1. Agriculture: Revolutions and Responses
AP Human Geography
Agriculture and Rural Land Use Unit

2. For today, 04/06 Vocab and Map Exam and Reading Quiz is Wednesday
Unit Exam is this Friday
You will need to arm yourselves with note- taking apparatus
Turn in Meatrix homework to the tray

3. First Agricultural Revolution
About 8,000 years ago
Intentional domestication of plants and animals
Created surplus of crops like wheat and barley
Surplus of food allowed specialization of labor, which created civilization as we know it
Subsistence based

4. Second Agricultural Revolution
Around
Coincided with the Industrial Revolution
New technologies yield more crops
Farming equipment, refrigeration, railroads
Larger farms – could do much more with much less
Introduction of commercial farming – could transport to in-demand markets
Think about its role in the DTM…

5. Third Agricultural Revolution
Also know as the Green Revolution
1940s and 50s - today
Higher-yield seeds
Expanded use of fertilizers and pesticides
GMO/GE crops and animals
Created agribusiness
Major effects on “hungry areas”

6. Organic Revolt: Response to the Green Revolution
Organic Agriculture: production of crops without the use of synthetic or industrially produced pesticides and fertilizers or the raising of livestock without hormones, antibiotics, and synthetic feeds

7. Response to the Green Revolution
Critics of the Green Revolution argue:
1. Vulnerability to pests
2. Dependency on chemicals for production
3. Soil erosion
4. Malnutrition – vitamin & nutrient deficiencies
5. Water shortages
Sikkim, India
2,740 square miles (Harris County = 1,777)
India’s least populated state
Entire state 100% organic by 2015

8. Organic vs. Non-Organic Cropland
Organic: 1 dot = 250 acres
Non-Organic: 1 dot = 25,000 acres

9. In groups (without using sources), explain the trend you see in the graph above. Socrative, room

10. Decrease in Dairy Farms Increase in Organic Farms
Increased production of milk
Increased mechanization
Agribusiness and industrialization of agriculture
Small farms are less profitable and cannot compete
Urbanization
Increased demand in market
Sustainability – better care for the land influences consumer choice
Small farms unable to compete with agribusiness switch to more profitable ventures