APES Chapter 11 - Feeding the World

What are the nutritional deficiencies most common in less-developed countries?

Iron, Vitamin A, and Iodine.

What is undernutrition?

The condition in which not enough calories are ingested to maintain health.

Define malnutrition.

Having a diet that lacks the correct balance of proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals.

What does food insecurity refer to?

A condition in which people do not have adequate access to food.

What is famine?

Food insecurity that is so extreme that large numbers of deaths occur in a given area over a relatively short time.

What percentage of the population was undernourished in countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo and India as of 2005?

More than 35%.

What is over-nutrition?

Ingestion of too many calories and a lack of balance of foods and nutrients.

List some factors that contribute to malnutrition.

Poverty, political unrest, poor governance, high food prices, and other economic conditions.

What is a food desert?

An area with limited access to affordable and nutritious food.

What are the three main systems that produce most of the world's food?

Croplands, rangelands, and aquaculture.

What is the Green Revolution?

A shift in agricultural practices that included new management techniques, mechanization, fertilization, irrigation, and improved crop varieties.

What is the impact of irrigation on soil?

It can lead to problems such as waterlogging and salinization.

Differentiate between organic and synthetic fertilizers.

Organic fertilizers are composed of organic matter from plants and animals, while synthetic fertilizers are produced commercially using fossil fuels.

What is a pesticide treadmill?

A cycle of pesticide development, followed by pest resistance, followed by new pesticide development.

What are the main advantages of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in agriculture?

Greater yield, better food quality, and reductions in pesticide use.

What is integrated pest management (IPM)?

An agricultural practice that uses a variety of techniques designed to minimize pesticide inputs.

What sustainable practices can be used in soil management?

Conservation tillage, crop rotation, contour plowing, intercropping, and terracing.

What is aquaculture?

Farming aquatic organisms such as fish, shellfish, and seaweeds.

What is an individual transferable quota (ITQ)?

A fishery management program in which individual fishers are given a total allowable catch of fish in a season that they can either catch or sell.

What is sustainable agriculture?

Agriculture that fulfills the need for food while enhancing soil quality, minimizing the use of nonrenewable resources, and ensuring economic viability for farmers.

Define traditional subsistence agriculture.

An agricultural system where human labor and draft animals are used to produce just enough food for the family.

How do conventional agriculture and organic agriculture differ regarding pest control?

Conventional agriculture uses synthetic pesticides, while organic agriculture emphasizes prevention and does not use synthetic pesticides.

What is the importance of seed banks?

They help preserve agrobiodiversity by storing seeds of various plant species.

What was the Dust Bowl, and what impact did it have on soil management practices?

A severe drought and soil erosion event in the 1930s that led to the need for improved soil conservation measures.

What are the major harmful effects of agriculture on biodiversity?

Loss of habitats, reduction of genetic diversity, and disruption of ecological balance.