UNIT 5 REVIEW Agriculture ANSWER KEY

Agriculture

The deliberate modification of Earth’s surface through cultivation of plants and rearing of animals to obtain sustenance or economic gain.

Commercial Farming

The production of food primarily for sale off the farm.

First Agricultural Revolution

The Neolithic Revolution, marking the shift from hunting and gathering to plant and animal domestication.

Intensive Subsistence

Farmers expend large effort to produce maximum yield from a parcel of land, common in areas of high density.

Mixed Crop & Livestock Farming

Integration of crops and livestock, with most crops fed to animals rather than consumed directly by humans.

Grain Farming

Growing crops primarily for human consumption, with a focus on grains like wheat, corn, and oats.

Livestock Farming

Commercial grazing of livestock over an extensive area, often on semi-arid or arid land where vegetation is sparse.

Mediterranean Agriculture

Farming in lands bordering the Mediterranean Sea in Southern Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia, focusing on crops for human consumption and horticulture.

Ester Boserup’s Theory

Theory stating that population change drives agricultural production intensity, countering Malthusian theory and emphasizing innovation in food production.

Modern Agriculture

Industrialized production of livestock, poultry, fish, and crops with benefits like cheap food but drawbacks including environmental and social costs.

Agribusiness

Commercial agriculture integrated by large corporations, involving different steps in the food-processing industry.

Sustainable Agriculture

Farming in ways that meet present needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet their needs, focusing on environmental sustainability.

Challenges for Farmers

Subsistence and commercial farmers face challenges like increasing food demand, market power shifts, and preserving agricultural resources.

Famine & Malnutrition

Hunger periods with severe food insecurity, malnutrition due to lack of proper nutrition, and strategies to increase food supply.