Final Exam Review: Agriculture and Development Concepts

Agribusiness

A business that is involved in the production, processing, and distribution of agricultural products.

Agricultural Revolution

A period of significant agricultural development marked by the introduction of farming, which led to the establishment of permanent settlements.

Agriculture

The science or practice of farming, including the cultivation of the soil for growing crops and the rearing of animals for food.

Crop

A cultivated plant that is grown for food, livestock fodder, fuel, or other economic purposes.

Columbian Exchange

The widespread transfer of plants, animals, culture, human populations, technology, and ideas between the Americas and the Old World following Columbus's voyages.

Commercial Agriculture

Agriculture undertaken primarily to generate products for sale off the farm.

Cash Crops

Crops produced for commercial value rather than for use by the grower.

Livestock

Farm animals raised for commercial purposes, such as meat, milk, or wool.

Desertification

The process by which fertile land becomes desert, typically as a result of drought, deforestation, or inappropriate agriculture.

Food Security

The state of having reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food.

Genetically Modified Organisms

Organisms whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques.

Green Revolution

A period during the 20th century when agricultural production worldwide increased significantly due to new agricultural technologies.

Herbicide

A chemical substance used to kill unwanted plants or weeds.

Intensive Subsistence Agriculture

A form of agriculture in which farmers cultivate small plots of land with high levels of labor and input.

Organic Agriculture

Farming that relies on natural processes and materials, avoiding synthetic chemicals.

Pastoral Nomadism

A form of subsistence agriculture based on the herding of domesticated animals.

Pesticide

A substance used for destroying insects or other organisms harmful to cultivated plants or animals.

Plantation Farming

A large-scale farming operation that specializes in the production of a single crop.

Second Agricultural Revolution

A period of agricultural development that began in the 17th century and continued into the 19th century, characterized by increased productivity.

Subsistence Agriculture

Farming in which the crops produced are primarily for the farmer's own consumption.

Truck Farming

Commercial gardening and fruit farming, typically involving the production of perishable items.

Developed Country

A sovereign state with a high level of economic development and a high standard of living.

Developing Country

A nation with a lower level of industrialization, lower income levels, and lower Human Development Index (HDI) relative to other countries.

Development

The process of economic growth, expansion, or realization of regional or national potential.

Fair Trade

A movement aimed at helping producers in developing countries achieve better trading conditions and promote sustainability.

Gender Development Index

An index that measures gender inequality in terms of health, education, and income.

Gender Inequality Index

A composite index measuring gender disparities in reproductive health, empowerment, and the labor market.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

The total value of all goods and services produced within a country's borders in a specific time period.

Gross National Income (GNI)

The total income received by a country's residents and businesses, including any income earned abroad.

Human Development Index (HDI)

A composite statistic of life expectancy, education, and per capita income indicators, used to rank countries.

Literacy Rate

The percentage of people who are able to read and write in a specific language.

Primary Sector

The sector of the economy that extracts and harvests natural resources.

Productivity

The measure of the efficiency of production, often expressed as the ratio of outputs to inputs.

Secondary Sector

The sector of the economy that transforms raw materials into manufactured goods.

Sustainable Development Goals

A collection of 17 global goals set by the United Nations in 2015 to be achieved by 2030.

Tertiary Sector

The sector of the economy that provides services rather than goods.

Urbanization

The process by which an increasing percentage of a population comes to live in urban areas.

Gentrification

The process of renovating and improving a house or district so that it conforms to middle-class taste.

Displace

To force someone to leave their home or country.

Marginalize

To treat a person, group, or concept as insignificant or peripheral.

Revitalize

To imbue something with new life and vitality.

Hartford 400

A reference to the 400th anniversary of Hartford, Connecticut, highlighting its historical significance.