Global Cities Final

Agribusiness

All businesses involved in the production, processing, marketing, and distribution of agricultural products. It's a commercial, profit-driven industry that goes beyond just farming, including everything from seed production to retail sales.

Agricultural Revolution

A pivotal period in human history marked by the transition from nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyles to settled agricultural communities

Agriculture

Agriculture is deliberate modification of the earth’s surface through cultivation of plants and rearing of animals to obtain sustenance or economic gain.

Crop

Any plant cultivated by people

Columbian Exchange

Widespread transfer of animals, plants, culture, humans, technology, diseases, and ideas between the old and new world in the 15th and 16th centuries.

Commercial Agriculture

The production of food primarily for sale off the farm.

Cash Crops

Cash crops are agricultural products grown primarily for sale and profit, rather than for personal consumption—cotton, wheat, illegal drugs, etc.

Livestock

Farm animals for market or trade (not just for your family consumption)

Desertification

A fertile land changes itself into a desert by losing its flora and fauna, this can be caused by drought, deforestation, climate change, human activities or improper agriculture.

Food Security

All people, at all times, have access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and preferences for an active and healthy life.

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO)

Crops that carry new traits that have been inserted through advanced genetic engineering methods—sugar beets, papaya, corn, cotton, soy, etc.

Green Revolution

The diffusion of agricultural technologies and practices to less developed areas, especially Mexico and India. Primarily associated with 1960s and beyond. Focused on ending famine (in India and Pakistan)

Herbicide

Chemicals used to manipulate or control undesirable vegetation

Intensive Subsistence Agriculture

A farming practice that focuses on maximizing crop yield from a small area of land using intensive labor and various techniques to ensure enough food for the farmer's family

Organic Agriculture

Approach to farming and ranching that avoids the use of herbicides, pesticides, growth hormones, and other similar synthetic inputs

Pastoral Nomadism

A way of life where people move with their livestock in search of grazing pastures and water, often seasonally

Pesticide

Substances, often chemicals, used to control or eliminate pests like insects, rodents, fungi, and unwanted plants (weeds).

Plantation Farming

A large farm in tropical climates that specializes in selling a single crop

Second Agricultural Revolution

Lasted from 1700s to early 1900s, connected to Industrial Revolution/ New technologies developed to improve crop yields, produced surplus to feed factory workers. Fertilizer and artificial feed for animals, selective breeding of livestock, planting of crops in rows, machines can work rows, railroads decreased transportation time from field to market, and machines increase speed of planting and harvesting

Subsistence Agriculture

The production of food primarily for consumption by the farmer’s family.

Truck Farming

It's a form of agriculture where produce is transported to market by vehicles, and while small-scale, it can be a profitable venture, especially with good markets and efficient management.

Developed Country

A nation with a high level of economic prosperity, technological advancement, and a generally high standard of living

Developing Country

A nation with a relatively low standard of living, less developed industrial base, and a lower Human Development Index (HDI) compared to developed countries

Development

How cities integrate into and shape the global economy, politics, and culture

Fair Trade

A way of doing business and shopping that prioritizes a fairer deal for farmers and workers, particularly in developing countries

Gender Development Index (GDI)

Measures gender inequality in human development achievements by comparing female and male Human Development Index (HDI) values

Gender Inequality Index

A composite measure used by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to assess gender inequality across countries

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

A measure of the total income earned within a country during a specific period, typically a year

Gross National Income (GNI)

The total amount of money earned by a nation's people and businesses. It is used to measure and track a nation's wealth from year to year.

Human Development Index (HDI)

A composite statistic used to measure a country's overall achievement in its basic dimensions of human development: health, education, and standard of living

Literacy Rate

The percentage of people in a given age group (typically 15 years and older) who can both read and write with understanding a simple statement about their everyday life

Primary Sector

The extraction and harvesting of natural resources, including agriculture, fishing, forestry, and mining

Productivity

How efficiently resources are used to produce goods or service

Secondary Sector

The manufacturing, processing, and construction of goods using raw materials extracted from the primary sector

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

A collection of 17 interconnected goals adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030

Tertiary Sector

Businesses that provide services rather than producing goods

Urbanization

The process of making an area more urban.

Gentrification

A process where affluent individuals move into and renovate previously low-income or marginalized neighborhoods

Displace

To remove something from its usual or proper place, force it to leave a place, or take the place of something else

Marginalize

To treat someone or something as if they are not important

Revitalize

To restore something to life or give it new life

Hartford 400

A comprehensive, river-centered vision and action plan for the Connecticut Valley and its capital city, Hartford

Why do people consume different foods?

Because of different cultures, preferences, and the food that is available where they live.

How did the neolithic, first and third industrial, and green revolution change agricultural practices?

The Neolithic Revolution initiated agriculture, transitioning from hunting and gathering to farming and settlement. The First Industrial Revolution introduced mechanization and increased efficiency, leading to larger farms and economies of scale. The Green Revolution, meanwhile, focused on increasing yields through new technologies and agricultural practices.

What are the challenges modern-day farmers face? Why do farmers face sustainability challenges?

labor shortages, economic pressures, and adapting to climate change and evolving consumer demands. Sustainability challenges arise from the need to balance food production with environmental concerns like resource depletion, soil degradation, and biodiversity loss.

In what ways have globalization and trade changed how we get our food? What are the costs associated with this global trade?

Globalization and trade have fundamentally altered how we access food, offering greater diversity and affordability but also creating vulnerabilities and potential costs. Globalization allows for the import of seasonal and specialized foods, increases the variety available in grocery stores, and makes some food options more affordable. However, this reliance on global food systems can make countries vulnerable to disruptions, and the increased complexity of supply chains can raise food safety concerns.

Why does development vary among countries?

Due to a complex interplay of factors, including historical context, geography, and economic policies

Where are inequalities found and how do countries face challenges to development?

Due to factors like rising debt, environmental vulnerability, and the impact of globalization

How do countries make progress and what does our future look like?

By focusing on economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability. The future could see advancements in technology, increased global cooperation, and a greater focus on sustainable development.