Eviroment, Agriculture and Society - CPSC 113

Natural Resources

The idea of using natural resources responsibly and not abusing them.

Society

Refers to the various aspects of human society, including health, wealth/poverty, behavior, and communities.

Food Security

The state of having reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food.

Food Safety

The measures and practices taken to ensure that food is safe for consumption and free from contamination.

Climate Change

The long-term alteration of temperature and typical weather patterns in a place, caused by human activities such as burning fossil fuels.

Bioenergy

Energy derived from organic matter, such as plants or animal waste, that can be used as a renewable source of fuel.

Critical Thinking

The ability to evaluate information and opinions in a systematic, purposeful, and logical manner.

Scientific Method

A systematic approach to acquiring knowledge through observation, experimentation, and analysis.

Hypothesis

A proposed explanation or prediction that can be tested through experimentation.

Null Hypothesis

The hypothesis that there is no significant difference or relationship between variables being studied.

Baloney Detection Kit

A set of questions and criteria developed by Dr. Carl Sagan to evaluate the reliability and validity of scientific claims.

Anthropocentric

Regarding humans as the most important entity in the universe and interpreting things from a human perspective.

Gaia Hypothesis

The theory that living organisms and their inorganic surroundings have evolved together as a single living system that greatly affects the conditions of Earth's surface.

Domestication

The process of adapting or taming wild species of plants or animals for human use.

Genetic Variation

The differences in genetic material (DNA) among individuals of the same species.

Wheat Domestication

The process of adapting wild wheat species to create cultivated varieties with desirable traits.

Sorghum

A cereal grain that is used for food, animal feed, and biofuel production.

Corn Domestication

The process of adapting wild corn species to create cultivated varieties with desirable traits.

Polyculture

The practice of growing multiple crops or plants together in the same area, which helps maintain a stable environment.

Nitrogen Cycle

The natural process by which nitrogen is converted and recycled in the environment, involving nitrogen-fixing bacteria, plants, and other organisms.

Essential Amino Acids

The 9 amino acids that must come from the diet and are necessary for proper bodily function.

Land Tenure

The way in which land is owned, used, and transferred.

Communal Lands

Land that is collectively owned and used by the members of a village or community.

Kand System

A system of land distribution that results in equal shares of land among community members, preventing land hoarding for wealth and status.

Wilderness

The untamed and uninhabited natural environment, often seen as a place of evil or waste by Europeans.

Colonial Philosophy

The belief that farming is used to create a surplus for profit, land is owned by individuals, and land not being farmed is wasted land.

Agrarianism

The belief that farmers are the backbone of society and that ownership of land is a natural right.

Thanksgiving

A holiday traditionally associated with gratitude and feasting, often symbolized by a roasted turkey.

American Agrarian Tradition

The myth that American farmers quickly transitioned from subsistence farming to commercial farming.

Cotton Gin

A machine invented by Eli Whitney in 1794 that revolutionized cotton production by increasing efficiency and profitability.

Evolution of American Agriculture

The rapid growth in technology and mechanization that transformed farming practices in the United States.

Mechanization

The process of replacing human or animal labor with machines and technology in agricultural production.

Farm Production

The increase in agricultural output and productivity, particularly in the 1940s.

Richard Nixon

The President of the United States in the 1970s who promoted corn production for political reasons, leading to changes in American agriculture.