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

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

3. Farms are ecosystems Managed by humans Goal = maximize NPP
Matter is not re-cycled
Manage biodiversity
Manage predators/competitors
Manage matter cycling
Managed Ecosystems

4. Modern v. Traditional Agriculture
Traditional agriculture = ~10,000 years old
Manages biodiversity, competitors and (sometimes) water
Modern agriculture = years old
Relies on ‘inputs’
Mechanization
Irrigation
Fertilizers
Pesticides
Which one is ‘better’?

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

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

7. 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?

8. 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?

9. 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?

10. 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?