Farming Flashcards
Why has farming increased
population increase, more food per person
farming previously
previously people were hunter gatherers, now plants rely on people to spread seeds by humans instead of naturally, humans now choose what genes we want
what happened past 80s
past 80s food productions couldn’t keep up with population growth
how much land is used for farming
1/4 of cultivated land
why has food production increased
irrigation, pesticides, technology
negatives of food production increasing
more energy needed for farming
what does increasing crop yield help
keep up with demand
land drainage
increase productive land but decreases soil quality
irrigation
increases yield but can cause if managed poorly can water log soils and spread disease
pesticides
increase yield, but can kill predators and off balance chain, kill bees, pests can resist, diseases, get into food
fertiliser
increases yield but can get into rivers and kill fish
alternatives to persticides
natural predators
factory animals
small spaces, pump with medicine, produces methane
selective breeding
choose what genes we want (can put toxins in plants), increases yield but not control over gene and can escape to wild
challenges of farming
obesity (1/3 of adults obese in US, usually rich countries but affecting poor, stroke/diabetes), undernourishment (no food security, unequal sharing of food, corruption), climate change (floods/droughts)
