Agriculture AP Human Geography

Essential Questions What are the origins of agriculture? How do MDC’s and LDC’s differ in terms of agriculture? What are different types of agriculture? How do we feed a growing global population? What impact does commercial agriculture have on the environment?

Meaning of Agriculture Latin agricultura Ager= field Cultura= cultivation Cultivation/ tilling of the field The intentional growth and processing of animals and plants for food, fibers, and other by-products. Intentional modification of Earth’s surface through the cultivation of plants or rearing of animals to obtain sustenance or economic gain.

Agriculture

Agriculture

Hunter/ Gatherer Society Pre- agriculture Early humans (“cave men”) Hunting Animals, fish Gathering Nuts, berries, wild plants, fruits, roots Life centered around finding food for survival Small groups moved based on access to food ¼ million people today in remote parts of the world.

Hunting and Gathering

Origins of Agriculture Accident? Multiple hearths 5,000 to 10,000 years ago 1st Agricultural Revolution (Neolithic) End of H&G, planting of seeds Southwest Asia (Middle East) Barley, wheat, olives, cattle, goats, pig, sheep Africa Sorghum, yams East Asia Rice, millet Latin America Beans, potato, cotton, squash, maize (corn)

Map of Hearths

Other Major Developments 2nd Agricultural Revolution 1800’s in Europe Same time as Industrial Revolution Focus on creating food surpluses to feed factory workers. 3rd Agricultural Revolution (GREEN REVOLUTION) Started in 1930’s in U.S. Midwest Genetic modification of seeds Fertilizers Increased crop yields, less hunger Environmental hazards/ decreased biodiversity

Two Types of Ag Today: Subsistence and Commercial Food is consumed by farmer’s family, maybe locals. Survival Variety of crops LDC’s 50% farmers Basic tools and techniques Many small farms Food is sold to larger company, who sells to producer. Profit Single crop (wheat, corn) MDC’s 5% farmers Machinery/ transportation/ fertilizers A few large farms

Commercial Agriculture

Subsistence Agriculture

Agribusiness The businesses involved in food production. “Corporate owned farms” Farmers themselves don’t make lots of $$$ but owners of corporations do. Companies include: Monsanto, Cargill, John Deere,

Shifting Cultivation (Slash and Burn) Practiced in tropical and sub- tropical climate zones (warm, lots of rain) Land is cleared of larger trees by cutting and burning….potash fertilizes soil. Soil is farmed for a few years then a new area is cleared. Common crops: rice, corn, cassava, yams, sugarcane. Traditionally, land was owned by village; private ownership is becoming more common. Deforestation, global warming, erosion.

Pastoral Nomadism Subsistence agriculture based on herding animals Camels, goats, sheep…depends on environment. Milk, hides, not always meat Southwest Asia, N. Africa (drier areas) Very spread out Nomad= one who wanders/ no home 15 million worldwide Transhumance- migration of animals between highland (mountains) and lowland (valleys.)

Bedouins (SW Asia) and Maasai (Kenya)

Intensive Subsistence Agriculture Found in densely populated areas of East, Southeast, and South Asia. Small, fragmented plots of land High agricultural density= waste no land Careful agricultural practices produce highest yields of crops. “Get as much as you can from the land”

Wet Rice Farming Seedlings are grown on dry land and transplanted to “sawahs” or “paddys”, which are flooded fields. Grows best on flat land (valleys) but growth in population has led to terracing. Small % of land, but most important source of food for Asians. Time consuming and labor intensive…mostly done by hand.

Terracing Terraces are used in farming to cultivate sloped land. Provides more surface area to grow crops on. Rice terrace in Philippines 