Agriculture

Origins of agriculture Agriculture = deliberate modification of Earth’s surface through the cultivation of plants and/or rearing of animals Cultivate = “to care for” Crop = any plant cultivated by people Origins Hunter-gatherers Perhaps 250,000 remaining today San in Southern Africa, Aborigine in Australia Invention of agriculture When it began = unclear, diffused from many hearths

The First Agricultural Revolution Southeast Asia: Root crops, up to 14,000 years ago (Sauer) Southwest Asia (the Fertile Crescent): Seed crops, about 10,000 years ago → Neolithic Revolution = “1st Agricultural Revolution”

The Fertile Crescent

The Fertile Crescent 1st planned cultivation of seed crops Enlargement of plants from seed selection Generated a surplus of wheat and barley Animal domestication Began in Fertile Crescent (c. 8000 years ago) Relatively few domesticated animals Continuing efforts not very successful Eland as an example 1st integration of plant growing and animal raising Crops to feed livestock Livestock to help grow crops fertilizer and beasts of burden

Animal Hearths

How Did Agriculture Change with Industrialization? Second Agricultural Revolution: A series of innovations, improvements, and techniques used to improve the output of agricultural surpluses 17th and 18th centuries (linked to Scientific Rev.) Enclosure movement = larger farms Somewhat changes English landscape from clustered to dispersed New tools (seed drill, water wheel, etc.) Advances in livestock breeding (selective) New fertilizers (non-chemical) More efficient crop rotation Pre-dated the Industrial Revolution created surplus, displaced farmers = factory workers increased food supply → Help move countries into stage 2

# of farmers/arable land High density = LDCs Agricultural density # of farmers/arable land High density = LDCs Low farming efficiency Farming done by hand

High Agricultural Density

# of farmers/arable land High density = LDCs Agricultural density # of farmers/arable land High density = LDCs Low farming efficiency Farming done by hand Low density = MDCs Advanced technology and finance Corporate or large scale farming Farms are getting bigger! Frees population for other pursuits Manufacturing, services etc.

Low Agricultural Density

Green Revolution (3rd Agriculture Rev.) Began in U.S. Midwest (1930s → ) Norman Borlaug “the man who saved a billion lives” diffusion to LDCs (1960s → ) Shift from subsistence to commercial methods in LDCs Adoption of a western farming model Use of chemical fertilizers/pesticides & machinery invention of high-yield grains (hybridization, crossbreeding) with goal of reducing hunger Increased production of rice Impact on hunger greatest where rice is produced New varieties of wheat and corn GMOs = genetically modified organisms (4th Rev. ???) “biotechnology” Famines reduced! Most famines today are due to political problems

Average Daily Calorie Consumption per Capita

Has the Green Revolution run its course?

Opposition to Green Revolution Environmental concerns (overuse) soil erosion and water shortages dependency on chemicals for production pollution, dangerous to ingest, bee colony collapse Growth of “monocultures” lessens biodiversity “superpests” could develop resistance Are Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) safe? Probably, but???? Health problems???? (antibiotics, allergens) EU strictly regulates (has approved only 48 organisms) Labelling required, why labelling resistance in the US? Economic dependence on transnational corps $$$$$$ → Western agribusiness (Monsanto) Life becomes “intellectual property” = “terminator seeds” loss of control over seeds → wind → → contamination

MDC Farmers Face Economic Difficulties Green Revolution, technology, science → Overproduction leads to lower prices Demand has remained relatively constant in MDCs (stage 4/5) consequence: incomes for farmers are low susceptible to acquisition (Industrial farms) Need government policies to support agriculture Suburbanization “Urban sprawl” vs. prime agricultural land Both want land that is flat and well-drained (near markets)

Loss of Productive Farmland danger of being “suburbanized” as cities expand

MDC Farmers Face Economic Difficulties Green Revolution, technology, science → Overproduction leads to lower prices Demand has remained relatively constant in MDCs (stage 4/5) consequence: incomes for farmers are low susceptible to acquisition (Industrial farms) Need government policies to support agriculture Suburbanization “Urban sprawl” vs. prime agricultural land Both want land that is flat and well-drained (near markets) Demand for crops to be used as biofuels Industrial farming uses a ton of scarce energy Susceptible to fuel price shocks

Subsistence Farming Difficulties Have we reached a point where food production is unable to match population growth? Why? See “Opposition to Green Revolution” Agricultural land maxed out?

Agricultural Land and Population

Subsistence Farming Difficulties Have we reached a point where food production is unable to match population growth? Why? See “Opposition to Green Revolution” Agricultural land maxed out? Desertification decreases arable land Switch to cash crops International trade model of development food must be purchased Most lucrative cash crop? drugs Biofuels (both MDC/LDC) crops used for energy not food

STOP… Strategies to increase food supply Von Thunen’s Model …follow this slide

Strategies to increase food supply Expanding agricultural land better irrigation to reduce stress on water supplies drip irrigation expansion has slowed due to less than pop. growth Identifying new food sources cultivating oceans developing higher-protein cereals improving palatability of foods Increasing trade Shift global overproduction to areas in need Where most food is produced is not where it is most needed (unbalanced production/consumption)

Von Thünen’s Model Produce only what’s profitable Products vary by distance from the market (town). Factors: Cost of land (bid-rent theory) Use of land governed by cost/ease of transport to market Perishability and weight First effort to analyze the spatial character of economic activity Modified for physical features

FIGURE 10-24

$ rent (land cost) someone is willing to pay is based on their business realities For example, per von Thunen’s dairy farmers/vegetable growers (X) would be willing to pay more for land in order to be close to market, Why? costs are high due to perishability. per von Thunen, lumber (Y) would then outbid grains etc. Why? Trans. costs are high due to weight. Pattern continues outward forming concentric rings. Until you get to extensive activities like grazing. Why? Need to pay less for land because their activity is extensive (uses a lot of land) Bid-rent Theory

Application of Von Thünen Model Chinese village (by Lee Liu) Land improvement (by adding organic material) close to village Land degradation (lots of pesticides and fewer conservation tactics) farther from village Wealthy countries Underlying principles on larger scale dairy farming, vegetables as example Location close to population centers/markets. But modernity breaks model down Use of faster, higher capacity, refrigerated transportation