EXAM II:

FOOD & AGRICULTURE

Industrial agriculture

Large-scale, high-input farming that increases production but causes environmental harm

Food security

Ability to obtain sufficient, healthy food daily

Famine

Large-scale food shortage leading to starvation, often caused by conflict or distribution failure

Malnourishment

Lack of proper nutrients, not just calories

Why hunger persists despite surplus

Poor distribution, poverty, political instability

Wealth indicator in diet

High meat consumption (resource intensive)

Why eat lower on food chain

More energy efficient and uses fewer resources

CAFOs

Large industrial livestock operations that create pollution and ethical concerns

Pesticide treadmill

Pests evolve resistance, requiring more or stronger pesticides

GMO

Organism genetically modified for specific traits like pest resistance

Green Revolution

Increased crop yields through fertilizers, irrigation, and high-yield seeds

Soil importance

Supports plant growth, stores nutrients, prevents erosion

Soil horizons

Different soil layers (topsoil, subsoil, parent material)

Types of erosion

Wind, water, gravity, human activity

Primary global food sources

Corn, wheat, rice

Why biodiversity in diet matters

Prevents malnutrition and nutrient deficiencies