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MDC’s (developed)
small % of people in agricuture (about 2-5%)
rely on mnay machines
LDC’s (Undeveloped)
large % of people in agriculture (about 50% or higher)
use primitive hand tools and animal labor
Prime agricultural land
the most productive farmland
Agribuisness
commerical farming that integrates into a large food production industry and uses large scale farming
Monoculture
grow one crop at a time, dependent on specific season
Mono-cropping
growing one crop in a farm system year after year
Multi-cropping/Intercropping
growing multiple crops at the same time
Bid-rent theory
intensive and extnsive farming practices are determined in part by land costs
Large scale commerical operations
controlled by large copperations/coprate intrets
ex: Purdue
Economics of Scale
can produce large quantities of food at lower costs
3 countries that import food into the USA
China, Mexico, and European Countries
Luxury crops
Crops that are not essential to survival
Ex: Coffee, tea, bananas, pineapples, and cocoa
Problems with commodity chain/supply chains
farmers who produce the crops are not able to afford the final product themselves
-By focusing on luxury crops, framers don’t produce enough locally grown food causing prices of essential food to increase when production is low in LDC’s
-Often farmers use unsustainable methods that can erode the soil or cause chemical pollution that harms the long-term use of the land
Examples of countries that are highly dependent on export commodities
Haitian coffee, Sri Lanka Tea, Cuban Sugar, Ghanaian and Ivory Coast Cocoa
Mostly LDC’s
What role do effective political systems play with regard to global agriculture?
Countries/ leadership that are willing to work together to set policies that allow for a smooth flow of products make it easier for products to make it through the supply chain. This could include any policy related to taxes/tariffs, regulations, inspections, testing, etc.
Subsidies
Public supports to ensure that consumers have a dependable, low cost food supplies
Supportive trade policies
Policies that reduce taxes/tariffs on products and provide fair incomes to producers and growers
Fair Trade Movement
Promotes higher incomes for producers and for those that are using more sustainable practices.
Fair trade agreements
Exist for things such as cotton and coffee. They can increase prices for the consumer but provide a bigger share of final sale back to producers and growers in LDC’s
How much of the world’s ice-free land is devoted to human use?
Roughly ⅔ of the worlds land
40% is used for farmland
Pollution
Process by which soil is contaminated by chemicals
Land cover change
Process by which agricultural areas are lost to development
Desertification
The transition of land from fertile soil to desert
Irrigation
The process of diverting water from its natural course or location to aid in the production of crops
Can disrupt the natural drainage of water
Salinization
Increasing the salt content of soil which can result in decreases in crop yield and soil fertility
Land Subsidence
The collapse of land resulting from the removal of underground water and depletion of aquifers needed to support the surface of land
Conservation
Primarily to improve soil structure to protect against erosion and nutrient losses
Terraces
Flat steps that are created on the sides of hills to create more land for farming
Benefits: Planting, harvesting, and tending is easier
Steps collect rainfall instead of running downhill
Less soil erosion
Pastoral Nomadism
Pasture land that is used for animal grazing can lead to soil erosion due to overgrazing
Changing Diet
MDC’s continue for their demand of meat, LDC’s see an increase in their demand for meat as well as convenient processed food
This all results in an increase in food lots which means more animals are being harmed
Feedlots
Cause increases in ammonia, methane, and hydrogen sulfite in the air and can pollute the water supply
Agricultural Biotechnology
The use of scientific tools and techniques to modify plants and animals
GMO & Problems
Plants and animals whose DNA has been genetically modified
Problems:GMO seeds are very expensive
GMO resistant seeds can lead to the development of super weeds or pets as they adapt
Potential long term risks to consumers
Aquaculture
Raising of fish and shellfish in ponds and controlled seawater hatcheries
Reductions in Biodiversity
With the increased use of GMOs, farmers abandon older varieties of crops. Farmers who engage in monocropping or monoculture reduce the diversity of insects, animals, and other organisms that depend on other varieties of plants
Value added foods
Foods that have increased in value due to alterations in production, size, shape, appearance, location, and/or convenience. This can also include changes to how animals are raised such as free range chickens and grass fed beef.
Fair Trade
Trade between MDC and LDC in which fair prices are paid to the producers
Community-supported agriculture (CSA)
Individuals who pledge support to farm operations so that growers and consumers can provide mutual support
Local-Food Movements
Movement to get more products from local vendors. This reduces transportation from the producer to the consumer
Food Insecurity
The state of being without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food
Food Desert
A geographic area where large grocery stores are scarce or missing and residents have limited access to nutritious foods. Typically in urban, low-income neighborhoods
Suburbanization
Growth of residential areas has led to land loss. Suburban sprawl in MDC’s and urban sprawl in LDC’s has led to loss of agricultural land.