The Geography of Agriculture and Food

These flashcards are designed to help students review the key vocabulary and definitions related to the geography of agriculture and food systems.

Agriculture

The cultivation of crops and livestock for food, feed, drink, and fiber.

Extensive Agriculture

Agriculture that occurs on large areas of land with low levels of labor or capital.

Intensive Agriculture

Agriculture that utilizes high levels of labor or capital relative to the size of the land.

Subsistence Agriculture

Agriculture that produces food for the family or community that grows it.

Commercial Agriculture

Agriculture that produces food intended for sale on the market.

Crop-Based Systems

Agricultural systems that primarily focus on cultivating plants such as fruits, vegetables, and cereals.

Livestock-Based Systems

Agricultural systems centered on rearing animals for meat, milk, hides, and other products.

Slash-and-Burn Agriculture

A farming method where small plots are cut and burned to release nutrients into the soil.

Paddy Rice Farming

Farming method that involves cultivating rice in flooded fields, particularly in Asian regions.

Double-Cropping

Planting two crops in the same field within a single year.

Cereal-Root Crop Farming

Farming systems that rely on cereal grains and roots for food production.

Plantation Agriculture

A large-scale farming operation that specializes in the production of a single crop for the market.

Market Gardening

Small to medium-scale farming systems that produce fruits and vegetables for local markets.

Grain Farming

Highly mechanized and chemical-intensive farming focusing on cereal grains.

Pastoralism

A form of agriculture where herds of animals are moved over large areas for grazing.

Livestock Ranching

Market-oriented livestock production system typically found in temperate regions.

Livestock Fattening

A system that encourages livestock to gain mass before slaughter, often in feedlots.

Dairying

Commercial production of milk and milk products, either through small family farms or large operations.

Aquaculture

Cultivation and harvesting of aquatic species under controlled conditions.

Mariculture

A type of aquaculture focused on marine species like shrimp and marine fish.

Von Thünen Model

A model that explains the relationship between agricultural production and distance from markets.

Globalization

The process by which agriculture and food consumption are transformed on a global scale.

Green Revolution

A period of agricultural transformation marked by the adoption of high-yielding varieties and modern agricultural practices.

Genetic Engineering

The direct alteration of an organism's DNA to create genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

Synthetic Fertilizers

Artificially made nutrients applied to crops to enhance growth and yield.

Agrochemicals

Chemicals used in agriculture, including fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides.

Food Sovereignty

The right of peoples to healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods.

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)

A system where consumers buy shares of a farm’s harvest, supporting local agriculture.

Eutrophication

The process by which excessive nutrients in water bodies lead to algal blooms and depleted oxygen levels.

Cultural Landscape

The expression of the culture of a group through the transformation of the natural landscape.

Biodiversity

The variety of life in a particular ecosystem, critical for sustainable agriculture.

Food Insecurity

A situation where access to adequate food is limited by a lack of resources.

Sustainable Agriculture

Farming practices that maintain healthy soil, clean water, and biodiversity over the long term.

Agribusiness

The integration of all aspects of food production into corporate structures.

Mechanization

The use of machines in agricultural production to increase efficiency.

Transhumance

The seasonal movement of people with their livestock between fixed summer and winter pastures.

Cultural Norms

Shared standards and patterns that guide behavior within a cultural group.

Food Processing

The transformation of raw ingredients into food products through various techniques.

Industrial Agriculture

A form of modern farming that includes industrialized production of livestock, poultry, fish, and crops.

Climate Change

Long-term changes in temperature and typical weather patterns in a place, impacting agriculture.

Food Systems

A complex network encompassing food production, processing, distribution, consumption, and waste management.

Nutrition

The process of providing or obtaining the food necessary for health and growth.

Food Contamination

The presence of harmful substances in food that can lead to illness.

Social Justice in Agriculture

The pursuit of fairness and equality within agricultural systems and food distribution.

Organic Agriculture

Farming that relies on ecological processes and biodiversity, avoiding synthetic inputs.

Vertical Integration

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

Farming Technologies

Innovations and tools developed to enhance agricultural efficiency and productivity.

Land Reclamation

The process of creating new land from oceans, riverbeds, or other water bodies.

Hydroponics

A method of growing plants in nutrient-rich water rather than soil.

Nutrient Runoff

When excess nutrients from fertilizers are washed away into water bodies, causing pollution.

Population Density

The number of people living per unit of area, affecting agricultural practices.

Intercropping

Growing two or more crops in proximity for various benefits.

Labor Mobility

The movement of workers between jobs, especially in seasonal agricultural work.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

An environmentally sensitive approach to pest management that relies on natural pest control.

Short Food Supply Chains

Local food systems that reduce the distance food travels from producer to consumer.

Horticulture

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

Farm Subsidies

Financial support from the government to farmers to help stabilize their income.

Soil Erosion

The removal of the topsoil layer, which is crucial for plant growth.

Food Anthropology

The study of how food practices relate to human cultures.

Post-Harvest Loss

The reduction of the quantity or quality of food following harvest.