Economic Issues of Agriculture

Challenges for commercial farmers

Overproduction
Sustainable agriculture

Challenges for subsistence farmers

Population growth
International trade

Increasing food supply

Commercial Farming Challenges
Major focus has shifted to
sustainable agriculture
Limiting overproduction of goods that cannot be sold for a
profit in the market
Organic Farm in Washington

ORGANIC FARMING:
an integrated
farmingsystem that strives
for sustainability, the
enhancement of
soil fertility
biological diversity
prohibiting synthetic
pesticides, antibiotics,
synthetic fertilizers,
genetically modified
organisms, and growth
hormones

Often
There is limited use of chemicals and heavy machinery on organic farms seen as natural
such as this one in Whatcom County, Washington state. farming
 Free-
range
Livestock
& Animals

open pastures and

outdoor areas where
Free-range chickens on an
animals organic
roamfarm freely and
in England.
eat natural vegetation
(not feedlots)
Genetically Modified Foods
biotechnological
scientific genetic
manipulation of
crops for the
purpose of
improve
productivity
Commonly Modified food:
1) Corn.
2) Soy.
3) Squash and Zucchini.
4) Alfalfa.
5) Canola.
6) Sugar Beets.
7) Milk.
Genetically modified foods must be labeled in Europe but not in the U.S.
 Desertification Hazard
the process by
which fertile land
becomes desert,
typically as a
result of
1. drought
2. deforestation,
or
3. inappropriate
agriculture.
Fig. 10-14: The most severe desertification hazard is in several parts of semiarid Africa,
and parts southwestern Asia, North and South America, and Australia.
Challenges for Subsistence Farmers
(LDCs)
Population growthfeeding a growing population
International trade
Green Revolution Experiments

a large increase in crop

production in
developing countries
achieved by the use of
fertilizers, pesticides,
and high-yield crop
varieties.

Scientists at the International Rice Research Institute try to develop

improved crop varieties.
 Grain Importers &
Exporters
Grain is an
important
staple in
most
human
populations

Fig. 10-15: Most countries are net importers of grain. The U.S. is the largest net exporter.
Undernourishe
d Proportion

Fig. 10-16: The proportion of under-

nourished population has
declined in most LDCs, but is
much higher in sub-Saharan
Africa than in other areas of the
world.
Population and Grain
Production in Africa, 1961-2005

Fig. 10-17: Cereal production has not kept up with the high rate of population growth
in sub-Saharan Africa. (The graph is set to a base of 1.0 in 1961).
 The Sahel

one of the poorest and most

environmentally damaged places on
earth, has deep troubles.
In the 1970s, the Sahel captured
international attention when drought
and famine killed nearly 200,000
people.

Challenges of:
1. soil erosion,
2. insufficient irrigation,
3. deforestation,
4. overpopulation,
5. desertification and
Fig. 10-18: The Sahel, which is south of the Sahara, frequently faces drought and
food shortages, as does the Horn of Africa. 6. drought.