agriculture and food production

Aquaculture: The farming of aquatic organisms like fish, shellfish, and algae.

Biological Control: Using natural predators or parasites to manage pests.

Broad Spectrum Pesticide: Pesticides that target a wide range of pests, including beneficial species.

Cash Crop: A crop grown primarily for sale and profit, rather than for personal use.

Composting: The process of recycling organic waste into nutrient-rich soil.

Contour Farming (Plowing): Plowing along the contours of the land to reduce soil erosion.

Desertification: The process of land becoming desert-like, often due to overuse or climate change.

Feedlot Runoff: Wastewater from feedlots that can pollute nearby water sources.

Fallow: Land that is left unused to recover its fertility.

Fisheries: Areas where fish are caught or farmed for food.

Fungicide: A chemical used to kill or control fungi.

Genetic Engineering: Altering the DNA of organisms to create desired traits.

Genetically Modified Organism (GMO): An organism whose DNA has been altered using genetic engineering.

Green Revolution: A period of increased agricultural production due to new technologies, like high-yield crops.

Ground Subsidence: The sinking of the Earth's surface due to the removal of groundwater or minerals.

Herbicide: A chemical used to kill or control unwanted plants (weeds).

Hydroponics: Growing plants without soil, using nutrient-rich water.

Industrialized Agriculture: Large-scale farming using machinery, chemicals, and high-yield crops.

Inorganic Fertilizer: Synthetic fertilizers made from non-organic materials.

Insecticide: A chemical used to kill or control insects.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM): A strategy that combines biological, chemical, and cultural methods to manage pests.

Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY): The largest amount of a resource that can be harvested without damaging the ecosystem.

Monoculture: The cultivation of a single crop over a large area.

Narrow Spectrum Pesticide: Pesticides that target a specific type of pest.

Natural Pesticide: A pesticide derived from natural sources, like plants or minerals.

Nitrates: Chemical compounds containing nitrogen, often found in fertilizers and can pollute water.

No-Till Agriculture: A farming method that avoids plowing the soil to reduce erosion.

Optimal Sustainable Yield (OSY): The harvest level of a resource that maximizes long-term yield without causing damage.

Organic Farming: Farming that uses natural methods, avoiding synthetic chemicals and fertilizers.

Organic Fertilizer: Fertilizer made from natural sources like compost, manure, or plant material.

Overgrazing: Grazing by livestock that exceeds the land's capacity to regenerate.

Pest: An organism that harms crops, livestock, or the environment.

Pesticide: Chemicals used to kill or control pests.

Pesticide Treadmill: The cycle of using more chemicals as pests develop resistance.

Rodenticide: A chemical used to kill rodents.

Ruminant: Animals like cows, sheep, and goats that digest food through fermentation in their stomachs.

Seed Bank: A storage facility for preserving seeds to protect plant biodiversity.

Shelterbelts: Rows of trees or shrubs planted to protect crops from wind and reduce soil erosion.

Slash-and-Burn Agriculture: A farming method where vegetation is cut down and burned to clear land for crops.

Traditional Subsistence Agriculture: Farming for personal consumption, with little surplus for trade.