5.1 & 5.3 (Tragedy of the Commons & Green Revolution)

Tragedy of the Commons

Theory that shared resources (commons) will be overused and depleted

maximum sustainable yield

the maximum rate a renewable resource can be harvested at without threatening the future availability of that resource (usually half of carrying capacity)

Green Revolution

Shift in agriculture practices that increased yield and profits through mechanization, irrigation, fertilizers, pesticides, and GMOs.

Synthetic pesticides

Man made chemicals designed to kill pest organisms, increasing crop yields

Synthetic fertilizers

Man made chemicals that add nitrates & phosphates to soil to increase crop yields (made through FF comubustion)

GMOs

Genetically modified organisms. Examples include hardier crop varieties or those with genetic resistance to pests engineered in

Irrigation

Collection and distribution of water to agricultural crops. Often drawn out of aquifers which depletes them; over-irrigation can cause soil erosion or waterlogging of soil

Mechanization

Use of machines such as tractors, combines, irrigators, etc. in agriculture. Replaced human labor and increased reliance on FF

Fossil fuels

Gasoline, natural gas, coal that are combusted to produce electricity or power vehicles such as tractors and combines

Industrial or conventional agriculture

Post green-revolution farming. Monocropping with large amounts of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, and machines replacing human/animal labor