In-Depth Notes on Food & Agriculture
The Cultural Landscape: An Introduction to Human Geography
Chapter 9: Food & Agriculture
The Well-Traveled Salad Ingredients
Ingredients & Origins:
Lettuce: Egypt
Cucumbers: India
Feta Cheese: Greece
Olives: Turkey
Onions: Egypt
Tomatoes: Mexico
Olive Oil: Greece
Balsamic Vinegar: Italy
Croutons: USA
Sprouts: China
Invention of Agriculture
Definition:
Agriculture is the deliberate modification of Earth's surface through the cultivation of plants and rearing of animals to obtain sustenance or economic gain.
Prior to agriculture, food was primarily obtained through hunting and gathering.
Historical Context: Less than 0.005% of the world’s population still relies on hunting and gathering.
Agricultural Revolution:
Refers to the period when humans began to domesticate plants and animals, transitioning from hunting and gathering.
Example: San people in Botswana who still practice subsistence farming.
Agricultural Hearths
Primary Hearths: Regions where agriculture developed independently based on local plants and animals:
Southwest Asia: Barley (9000+ years ago), bread wheat (7000-9000 years ago), lentils (9000+ years ago), broad bean (7000-9000 years ago), olive (7000-9000 years ago), oats (9000+ years ago), einkorn wheat (9000+ years ago), emmer wheat (9000+ years ago), rye (9000+ years ago)
East Asia: Rice (9000+ years ago), Soybean (3000-7000 years ago), Chinese Chestnut (unknown), walnut (unknown)
Sub-Saharan Africa: Sorghum, yams (9000+ years ago), African rice, coffee, finger millet, cowpea
Latin America: Maize (3000-7000 years ago), potatoes (3000-7000 years ago), pepper (7000-9000 years), squash (9000+ years ago), cassava (3000-7000 years ago), cotton (3000-7000 years ago), lima beans (3000-7000 years ago), sweet potatoes (3000-7000 years ago)
Southeast Asia: Mango (9000+ years ago), taro (9000+ years ago), coconut (3000-7000 years ago), pigeonpea (unknown), slender millet (unknown)
Animal Domestication:
Central and South Asia: Horses, chickens, cattle
Southwest Asia: Cattle, goats, pigs, sheep, dogs
Central Asia: Horses
Central America: Turkey
South America: Llama, Alpaca
Subsistence vs. Commercial Agriculture
Subsistence Agriculture:
Predominant in developing countries, food is primarily consumed by the farmer's family.
Characteristics:
High percentage of the labor force engaged
Small farm sizes and little mechanization.
Commercial Agriculture:
Found in developed countries; crops are grown primarily for sale.
Characteristics:
Low percentage of the labor force engaged
Large farm sizes and heavy use of machinery.
Example: Family farms in China vs. the U.S.
Agricultural Regions
Influences on Agriculture:
Physical Geography/Climate:
Determines suitable crops and animals based on landforms and climate zones.
Economics:
Supply and demand influence land use and crop choices.
Climate & Agricultural Production:
Different bioclimatic zones affect the type of agriculture practiced.
Major Agricultural Regions Identified by Derwent Whittlesey:
Intensive Subsistence, Wet Rice Dominant
Intensive Subsistence, Other Crops Dominant
Pastoral Nomadism
Shifting Cultivation
Plantation
Mixed Crop and Livestock
Dairy
Grain
Ranching
Mediterranean
Commercial Gardening
Subsistence Agriculture Types
Intensive Subsistence Agriculture:
Small parcels of land worked intensively, often manually.
Types:
Wet Rice: Rice is grown in flooded fields.
Non-Wet Rice: Other staple crops include wheat and millets.
Shifting Cultivation:
Farmers move fields after depleting soil nutrients.
Two methods:
Slash-and-Burn: Vegetation is cleared and burned to enrich soil.
Frequent Relocation: Moving to new fields after years of cultivation to allow regeneration.
Pastoral Nomadism:
Associated with arid regions; depends on livestock.
Movements based on seasonal availability of pastures for animals.
Plantations:
Large-scale commercial farms in developing countries focusing on cash crops.
Common crops: Coffee, sugarcane, cocoa, and cotton.
Commercial Agriculture Types (Developed Regions)
Mixed Crop/Livestock Farming:
Integration of crops primarily for animal feed and reduced dependence on human consumption.
Use of animal products for manure and fertilizers.
Grain Farming:
Primarily produces crops for human consumption.
Includes varied climate-dependent crops like wheat and corn.
Commercial Gardening/Fruit Farming:
Predominant in areas like southeastern U.S.
Known as truck farming (bartering), it produces fruits and vegetables.
Dairy Farming:
Local dairies traditionally supplied nearby areas; now extended by technological improvements.
Mediterranean Agriculture:
Climate-specific farming around the Mediterranean Sea produces fruits, vegetables, and specialized crops.
Livestock Ranching:
Large-scale grazing operations suited for arid land and climates.
Global Food Trade and Economic Challenges
Trends:
Increase in global food trade with cash crops often prioritized over local food needs.
Consequences:
Loss of farmland through urbanization and desertification.
Increasing Agricultural Productivity:
The Green Revolution introduced high-yield crops and innovative farming techniques leading to significant productivity gains.
Concerns regarding environmental sustainability and social equity due to dependency on monoculture practices and GMOs.
Food Security:
Affected by economic, social, and physical access to food. Undernourishment persists particularly in developing regions due to inadequate dietary consumption.
Key Points on Food Consumption Differences
Variability in Consumption:
Influences include development levels, physical conditions, and cultural preferences.
Nutritional Sources:
Developed regions primarily consume meat; developing regions rely on cereals for protein.
Economic and Sustainability Challenges for Farmers
Urbanization leads to loss of agricultural land, directly impacting food production capabilities.
The Cultural Landscape: An Introduction to Human Geography
Chapter 9: Food & Agriculture
The Well-Traveled Salad Ingredients
Ingredients & Origins:- Lettuce: Egypt
Cucumbers: India
Feta Cheese: Greece
Olives: Turkey
Onions: Egypt
Tomatoes: Mexico
Olive Oil: Greece
Balsamic Vinegar: Italy
Croutons: USA
Sprouts: China
Invention of Agriculture
Definition:
Agriculture is the deliberate modification of Earth's surface through the cultivation of plants and rearing of animals to obtain sustenance or economic gain.
Prior to agriculture, food was primarily obtained through hunting and gathering.
Historical Context: Less than 0.005% of the world’s population still relies on hunting and gathering.
Agricultural Revolution:
Refers to the period when humans began to domesticate plants and animals, transitioning from hunting and gathering.
Example: San people in Botswana who still practice subsistence farming.
Agricultural Hearths
Primary Hearths: Regions where agriculture developed independently based on local plants and animals:
Southwest Asia: Barley, wheat, lentils
East Asia: Rice
Central and South Asia: Horses, chickens
Sub-Saharan Africa: Sorghum, yams, rice
Latin America: Maize, potatoes
Animal Domestication:
Southwest Asia: Cattle, goats, pigs, sheep, dogs
Central Asia: Horses
Central America: Turkey
South America: Llama, Alpaca
Subsistence vs. Commercial Agriculture
Subsistence Agriculture:
Predominant in developing countries; food is primarily for consumption by the farmer's family.
Characteristics:
High percentage of the labor force engaged
Small farm sizes and little mechanization.
Commercial Agriculture:
Found in developed countries; crops are grown primarily for sale.
Characteristics:
Low percentage of the labor force engaged
Large farm sizes and heavy use of machinery.
Example: Family farms in China vs. the U.S.
Agricultural Regions
Influences on Agriculture:
Physical Geography/Climate:
Determines suitable crops and animals based on landforms and climate zones.
Economics:
Supply and demand influence land use and crop choices.
Climate & Agricultural Production:
Different bioclimatic zones affect the type of agriculture practiced.
Major Agricultural Regions Identified by Derwent Whittlesey:
Intensive Subsistence, Wet Rice Dominant
Intensive Subsistence, Other Crops Dominant
Pastoral Nomadism
Shifting Cultivation
Plantation
Mixed Crop and Livestock
Dairy
Grain
Ranching
Mediterranean
Commercial Gardening
Subsistence Agriculture Types
Intensive Subsistence Agriculture:
Small parcels of land worked intensively, often manually.
Types:- Wet Rice: Rice is grown in flooded fields.
Non-Wet Rice: Other staple crops include wheat and millets.
Shifting Cultivation:
Farmers move fields after depleting soil nutrients.
Two methods:- Slash-and-Burn: Vegetation is cleared and burned to enrich soil.
Frequent Relocation: Moving to new fields after years of cultivation to allow regeneration.
Pastoral Nomadism:
Associated with arid regions; depends on livestock.
Movements based on seasonal availability of pastures for animals.
Plantations:
Large-scale commercial farms in developing countries focusing on cash crops.
Common crops: Coffee, sugarcane, cocoa, and cotton.
Commercial Agriculture Types (Developed Regions)
Mixed Crop/Livestock Farming:
Integration of crops primarily for animal feed and reduced dependence on human consumption.
Use of animal products for manure and fertilizers.
Grain Farming:
Primarily produces crops for human consumption.
Includes varied climate-dependent crops like wheat and corn.
Commercial Gardening/Fruit Farming:
Predominant in areas like southeastern U.S.
Known as truck farming (bartering), it produces fruits and vegetables.
Dairy Farming:
Local dairies traditionally supplied nearby areas; now extended by technological improvements.
Mediterranean Agriculture:
Climate-specific farming around the Mediterranean Sea produces fruits, vegetables, and specialized crops.
Livestock Ranching:
Large-scale grazing operations suited for arid land and climates.
Global Food Trade and Economic Challenges
Trends:
Increase in global food trade with cash crops often prioritized over local food needs.
Consequences:
Loss of farmland through urbanization and desertification.
Increasing Agricultural Productivity:
The Green Revolution introduced high-yield crops and innovative farming techniques leading to significant productivity gains.
Concerns regarding environmental sustainability and social equity due to dependency on monoculture practices and GMOs.
Food Security:
Affected by economic, social, and physical access to food. Undernourishment persists particularly in developing regions due to inadequate dietary consumption.
Key Points on Food Consumption Differences
Variability in Consumption:- Influences include development levels, physical conditions, and cultural preferences.
Nutritional Sources:- Developed regions primarily consume meat; developing regions rely on cereals for protein.
Economic and Sustainability Challenges for Farmers
Urbanization leads to loss of agricultural land, directly impacting food production capabilities.