This document provides an overview of global agriculture and food production. It discusses the focus areas of agriculture including crop cultivation and livestock grazing. The major agricultural products and traditional food systems are outlined. Improvements in agriculture through technology are described along with some environmental concerns. The document also examines the plants and animals that feed the world, the types of food production systems, and how green revolutions have increased yields.

1. STATE OF AGRICULTURE
The Walker School
Environmental Science

2. Focus
Cultivation of crops

State of arable land

Pastoral herding of livestock on rangeland


3. Agricultural Products
Foods

Fibers

Fuels

Raw materials

Pharmaceuticals

Illegal drugs

Poppy field in Afghanistan.
Ornamental or exotic

products

4. Traditional Food Systems
Croplands 77%

Rangelands 16%

Ocean Fisheries 7%


5. Cropland Forest
Food Production in
Irrigated farm land Barren land
Rangeland Wetland
U.S.
Pasture Urban area

6. Improvements in Agriculture
Increased use of farm

machinery
Inorganic chemical

fertilizers
Irrigation

Pesticides

High-yield varieties of

crops
Aquaculture ponds


8. Environmental Concerns
Soil Erosion

Pollution

Lack of Water for

Irrigation
Overgrazing by

Livestock
Overfishing

Loss of Ecological

Services Effects of overgrazing on grasslands.

9. WHAT PLANTS AND ANIMALS
FEED THE WORLD?

10. Available Materials: Types of Plants
30,000 known species

of flowering plants
Only 10,000 are eaten

by humans (1% of total
biomass)
12 account for over

80% of the worlds crops

11. Why So Few Plants
Indigestible

Poisonous

Low Nutritional Value

Tedious to Prepare

Difficult to Gather


12. 12 Major Species of Plant
Cereals: wheat, corn, rice,

barley, sorghum, and soybeans
Roots: potatoes, manioc and

sweet potatoes
Sugars: sugar cane, sugar

beets, and bananas

13. WHAT ARE THE MAJOR TYPES OF
FOOD PRODUCTION?

14. Agricultural Types
Industrialized Agriculture

Plantation Agriculture

Traditional Intensive Agriculture

Shifting Cultivation

Traditional Subsistence Agriculture

Nomadic Herding


15. Location of World Food Production
Plantation agriculture Intensive traditional agriculture
Industrialized agriculture
Nomadic herding No agriculture
Shifting cultivation

16. Cash Crops of Plantation Agriculture
Bananas

Coffee

Soybeans

Sugarcane

Cocoa

Vegetables

Drugs


17. HOW HAVE GREEN REVOLUTIONS
INCREASED FOOD PRODUCTION?

18. Steps Toward a Green Revolution
Develop and plant

monocultures
Produce high yields by

using large amounts of
fertilizer, pesticides, and
water
Increase the number of

crops grown per year on A monoculture of leaf lettuce.
a plot of land through
multicroping

19. Figure 13-6
Page 282
First green revolution Second green revolution Major international agricultural
(developed countries) (developing countries) research centers and seed banks
1950 - 1970 1967

20. WHAT IS THE CURRENT STATUS OF
FOOD PRODUCTION IN THE U.S.?

21. Agricultural Facts for the U.S.
Bigger than the automotive, steel, and housing

industries combined
Generates about 18% of the countries GNP

Produces 17% of the world’s grain

U.S. consumers spend 2% of their income on food

Accounts for 17% of U.S. energy use


22. Energy Use in Production
Grow Transport
 
Store Refrigerate
 
Process Cook
 
Package

17% of total
commercial
4% 2% 6% 5%
energy use
Crops Livestock Food processing Food distribution and preparation
Food production

23. Land
Labor
Capital
Fossil fuel
energy
Industrialized agriculture
in developed countries
Land
Labor
Capital
Fossil fuel energy
Intensive traditional agriculture
in developing countries

24. Land
Labor
Capital
Shifting cultivation in tropical
forests in developing countries
Land
Labor
Capital
Nomadic herding in
developing countries

25. Food Processing Systems
Imports
Wholesalers Caterers
Food/Farms Manufacturers Retailers Consumers
Exports

26. WHAT GROWING TECHNIQUES ARE
USED IN TRADITIONAL AGRICULTURE?

27. Traditional Intensive Agriculture in Vietnam

28. Interplanting Strategies
Polyculturing

Intercropping

Agroforestry (Alley

Cropping)
Intercropping in Ghana, Africa.

29. Advantages of Polyculturing
Less need for fertilizers

and water because of
varying root depths
More protection from

wind and water erosion
Little need for insecticides

because multiple habitats
are created for natural A polyculture tank holding plants,
predators of crop-eating rainbow trout, and crayfish.
insects

30. WHAT OTHER METHODS
REDUCE SOIL EROSION?

31. Soil Conservation
Table 6-2, p. 190

32. Terracing

33. Contour Farming

34. Strip Cropping

35. Agroforestry

36. Gully Reclamation

37. Plants That Deplete Soil Nutrients
Corn

Tobacco

Cotton

Crop Rotation Example:
Corn  Soybeans  Oats  Alfalfa

38. HOW CAN WE MAINTAIN AND
RESTORE SOIL FERTILITY?

40. Extent of Fertilizer use in United States

41. Organic Fertilizers
Animal Manure

Green Manure

Compost

Spores of Mushrooms

Crop Rotation


42. HOW MUCH HAS FOOD
PRODUCTION INCREASED?

44. Rice Production

45. Corn Production

46. Wheat Production

47. Food Production
Enough is produced to feed the current population

Poor distribution infrastructures and political

corruption create situation were 1 out 6 people in
developing nations do not have enough food

48. HOW SERIOUS ARE
UNDERNUTRITION AND
MALNUTRITION?

49. Decreased High death
resistance rate for
Poverty Malnutrition
to disease children
Decreased Decreased Shortened
Decreased
ability ability life
energy
to learn to work expectancy
Feedback loop

50. Problems of Chronic Undernutrition
Mental Retardation

Stunted Growth

Susceptible to Infection

Diseases
Susceptible Parties:
•Infants
•Nursing Mothers
•Elderly

51. Diseases Resulting from Undernutrition
Diarrhea Measles

52. Disease Resulting from Malnutrition
Kwashiorkor Marasmus

53. Precautions (A $5 - $10 Fix)
Immunizing Children

Encouraging Breast Feeding

Preventing Dehydration

Preventing Blindness

Providing Family Planning

Increasing Education for Women


54. HOW SERIOUS ARE
MICRONUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES?

55. Major Micronutrient Deficiencies
Vitamin A

Iron

Iodine


56. Some Micronutrient Deficiencies
Iron Deficiency:
•Causes Fatigues
•Makes Infection More Likely
•Increase Chances of Mother
Dying in Child Birth
Vitamin A Deficiency:
Goiter on neck.
•Allergies
Iodine Deficiency:
•Impaired growth
•Night blindness
•Stunted Growth
•Decreased immune system function
•Mental Retardation
•Cancer susceptibility
•Goiter

57. Micronutrient Fixes: GMO’s
Spliced gene into rice to make it rich in beta-

carotene (Vitamin A)

58. HOW SERIOUS IS
OVERNUTRITION?

59. Being Overweight
Overweight

 4.5-14 kg (10-30 lbs)
Obese

 14 kg (30 lbs +)
Health Problems:
•Lower Productivity
•Lower Quality of Life
•Greater Susceptibility to Disease
•Lower Life Expectancy

60. WHAT ARE THE ENVIRONMENTAL
AFFECTS OF PRODUCING FOOD?

62. AGRICULTURAL FIXES?

63. Agricultural Fixes
Genetically Modified

Foods
New Foods

More Efficient

Agriculture
Improved Irrigation


64. A Limited Solution
Depletion of Aquifers

Erosion

Groundwater Contamination

Salinization

Waterlogging

Reduction of Wildlife

Habitats
Increase Carbon Dioxide in

Atmosphere
Accelerate Global Warming


65. Urban Gardens
Reduces stresses on soil and biodiversity in non-urban

areas
Provide food and jobs for low-income urban residents

Lead to conflict over how urban land should be used

Urban soils need to be checked for toxic pollutants (Pb,

Hg)

66. Microlivestocks (Edible Insects)
Blank Ant Larva (tacos in

Mexico)
Giant Water Bugs

(vegetable dip in Thailand)
Emperor Moth Caterpillars

(South Africa)
Cockroaches (Kalahari

Desert)
Butterflies (Bali)

Ants (Bogota)

http://www.slashfood.com/2005/10/27/scorpion-
lollipops-and-the-future-of-microlivestock/

67. HOW MUCH FOOD IS
WASTED?

68. Food Waste (70%)
Average U.S. family of 4 wastes around 640 lbs per year!
Spoilage

Inefficient Processing

Inefficient Preparation

Plate Waste
