1 Agriculture What’s it good for?
2 Importance of AgricultureEveryone dependent on food Agriculture occupies more land area than any other economic activity Agriculture employs 45% - almost half of world’s labor (in Africa and Asia over 50% are farmers) Without agriculture you could not have any cities or urban areas
3 Agriculture Agricultural practices = one of the most fundamental differences between MDCs and LDCs Big Questions…. Where is Agriculture distributed across the earth? How does farming vary around the globe? Why does farming vary across the globe?
4 Origins of AgricultureAgriculture: purposeful modification of earth’s surface to plant crops or raise livestock for human sustenance Agriculture began when humans domesticated plants and animals for use Origins of Agriculture predate recorded human history
5 Origins of agricultureBefore Agriculture = Hunter/gatherer societies follow game and seasonal growth B/f AG = hunter/gatherers – small groups followed game & seasonal growth
6 1st Agricultural Revolutionabout 10,000 yrs ago – late 18th Century Domestication – conscious manipulation of plants/animals Invention of Agriculture evolved slowly and over time through accident and experimentation 1st revolution shifted people from hunter/gatherer to semi-sedentary
7 1st Agricultural revolutionCarl Sauer – expert on 1st Revolution Occurred in time of plenty, not famine Multiple hearths occurred independently in several places Seed cultivation in Fertile Crescent (Iraq) - about 10,000 yrs ago Yams in hill country of SE Asia about 10,000 yrs ago Root crops & corn in Mesoamerica (Mayans) about 5,000 yrs ago Likely discovered by women by accident
8 1st Agricultural RevolutionAgricultural Diffusion: spread by relocation - migration & colonialism (Columbian Exchange) Today diffusion is hierarchical – starts in research centers of MDCs moves to smaller farms or LDCs Diffusion can be bad/accidental (ex: kudzu = the vine that ate the South)
9 Agricultural Diffusion – Columbian Exchange – relocation diffusion
10 Agricultural diffusion – accidental - kudzu
11 2nd Agricultural RevolutionBegan in W. Europe in 1600s – transformed W. Europe and N. America Intensified Agricultural by promoting higher yields per acre and per farmer Used crop rotation, fertilizers, improved collars for draft animals Farmers created surplus, people can live in cities and buy Agricultural products at the market Movement from rural to urban
12 2nd Agricultural revolutionLate 1700s = Industrial Revolution – mechanization Tractors, reapers, threshers replaced human labor Better transportation – RR, steamboats, refrigerated cars, etc. allows farmers to ship food products further to urban markets
13 2nd Agricultural revolution –– Industrial RevolutionTransportation Revolutions – increase market area for farmers’ produce
14 3rd Agricultural Revolution = Green Revolution – 1940s-1960sMDCs transfer technology to LDCs Main practices: Artificial fertilizer Irrigation Insecticides and pesticides Mechanical machinery Crossbreeding/hybridization (naturally not in a lab) ….all produce higher yields
15 3rd Revolution / Green RevolutionMultinational Corporations encourage LDCs to focus on specialty crops – monoculture for export instead of producing food for local consumption Was successful in some LDCs but detrimental in others (new tech devastated land, bad for environment, unsustainable farming, and changes in social and culture structures
16 Today and the Future….. High tech Agricultural and AgribusinessComputerized irrigation, remote sensing, long-term weather predictions, GMO’s GMOs: genetically modified foods – genes altered in a lab for disease resistance, increased productivity, increased nutritional value BIG debate. . . U.S. pro – feed developing world; Europe anti – Franken food
17 GMOs
18 Today and Future…. Agribusiness: multinational giant corporations dominate much of world’s Agricultural markets demise of family farm Agriculture is BIG, expensive business (control land, tech, machinery, shipping, packaging, etc.) Globalization of Agricultural: free trade, WTO
19 Geography looks at WHAT crops are produced around the globe…Geography looks at WHAT crops are produced around the globe….affected by……. Environment: (Environmental Determinism)…rice needs lots of water, grapes need cool wet winters and hot dry summers, etc. Possibilism…green houses, irrigation Culture: rice in Asia, corn in Mexico, wheat in US/Europe, no pork in Middle East, etc.
20 What crops produced where…Economic: grow crops that makes greatest profit (von Thunen)
21 Geography looks at HOW crops grownLabor intensive – lots of people and few tools V. Capital Intensive – little human labor, but tools, machinery Intensive Agriculture- greater yields off smaller areas (future of farming as Agricultural land is lost V. Extensive Agricultural – needs lots of land, not efficient (wide spread ranching)
22 HOW crops grown- Intensive/extensive and capital intensive/labor intensive spectrums are independent of each other…..examples? Subsistence Agriculture (LDCs) V. Commercial Agriculture (MDCs) …see handout
23 Agricultural Regions in LDCs1.Shifting Cultivation: in rainforests Slash and Burn: clear land by slashing vegetation and burning debris Swidden: land that’s been cleared for farming Land often owned by the village, not individuals Cannot support dense populations Soil depletes rapidly…leads to deforestation
24 Agriculture in LDCs - Shifting cultivation – deforestation
25 AG Regions in LDCs 2.) Pastoral Nomadism – nomadic herdersDry mountain regions of Africa and Asia where harsh climate prevent plants Herders cover wide area searching for food for herd Transhumance – seasonal migration Use animals - food, clothing, milk, skins Type of animal varies depending on culture and physical region (i.e. camel, sheep, goat, horse, etc.)
26 Agriculture in LDC’s - Pastoral Nomadism
27 Agricultural Regions in LDCs3.) Intensive Subsistence High yield for small area of land Densely populated areas of Asia Often with wet rice in Asia With wheat and barley in India and China Double cropping – 2 crops/harvests per year Crop Rotation – preserves soil nutrients
28 Agricultural Regions in LDCs4.) Plantation Farming Found in tropics/subtropics Large farm specializes in 1-2 cash crops (coffee, sugar, cotton) Often controlled/owned by MDC Labor comes from LDC Crops exported for sale, not sold locally
29 Agricultural Regions in MDCs1.) Mixed Crop/Livestock Farming Western N. America, S. America, Australia Integrate crops and livestock – crops (soybeans and corn) fed to animals Employ crop rotation
30 Agricultural Regions in MDCs2.) Dairying: Near large urban areas (NE United States, SE Canada, NW Europe) Close to city because product perishable (especially milk…cheese & butter can come from further away) Milk Shed: how far out can supply milk without spoiling These farms are expensive and labor intensive
31 Dairy Farms
32 Agriculture Regions in MDCs3.) Grain Farming: wheat, corn, barley, oats, millet grains grown for human consumption Sale to manufacturers for food production (cereal, bread, flour) US – by far greatest exporter of grain (Great Plains = bread basket)
33 grain farming
34 Agricultural Regions in MDCs4.) Livestock Ranching: Commercial grazing of livestock (cattle – beef) over extensive areas Big in western US (i.e. ranchers) and Argentina – semi-arid areas
35 Agricultural Regions in MDCs5.) Mediterranean Agriculture Mediterranean climates of W. Europe, California, Chile Variety of fruits and vegetables for human consumption – olives, grapes, avocadoes, nuts, etc. Olives and grapes = most valuable cash crops…..olive oil and wine
36 Mediterranean
37 Agricultural Regions in MDCs6.) Truck Farming – commercial gardening and fruit farming American SE – long growing season and humid Apples, tomatoes, cucumbers, cabbage, cherries, etc. “Truck” was a word for barter and these items were originally produced for local markets…today produced for large scale food processors
38 Truck farming Apples, squash, lettuce, cabbage, peppers, cucumbers, potatoes, peaches, tomatoes, green beans
39 Issues for Commercial Farmers1.) Access to markets – distance from market influences crop choice Von Thunen’s Model 19th C Germany Noticed lands with the same physical geography were being used for different Agricultural products Farmers consider two costs – land and transporting goods to market Land cost most expensive near market & decreases with distance
40 Von Thunen Products with intensive land use, high transportation costs, and in high demand located near market (i.e. highly perishable items, bulky heavy items….dairy, fruits, veggies). These generate higher prices and farmers can afford more expensive land nearest market
41 Von Thunen Products in less demand, with more extensive land use or cheaper to transport are found further from market where land is cheaper (ranching, mixed farming, orchards) Formula – can farmer make profit? P= V – (E + T) Profit = commodity value – (production cost + transportation cost)
42 Von Thunen The model = concentric rings coming out of market1. nearest, perishable items difficult to transport (berries, milk, tomatoes) 2. forestry – wood heavy and diff to transport 3. mixed farming – pigs, poultry 4. wheat, barley, grains, livestock
43 Von Thunen Model
44 Contemporary Variables of the Model?Modern transportation more efficient Transportation costs no longer proportional to distance Wood (#2 forestry) no longer needed for fuel Technology has decreased permissibility (refrigerated cars, canning, etc.) Model still relevant today?????
45 Issues for Commercial Farmers - OverproductionTechnology allows farmers to produce more than demanded (too much product, not enough profit) Ex: US government pays $4 billion in cotton subsidies, farmers make $3 billion off crop Subsidies: government pays to produce less – spends about $10 billion annually Government also buys surplus and donates to foreign countries
46 Issues for Subsistence Farmers1.) rapidly increasing populations – must feed more people on same land (GMOs?) 2.) Trying to grow food for export for development and not just for consumption Strategies…. Expand land areas and increase productivity of land already in use Identify new food sources When there is surplus, export, to bring in $$$
47 Future of Farming….. Intensive Agriculture is replacing Extensive Agriculture…generate more food on smaller plots of land Ex: Feedlots: concentrate raising livestock in smaller space and use hormones and other fattening grains to prepare cattle for slaughter at a more rapid pace and in a smaller space
48 Future of Farming…. Biotechnology – techniques to modify living organism and improve plant and animal species and production (GMOs) Agribusiness: includes food production, canning, refining, packing, etc. Little farmer goes out of business Transnational Corporation – profit goes to company Can get any fruit/fresh produce all over the globe at any time of year
49 Agriculture and the EnvironmentNegative impacts on Environment Pesticides (DDT) harm wildlife, pollute lakes, rivers, etc. Erosion – loss of fertile topsoil – fertile topsoil accumulates slowly takes hundreds of years to rebuild Salinization: soil in dry area is irrigated, water evaporates quickly and leaves salty residue Urban Sprawl: takes over good Agricultural land
50 AG and the Environment Deforestation: slash and burn in rainforestsDesertification: degradation of land…turns into desert because of extensive planting or grazing Conclusion….greater technology often correlates with the destruction of the environment.
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52 RESOURCES Natural Resources:Renewable: resources with a theoretically unlimited supply…environment continues to replace them (i.e. soil, timber). Note – we can use renewable resources faster than they can reproduce themselves
53 Nonrenewable: cannot be replaced by nature; a finite supply that will be exhausted (minerals, coal, oil, copper)
54 Fishing Accounts for 20% of human and animal protein consumption (higher in some countries) 3 Sources: Inland catch – ponds, lakes – 7% Fish Farms – controlled/contained environment – 32% Marine catch – oceans – continental shelf – 100 miles out – 61%
55 Fishing Problems…. Over fishing – catch is surpassing reproduction rates – endangered supplies. Tragedy of the Commons - oceans = open seas, communal property, all take too much Pollution of coastal waters
56 Fishing Aquaculture: fish farming – breed fish in ponds, lakes, canals, or fenced off in coastal bays Accounts for 30% of total fish harvest in recent yrs Fastest growing sector of world economy