Agricultural Movement

Agricultural Development First Agricultural Revolution creation of farming (hunting gathering to farming) Invention of the plough Second Agricultural Revolution More effective use of land – intensive vs. extensive cropping systems. –Intensive: involves farming small amounts of land and labour intensive (Fruits and Vegetables). –Extensive: involves large amounts of land with limited labour. Machines do most of the work (grain production). The introduction of steam powered tractors, diffusion of crop types, fertilizers, specialization ( s) Green Revolution Development of High Yield Varieties (wheat) (1945 – 1970) Second Green Revolution Biotechnology, GMOs, agribusiness, corporations, globalization. (1990- present date)

Food Production The production of food depends on the following factors: Environmental climate, soils, topography Technological irrigation, fertilizer: pesticides (insects), herbicides (weeds) and storage of food Economical/Political pricing, trade, export/import, tariffs, subsidies, distribution, taxes etc.

Factors Required: Environmental Climate Solar energy or heat requirement. –This is measured by the length of the ‘Growing Season’ (the number of months over C.) Moisture requirement. –This is measured in the amount of Precipitation. –Evapotranspiration. This is the movement of water from the soil into the atmosphere by evaporation from the soil and transpiration from plants. Topography Flat land is best for uniform crop growth. Food Production

Factors Required: Environmental Soil Fertility Soil is a complex substance that includes minerals, living and decaying organic materials, water and air. The amount of decaying organic material (Humus) is the most important determines the soil’s fertility. Organisms are highly beneficial for farming. Earthworms are needed for soil aeration and bees of course for pollination. Poor agricultural practices such as excessive cultivation of the land leads to unproductive soil. Food Production

Technologies Ancient Irrigation The Roman Aqueducts Modern Irrigation

Fertilizers: any substance such as manure or a mixture of nitrates used to make soil more fertile. Chemical Fertilizers: are products designed to help restore or add nutrients to the soil. - Positive aspects are the increase in yield and it’s assistance in providing nutrients to soil that may not be available. -Negative aspect are chemical accessing water table, accessing the plant and diminishing soil fertility. Pesticides and Herbicides: any substance intended to prevent, destroy or control pests in the production process (mice/rats/weeds). Issue: most insecticides and herbicides reach a destination other than their target species, including non-target species, air, water and soil.

Aquaculture:Aquaculture: the harvesting of fish in control environments. Fish are usually grown in large tanks. Hydroponics:Hydroponics: the growing of crops without the use of soil. The medium used is water. Mostly done in greenhouses. Agribusiness: companies like Kraft Foods own all aspects of making a product like cheese. From the diary farm, the farm that grows the food for the cows, the processing and packaging plants. Rainmaking: production of rain by artificial means now generally disregarded, though it is probable that rainmaking increases rainfall from clouds suitable for natural rainfall. Interest spurred by drought and the need for irrigation water.

Economical / Political Economy – Controlling Prices T Economy – Controlling Prices The developed world controls the economy and trade and will not allow the developing world to compete. Tariffs: Tax placed on imported goods to allow the domestic goods to compete (E.g.The Ivory Coast and Cocoa). Subsidize: Governments in developed countries give money to their farmers to keep the prices of certain products down. Outcome: more competitive in the world market. Less developed countries cannot compete (fair Trade) Aid: The developed countries will aid the developing countries in food supplies. The aid is often has restrictive conditions attached to it. »(cheaper minerals, military base in country).

Absentee landlords: In many countries the rich own the land and they either leave the land alone or they rent it out to ‘peasant farmers’. Land Holdings: The U.S.S.R. had a system (Collective farming) where the government owned the land and the farmers worked there much like a factory. This system proved to be disastrous since the farmer had no incentive to improve the land. Infrastructure: The developing world lacks electricity, roads, trucks, railways, storage facilities and distribution networks (difficult to distribute). Communist Countries: set the price for food. there is no incentive for the farmer to improve his/her output. Capitalist Countries: Price is dependent on Supply and Demand. Rich countries can manipulate this and in turn control the price by storing the surplus food, destroying the surplus or government paying farmers NOT to grow more. Why not give extra food as aid to starving people?

Few places in the world are ‘PERFECT’ for farming Only 9% of the earth is cultivated. One fear is the expansion of cities. Cities tend to locate near cultivated land. Once city starts to grow, valuable farmland is lost. Burlington, Toronto, Niagara Most of the time there is some “deficiency” in one or more of the factors mentioned. –Farmers must work at overcoming them.