AP Human Geo Quiz 5.6-5.12

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.