Unit 5 Full Guide

Agribusiness

Large-scale, corporate-controlled commercial farming.

Monoculture

Growing only one type of crop, increasing vulnerability to pests and disease.

Food Desert

Areas with limited access to fresh and affordable food.

GMO (Genetically Modified Organism)

Crops with altered DNA for higher yields and resistance.

Sustainable Agriculture

Farming methods that protect the environment and conserve resources.

Agriculture

The deliberate modification of Earth’s surface through the cultivation of plants and the domestication of animals for food, fiber, and other resources.

Neolithic Revolution

The transition from hunting and gathering to settled farming, dating back to approximately 10,000 years ago.

First Agricultural Revolution

Marked by the domestication of plants and animals, it led to the development of permanent settlements and early civilizations.

Second Agricultural Revolution

Coincided with the Industrial Revolution, leading to improvements in crop rotation, soil fertilization, and tools.

Third Agricultural Revolution (Green Revolution)

Initiated in the 1940s with the introduction of high-yield crops, chemical fertilizers, and mechanized farming.

Subsistence Agriculture

Farmers grow food primarily for their own consumption.

Commercial Agriculture

Farming for profit, using advanced technology and large-scale production.

Shifting Cultivation

Farmers clear land by burning vegetation; found in tropical regions.

Pastoral Nomadism

Herding of animals in arid and semi-arid regions.

Intensive Subsistence Agriculture

Small farms with high labor input, often found in high population areas.

Plantation Agriculture

Large-scale commercial farming of cash crops in tropical and subtropical regions.

Mixed Crop and Livestock Farming

A farming system combining crops and livestock.

Dairy Farming

Farming focused on producing milk and dairy products.

Grain Farming

Large-scale production of grains like wheat and corn.

Mediterranean Agriculture

Specialized farming in warm, coastal regions.

Crop Rotation

The practice of alternating different crops in a field to maintain soil fertility.

Selective Breeding

Choosing specific traits in animals and plants to improve yields.

Enclosure Movement

Transition from open farmland to privately owned plots.

Irrigation

Artificial watering of crops to enhance yield.

Pesticides & Fertilizers

Chemicals used to increase crop production and reduce pests.

Supply Chain

The process of producing and delivering food from farm to consumer.

Luxury Crops

Non-essential crops grown for profit, such as coffee and tea.

Fair Trade Movement

Ensures farmers receive fair wages and good working conditions.

Subsistence Farming

Farming primarily for family consumption.

Microfinance

Small loans given to individuals, often women, to start businesses or farms.

Land Tenure

The right to own or use land, often denied to women.