The artificial application of water to assist in growing crops.

Market Gardening

Small-scale farming focused on producing a variety of crops for local markets.

Mediterranean Agriculture

Farming in regions with a Mediterranean climate, involving specific crops and livestock.

Milkshed

The geographic area from which a dairy farm can economically supply milk.

Pastoral Nomadism

A form of subsistence farming where people raise livestock and move seasonally.

Pasture

Land covered with grass used for grazing livestock.

Plantation

A large-scale estate where crops are grown for export.

Prime Agricultural Land

Land highly suitable for farming due to soil quality and climate.

Ranching

The practice of raising livestock on large tracts of land.

Ridge-Tilling

A farming technique where crops are planted on ridges to improve conditions.

Second Agricultural Revolution

An improvement period in agriculture marked by new innovations in the 17th to 19th centuries.

Seed Agriculture

The practice of planting seeds to grow crops.

Shifting Cultivation

A form of subsistence farming where land is cleared and then abandoned after use.

Slash-and-Burn

A technique of clearing land for agriculture by burning vegetation.

Subsidy

Financial assistance from governments to support agricultural production.

Subsistence Agriculture

Farming primarily aimed at producing enough food for the farmer's family.

Swidden

A form of shifting cultivation where land is cleared by burning vegetation.

Sustainable Agriculture

Farming practices designed to meet current food needs without compromising future needs.

Transhumance

The seasonal movement of livestock between summer and winter pastures.

Truck Farming

Commercial production of fruits and vegetables for local markets.

Vegetative Planting

Plant reproduction from parts of existing plants rather than from seeds.

Vertical Integration

A business model where a company controls multiple stages of production.

Von Thünen’s Model

A model explaining land use organization around a central market based on transportation costs.

Wet Rice

Rice grown in flooded fields, typically requiring substantial irrigation.