1. History of Agriculture
Modified by Georgia Agricultural Education Curriculum Office
July, 2002

2. In what ways have humans utilized plants?
History of Agriculture
In what ways have humans utilized plants?

3. What is the source of almost all energy within the Earth’s system?
Source of all energy
What is the source of almost all energy within the Earth’s system?

4. What is the largest problem facing the human race?
Problems
What is the largest problem facing the human race?
Can agriculture solve it?

5. Most people were botanists before agriculture
75% of the people in developing countries are involved in food production
Only 3% in the U.S.

6. What aspect of the future of agriculture did you find interesting?

7. How do we solve the problems? Put more land into production?
Agriculture
How do we solve the problems?
Put more land into production?

8. Agriculture
We extensively use only 6 flowering plant species out of an estimated 235,000

9. How is modern corn different from its supposed nearest relative?
Agriculture
How is modern corn different from its supposed nearest relative?
Why could modern corn theoretically not survive (thrive) without humans?

10. Other names: goobers, groundnuts Native to: South America
Peanut
Other names: goobers, groundnuts
Native to: South America
It is a legume (N fixing plant)
after pollination, flower is pushed underground where pod forms
1st evidence of human “use”:
peanut shaped jewelry in tomb of priest from yrs ago

11. 16th century, Spanish explorers brought peanuts back to Europe
Traded from Europe to Africa
Slave trade brought peanuts to North America

12. snacks, peanut butter (50% of all peanuts produced)
Uses
45-50% oil, 25-30% protein
snacks, peanut butter (50% of all peanuts produced)
oils:foods, cosmetics, paints industrial products,
plastics, soaps
remainder fed to animals

13. who wanted high energy food to feed invalids who had trouble chewing
Peanut
Peanut Butter
developed in 1890 by doctor
who wanted high energy food
to feed invalids who had
trouble chewing
rare treat in some parts of world

14. George Washington Carver son of a slave (1864-1943)
Peanut
George Washington Carver
son of a slave ( )
created 300 uses for peanuts
used to reclaim soil depleted by
cotton production
Peanut information taken from:
Plants & Society by Levetin & McMahon, 2nd ed

15. Agriculture
Green Revolution
3 key parts?

16. Green Revolution 3 key parts Plant breeding Fertilization Irrigation
Agriculture
Green Revolution
3 key parts
Plant breeding
Fertilization
Irrigation

17. What are some negative impacts of the Green Revolution?
Agriculture
What are some negative impacts of the Green Revolution?

18. What are some negative impacts of the Green Revolution?
Agriculture
What are some negative impacts of the Green Revolution?
Fossil fuel reliance
equipment, fertilizers
Impact on land holdings and
social structures
Impact on jobs

19. Foci of genetic engineering?
Agriculture
Foci of genetic engineering?

20. Foci of genetic engineering yield quality resistance to pests
Agriculture
Foci of genetic engineering
yield quality
resistance to pests
preserving genetic information

21. Agriculture
With advances in industrial synthesis of materials, why do we need to worry about the survival of native plants?

22. Plants provide blueprints Synthesis is expensive
Agriculture
New diseases
Plants provide blueprints
Synthesis is expensive
Synthesis is based on fossil fuels