Agriculture and Agricultural Practices The costs and benefits of modern food production

Ecosystems Interaction of biotic and abiotic factors Cycle/Re-cycle matter (C, N, P, etc) Transfer energy

Farms are ecosystems Managed by humans Goal = maximize NPP Cycling of matter is managed Manage biodiversity Manage predators/competitors Manage matter cycling Managed Ecosystems

Modern v. Traditional Agriculture Traditional agriculture = ~10,000 years old Utilizes biodiversity to manage ecosystem relationships and water Modern agriculture = 75-100 years old Relies on ‘inputs’ Mechanization Irrigation Fertilizers Pesticides Which one is ‘better’?

Traditional Agriculture Sometimes called ‘sustainable’ or ‘organic’ Inputs may be absent, reduced or different What are the costs and benefits? Food Production Environmental Economic

Modern Agriculture Sometime called ‘industrial’ agriculture Reliance on some/all of the inputs What are the costs and benefits? Food Production Environmental Economic

Inputs – Mechanization Started with draft animals Internal combustion engine resulted in modern equipment Wide range of options – tractors, combines, etc. Reduce human labor/increase efficiency Costs and Benefits?

Inputs – Irrigation Manages abiotic factor and matter cycling Use since the beginnings of agriculture Surface water and ground water Need is specific to crop and location Costs and Benefits?

Inputs – Fertilizers Costs and Benefits? Manages matter cycling Nutrients include N, P, K and various micronutrients Specific to crop, climate and soil Traditional systems use compost, manure and crop rotation Modern systems use synthetic fertilizers made from fossil fuels and atmospheric N Costs and Benefits?

Inputs – Pesticides Costs and Benefits? Manages biotic factors Kill or remove any competitors for the crop Includes herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, rodenticides and predator control Traditional systems rely on natural predators Modern systems rely on chemical control Costs and Benefits?