Agriculture Notes- Feeding the World

What are the types of farming?

Livestock & Poultry: Meat, Dairy,

and Eggs; Utilizes Rangeland.

Agriculture: growing one crop

What happens when food isnt

available?

(monoculture) or many crops

(polyculture).
Aquaculture: raising aquatic
organisms for food.
Malnutrition: a condition caused
by not consuming enough
necessary nutrients.
Famine: a food scarcity so
widespread that it causes severe
malnutrition throughout large

What happens when food is

overabundant?

How have we farmed in the past?

How did the Green Revolution change

farming?

geographic areas.
Why do people go hungry?
Crop Failure due to drought,
soil deterioration, disease.
Population size > Crop yield
Overnutrition: food energy
intake exceeds energy use and
causes excess body fat.
Similar health problems to those
who are underfed.
Lower life expectancy, greater
susceptibility to disease and
illness, and lower productivity
and life quality.
The first agricultural revolution
began as early as 9000 BC.
Nomads -> Settlements
Cross pollination first began.
Grew enough to support family &
trade.
GOALS: stop hunger, increase
crop yield, minimize crop

losses/failure.
METHODS: new, high-yield grain
varieties. Pesticides, fertilizers,
better management practices,

and more technologically

advanced machinery.
VISION: treat agriculture as a
business (agribusiness). Plant a
large amount of a single species
(mono-cropping).
DRAWBACKS: too expensive.
Air, soil, and water pollution due
to toxic chemicals. Uneven
distribution- poorer countries

Practices of Conventional Farming

(Since Green Revolution)

Sustainable Farming Practices

still cant transport food.

Pesticide Resistance.
Maximize Output- high
efficiency.
Minimize Space
Concentrated Animal Feeding

Operations (CAFOS).
Genetically Modified Crops

(temperature and chemical

resistance).
Heavy equipment (fossil fuels).
Chemicals (pesticides and

fertilizers).
Tillage.
Sustainable Output.
Takes more space.
Pasture/Rangeland Feeding.
Incorporates more human and

animal labor.
Minimize Chemical Usage

(Biochemicals)
Polyculture
Low Till or No Till

Benefits

Conventional: lower food costs,

fast production times (more
growing seasons in a given year),
meets increased demand.
Sustainable: healthier for
humans and organisms alike,
higher quality foods (in terms or
energy), conserves energy and
water resources, and lowered
biodiversity/environmental

Risks/Impact

impact.
Conventional:
biodiversity/habitat
degradation. Soil, water, and air
pollution.
Erosion/desertification. Energy
and water loss. Contamination of
human foods. Pesticide and

antibiotic resistance.
Sustainable: higher food costs,
low yield, decreased availability,
more susceptible to storms,
pests, changes in environment,
etc.