Ag Foundations Semester 2 Review

Processor

A company or facility that turns raw agricultural products into finished food items.

Air cell

The pocket of air inside an egg that forms as the egg cools after being laid.

Golden Rice

A genetically modified rice variety engineered to contain beta‑carotene (Vitamin A).

USDA

United States Department of Agriculture; oversees meat, poultry, eggs, and agricultural products.

Listeriosis

A foodborne illness caused by the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes.

E. coli

A type of bacteria that can contaminate food and cause severe illness.

Salmonellosis

Food poisoning caused by Salmonella bacteria.

Pasteurization

Heating food (usually milk or juice) to kill harmful bacteria.

Grader

A person or machine that evaluates food quality, such as egg grades.

Egg grading

The process of inspecting eggs for quality based on shell, air cell, and interior condition.

Expiration date

The last date a food product is considered safe to consume.

FDA

Food and Drug Administration; regulates most food products except meat, poultry, and eggs.

Producer

A person or business that grows or raises raw agricultural products.

GMO

Genetically Modified Organism; a plant or animal whose DNA has been altered for specific traits.

Sell‑by date

The date stores use to know how long a product should be displayed for sale.

Cross contamination

The transfer of harmful bacteria from one surface or food to another.

Bacteria

Single‑celled microorganisms; some are helpful, others cause foodborne illness.

Pathogens

Disease‑causing microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, or parasites.

Distributor

A company that transports and delivers food products to stores or restaurants.

Flavr Savr Tomato

The first genetically engineered food approved for sale; designed to ripen slower.

Danger Zone

The temperature range *40°F-140°F* where bacteria grow rapidly.

Botulism

A severe foodborne illness caused by Clostridium botulinum.

Macronutrient

A nutrient needed in large amounts: carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.

Commensalism

A relationship where one organism benefits and the other is unaffected.

Precipitation

Water released from clouds as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.

Weathering

The breakdown of rocks into smaller pieces by wind, water, or temperature.

Algal blooms

Rapid algae growth caused by excess nutrients in water.

Parasitism

A relationship where one organism benefits while the other is harmed.

Percolation

The movement of water downward through soil layers.

Leaching

Nutrients being washed out of soil by water movement.

Respiration

The process where organisms use oxygen to break down food for energy.

Predation

A relationship where one organism hunts and eats another.

Erosion

The movement of soil or rock by wind, water, or ice.

Deposition

The settling of eroded materials in a new location.

Photosynthesis

The process plants use to convert sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide into food.

Microbes

Microscopic organisms such as bacteria, fungi, and protozoa.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

A federal agency that protects human health and the environment.

Habitat

The natural environment where an organism lives.

Transpiration

The release of water vapor from plant leaves.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)

Manages wildlife, habitats, and conservation in Florida.

Condensation

Water vapor cooling and turning into liquid droplets.

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS)

Oversees agriculture, consumer protection, and Florida's food industries.

Evaporation

Liquid water turning into vapor.

Nutrient runoff

Excess nutrients washing into waterways, often from fertilizers.

Eutrophication

Nutrient overload in water causing algae growth and oxygen depletion.

Cultivation

Preparing and working soil for planting crops.

No‑till farming

A method where soil is not plowed to reduce erosion and improve soil health.

Clean Water Act

A federal law regulating water pollution and protecting U.S. waterways.

Terracing

Creating step‑like levels on slopes to reduce erosion.

Everglades

A unique wetland ecosystem in Florida important for water flow and wildlife.

Best Management Practices (BMP)

Methods used to reduce pollution and protect natural resources.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

A pest‑control strategy using biological, cultural, and chemical methods.

Irrigation

Supplying water to crops through artificial methods.

Intercropping

Growing two or more crops together to improve soil and reduce pests.

Drip irrigation

A water‑efficient system that delivers water directly to plant roots.

Hydroponics

Growing plants without soil using nutrient‑rich water.

Osmosis

Movement of water across a membrane from low to high solute concentration.

Calvin cycle

The stage of photosynthesis where plants use carbon dioxide to make sugars.

Pollination

Transfer of pollen from anther to stigma for fertilization.

Fertilizer ratios

Numbers showing the percentage of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (N‑P‑K).

Diffusion

Movement of molecules from high to low concentration.

Krebs cycle

A stage of cellular respiration that releases energy from food molecules.

Ovulation

Release of an ovule (egg cell) in plants or animals.

Customer service

Professional behavior when assisting customers in agricultural businesses.

Genetic engineering

Directly altering an organism's DNA to produce desired traits.

Xylem

Plant tissue that transports water upward from roots.

Anther

The flower structure that produces pollen.

Heredity

Passing traits from parents to offspring.

Hybridization

Crossing two different plants to produce offspring with improved traits.

Phloem

Plant tissue that transports sugars from leaves to the rest of the plant.

Nucleus

The cell structure that contains DNA and controls activities.

Biotechnology

Using living organisms or biological processes to improve products or agriculture.

Fermentation

A process where microbes break down sugars without oxygen, producing acids or alcohol.

Pomology

The study and production of fruit crops.

Floriculture

The cultivation and marketing of flowers and ornamental plants.

Olericulture

The production of vegetable crops.

Cloning

Producing genetically identical copies of an organism.

Germination

The process of a seed sprouting and beginning to grow.

Ovules

Structures in flowers that develop into seeds after fertilization.

Annual

A plant that completes its life cycle in one year.

Biennial

A plant that completes its life cycle in two years.

Perennial

A plant that lives for more than two years.

Sexual propagation

Growing plants from seeds produced by fertilization.

Asexual propagation

Growing new plants from stems, leaves, or roots without seeds.

Horticulture

The science and art of growing fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants.

Biological propagation

Reproducing plants using natural biological processes.

Pollen

Male reproductive cells produced by the anther.

Topmost layer

The uppermost layer of soil.

Topsoil

The nutrient‑rich upper layer of soil where most plant roots grow.

Organic matter

Decomposed plant and animal material in soil.

DNA

Genetic material that carries hereditary information.

Inbreeding

Breeding closely related organisms, often reducing genetic diversity.

Selective breeding

Choosing parent organisms with desired traits to produce improved offspring.

Grain crop

Plants grown for their edible seeds, such as wheat, corn, or rice.

Renewable energy

Energy from sources that naturally replenish, like solar or wind.

Farmer's Market

A place where local farmers sell fresh products directly to consumers.

Localized food systems

Food produced, processed, and sold within a specific region.