Agricultural and Economic Systems

A series of flashcards highlighting key vocabulary and concepts related to agricultural and economic systems discussed in the lecture notes.

Agriculture

The deliberate modification of the Earth's surface through cultivation of plants and rearing of animals to obtain nutrition or financial gain.

First Agricultural Revolution

Also known as the Neolithic Revolution, this event marked the beginnings of agriculture around 8000 BC.

Animal Domestication

The process where humans influence the reproduction and care of an animal to secure a reliable supply of resources.

Subsistence Farming

A self-sufficient farming system in which farmers grow food only to feed themselves and their families.

Commercial Agriculture

Farming for the purpose of selling crops, typically involving large scale production and specialized farming.

Green Revolution

A period of agricultural transformation that started between the 1960s-1980s, characterized by the development of high-yield crop varieties and increased use of chemical fertilizers.

Staple Grains

Crops that form the basis of a diet in many societies, including rice, wheat, and corn.

Economic Levels

The classification of economic activities into sectors, ranging from Primary (extraction of resources) to Quinary (management and knowledge-based services).

Hunting and Gathering Societies

Communities that rely on wild resources for sustenance, typically characterized by mobility and small group sizes.

Agribusiness

The interconnected system of businesses that provide goods and services for agriculture, including farming, processing, distribution, and retail.

Food Production Regions

Areas defined by agricultural practices, which can reflect subsistence or commercial practices as well as intensive or extensive land use.

Plantation Agriculture

Large-scale land operations that often grow cash crops and require significant capital investment.

Shifting Cultivation

An agricultural system involving clearing land, planting for a few years, and then moving to a new area until the old area can recover its fertility.

Economic Sectors

The divisions of the economy based on the type of work performed, usually categorized into Primary, Secondary, Tertiary, Quaternary, and Quinary.

Vertical Integration

A business strategy where a company controls multiple stages of production, distribution, and sales within the same industry.

Commodity Chain

The process of coordinating and transforming resources into goods that are distributed and sold in markets.

Environmental Modifications

Changes made to the natural environment in order to increase agricultural production or to improve living conditions.

Biotechnology

The use of living organisms or their systems to develop products, often applied in agriculture to improve food production.

Debt-for-Nature Swap

An arrangement where foreign debt is forgiven in exchange for a commitment to environmental protection efforts.

GMO (Genetically Modified Organism)

An organism whose genetic material has been artificially manipulated in a laboratory through genetic engineering.

Urbanization

The process by which more of a population moves from rural areas to urban areas, often leading to city growth.

Gentrification

The process of renovating urban neighborhoods, often leading to increased property values and changes in the community demographics.

Urban Heat Island Effect

The phenomenon where urban areas experience higher temperatures than their rural surroundings due to human activities and development.

Smart Growth

Urban planning and transportation theory that promotes sustainable communities and practices to reduce urban sprawl.