Chapter 12: Agriculture
Crops and animals
subsistence farming/farmers: live on small parcels of land that provide them with enough food for their households and a small cash crop. subsistence agriculture varies with the local climate and with local knowledge however they are poor and can barely live
modern farming is efficient enough to allow an increasing number of ppl to leave the farm and join the growing workforce. five things that make it modern farming
machinery
land under cultivation
fertilizers and pesticides
infrastructure
irrigation
Green Revolution
high yielding crop gains: help growing nations with food insecurity because of drought or the issues by modifying the plants and growth in that condition
multiple ways to raise animals
concentrated livestock
large ranches
pastoralists
climate change
From Green Rev to Gene Rev
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO's): genetic engineering makes it possible to combine characteristics from genetically different organisms and to incorporate desired traits into crop lines and animals
the promise of GMO: can help the developing world produce more food and pharma crop
the problem of GMO: safety issues, envl concerns, controversy
Food Distribution and Trade
grain is the most traded thing in the world
food security: assured access for every person to enough nutritious food to sustain an active life and healthy life
causes of global food crisis is when farmers get much higher prices for their crops. and the response is to provide grants for food and agriculture in the poorest countries
Hunger, Malnutrition, and Famine
undernourishment: lack of adequate food for energy
malnourishment: lack of essential nutrients
hunger: lack of basic food required to provide energy and to meet nutrition needs, individual cannot lead a normal life
over-nourishment: eating too much (first world issue)
food crisis: prolonged shortage of food supply that leads to unrest and death