Human Geo Unit 5

Agriculture

deliberate modification of earths surface through cultivation of plants and rearing of animals to obtain sustenance or economic gain

agricultural revolution

the time when humans first domesticated plants and animals and no longer relied entirely on hunting and gathering

subsistence agriculture

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

commercial agriculture

production of food primarily for sale off the farm.

dietary energy consumption

amount of food that an individual consumes

undernourishment

dietary energy consumption that is continuously below the minimum requirement for maintaining a healthy life and carrying out light physical activity

pastoral nomadism

form of subsistence agriculture based on the herding of domesticated animals

shifting cultivation

a form of agriculture where land is cleared, cultivated for a few years, and then left to regenerate while farmers move to a new plot.

intensive subsistence farming

a form of agriculture where farmers cultivate small plots of land intensively to maximize yields, often using techniques like irrigation and fertilization.

agribusiness

large-scale farming operations that integrate various aspects of food production, processing, and distribution.

milkshed

ring surrounding a city from which milk can be supplied

ranching

commercial grazing of livestock over an extensive area

commodity chain

series of links connecting a commodity’s many places of production and distribution

aquaculture/aquafarming

cultivation of seafood under controlled conditions, whereas fishing is the capture of wild fish and other seafood

sustainable agriculture

agricultural practices that preserve and enhance environmental quality

Von Thüen Model

a model that explains the location of agricultural activities based on distance from a market, illustrating land use patterns.

food security

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

swidden

land cleared by slash and burn

transhumance

seasonal movement of livestock between mountains and lowland pasture areas

pasture

grass or other plants feeding livestock / land used for grazing