Food and Agriculture

Food and Agriculture

General Overview

  • Fundamental Need for Food:

    • All humans require food for survival.

    • Two options for obtaining food: purchasing it or producing it oneself.

    • In developed countries, food is primarily bought, produced through commercial agriculture.

    • In developing countries, food is largely produced through subsistence agriculture.

Key Locations Discussed

  • Specific Locations with Page References:

    • Broken Bow, p. 314

    • California, p. 337

    • Illinois River, p. 325

    • Radi, p. 334

    • Kassiopi, p. 324

    • Vernazza, p. 327

    • Maryland, p. 333

    • Georgia, p. 327

    • Mongolia, p. 319

    • Pengzhou, p. 311

    • Myanmar, p. 323

    • Iowa, p. 328

    • India, p. 323

    • Côte d'Ivoire, p. 321

    • Namibia, p. 318

    • Mozambique, pp. 314, 320

    • Indonesia, p. 323

Key Issues in Food and Agriculture

1. Origin of Agriculture

  • Definition: Agriculture is the deliberate modification of Earth's surface through plant cultivation and animal rearing for sustenance or economic gain.

  • Historical Context: Agriculture originated approximately 10,000 years ago when humans began domestication of plants and animals, moving away from a solely hunting and gathering lifestyle.

  • Agricultural Revolution: Occurred around 8000 B.C., coinciding with a significant population growth due to stable food sources from cultivated plants and domesticated animals.

    • Factors Influencing Origin:

    • Environmental: Climate changes that marked the end of the last Ice Age led to better conditions for agriculture.

    • Cultural: Preference for sedentary lifestyles may have motivated early humans to invest in permanent settlements and agriculture.

2. Diffusion of Agriculture

  • Agriculture developed independently in multiple locations globally, including:

    • Southwest Asia: Domesticated crops like barley and wheat; significant for animal domestication (cattle, sheep).

    • East Asia: Domestication of rice and millet.

    • Central and South Asia: Diffusion of chickens and domestication of horses.

    • Sub-Saharan Africa: Domestication of sorghum and yams; independent domestication from East Asian crops.

    • Latin America: Domestication of maize, beans, and potatoes in regions like Mexico and Peru.

3. Overview of Subsistence vs. Commercial Agriculture
a. Subsistence Agriculture

  • Focused on producing food for farmer's household consumption. Generally found in developing countries.

    • Characteristics:

    • Large percentage of the workforce engaged in agriculture (e.g., 42% in developing countries).

    • Hand tools and animal power are primarily used.

  • Examples of subsistence agriculture forms:

    • Intensive subsistence agriculture (wet rice dominant, mixed crops).

    • Shifting cultivation (slash-and-burn methods).

    • Pastoral nomadism (herding domesticated animals).

b. Commercial Agriculture

  • Designed primarily for sale and profit. Predominant in developed countries.

    • Characteristics:

    • A small percentage of the labor force engaged in farming (e.g., 2-3% in North America).

    • Extensive use of modern machinery and technology.

    • Larger farm sizes are common; high yields.

  • Types of commercial agriculture include:

    • Mixed crop and livestock, grain farming, Mediterranean agriculture, dairy production, ranching, and commercial gardening.

4. Sustainability Challenges in Agriculture
a. Extent of Challenges:

  • Agriculture faces numerous sustainability concerns, such as:

    • Loss of farmland due to urbanization and competing land uses (e.g., Maryland losing prime agricultural land).

    • Soil exhaustion and degradation through practices such as overgrazing, deforestation, and unsustainable irrigation.

    • Water scarcity affecting agricultural productivity, especially in drought-prone areas.

b. Solutions and Innovations:

  • The Green Revolution led to increased crop yields via high-yield seeds and chemical fertilizers.

  • Agricultural productivity must improve while managing environmental impacts and sustaining agricultural resources.

5. Global Food Trade and Undernourishment

  • Food trade has rapidly expanded, with agricultural exports increasing significantly.

    • Major exporters include the United States and regions like Latin America.

    • Developing countries need to increase agricultural output due to import dependency and to support local food needs.

  • Undernourishment Rates:

    • 795 million people globally are estimated to be undernourished, with most in developing countries, specifically India and China.

6. Sustainable Agriculture Practices

  • An increasing demand for organic and locally-sourced foods has emerged as consumers seek healthier options.

  • Organic farming focuses on ecological balance, avoiding synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, and promoting crop-livestock integration for sustainability.

  • Health and Economic Implications: "Dirty Dozen" produce typically has higher pesticide residue, while cleaner options are highly sought after.

Key Terms

  • Agribusiness: Integration of different steps in the food production industry, usually through corporatization.

  • Agricultural Revolution: Initiation of domesticated food production.

  • Conventional Farming: Includes non-organic pesticides, fertilizers, and GMOs.

  • Organic Farming: Cultivation without synthetic chemicals or genetically modified organisms.

  • Sustainable Agriculture: Farming that conservatively manages resources while producing food.

  • Undernourishment: Condition resulting from inadequate dietary energy consumption.

Reflection Questions

  1. How do agricultural practices vary between developed and developing countries?

  2. In what ways does urbanization infringe upon agricultural lands?

  3. What role does government policy play in the sustainability of agriculture?