Geography Flashcards

Question

Why is agriculture considered the most important industry?

Answer 1

It provides humans with food which is essential. It accounts for more land than any other human activity and has a great impact on the biophysical environment.

Answer 2

The large scale production of crops and livestock that sell in supermarkets and stores rather than for personal or family use. It often uses advanced technology, machinery and chemical inputs to maximize output and profit.

Answer 3

Traditional subsistence agriculture: - Centered around meeting the immediate needs of a household - Minimal technological inputs - Relies on manual labour and traditional tools Traditional intensive agriculture: - seeks to increase productivity - more labor and resource investment - often supports larger communities or generate surplus for trade.

Answer 4

Goyder’s line is a line that runs from SA to VIC that determines where crops are able to grow in suitable conditions. Any crops above this line would not produce high crop yield. Goyder generated this line by gathering rainfall, topographical and floral data to designate appropriate land for crops.

Answer 5

Disadvantages: - Increased greenhouse gas emissions. - Weakens soil health and biodiversity through compaction. - Erosion of soil because the tree roots used to hold them in place Advantages: - moderate erosion can expose a layer of minerals, temporarily aiding yields. - More space for agricultural fields

Answer 6

Positive: - High amounts of rain can replenish groundwater reserves. - For some tropical species these conditions can be favourable (warm temperature & ample precipitation). Negative: - Water logging: limits oxygen to the plant roots. - Intense precipitation removes the top layer of soil (where minerals are found), decreasing crop nutrition.

Answer 7

Compaction is the process of applying pressure to a material, such as soil or sediment, to make it denser and reduce air spaces.

Answer 8

Abundant soil, water and constant heat

Answer 9

Positive: - Gets rid of pests that harm the crop Negative: - The use of pesticide and fertilizers causes water and soil pollution, resulting in the contamination of bodies of water, exacerbating yields.

Answer 10

Precision agriculture is the use of technology to monitor and identify the key areas where crops need optimal handling.

Answer 11

- Drip Irrigation - GPS Tracking - Multispectral Drones - Soil Moisture Sensors

Answer 12

Drip irrigation consists of water traversing through small tubes and releasing moisture directly at the root of the crop, allowing them to have enough water especially in regions where water is scarce.

Answer 13

Soil moisture sensors monitor moisture retention, activating irrigation in specific periods, reducing water consumption.

Answer 14

GPS tracking comprises of satellite technology to provide real-time data on the location equipment, livestock and workers. GPS tracking enables farmers to precisely address crop treatment without unnecessary travel across fields resulting in minimised use of farming vehicles and fuel carbon emissions.

Answer 15

Multispectral drones use special cameras to analyze vegetation, soil, and environmental conditions across different light wavelengths.

Answer 16

The information gathered by drones is transferred to GPS tracking, providing cultivators with detailed insights for crop management, strengthening yield potential.

Answer 17

The integration of irrigation, soil moisture sensors, GPS tracking and drones enables agricultural producers to specifically target crops, optimizing time, energy, resource consumption and yield capability.

Answer 18

Genetic modification is the process of modifying an organism's genetic composition by adding, deleting or altering specific gene functions to develop beneficial traits.

Answer 19

GMO can generate stronger crops by engineering resistance to pesticides, limiting the use of chemicals and lowering emissions on farming machinery for repeated pesticide applications throughout the yield, effectively saving money on these productions. Moreover, crops can be genetically altered to withstand severe climate change such as prolonged droughts, while also improving their capacity to absorb more carbon dioxide, positively impacting the objective of a carbon neutral environment.

Answer 20

Through genetic modification crops considerably improving yield capability as well as increasing the generation of quality crops which escalates the amount of food available, addressing global food security

Answer 21

Farmers practice crop rotation by planting different crops in the same field across seasons to maintain soil health, prevent nutrient depletion, and control pests. (For example, a farmer might grow corn one year, then soybeans the next, as soybeans naturally restore nitrogen to the soil, benefiting future crops).

Answer 22

Agroforestry is a sustainable land management system that integrates trees with crops or livestock to enhance biodiversity, improve soil health, and boost agricultural productivity. By combining forestry and farming, it helps mitigate climate change, prevent erosion, and create more resilient ecosystems.

Answer 23

Precision Agriculture – Using technology like GPS, sensors, and AI to optimize crop yields, reduce waste, and improve efficiency. Sustainable Farming Practices – Implementing crop rotation, agroforestry, and organic farming to maintain soil health and biodiversity. Genetic Modification – Developing drought-resistant and pest-resistant crops to improve yields

Answer 24

moderate shortage of soil or water; adequate heat

Answer 25

Food insecurity refers to a state where people do not have physical, social and economic access to safe and nutritious foods at all times, resulting in an unhealthy lifestyle that can include malnourishment.

Answer 26

- Increased Population: less food for the whole world to consume & more demand for food = increased prices - Every 1 degree increased due to climate change = 10% yield reduction. - Fluctuating climates cause failed crop harvesting, limiting the physical access to food. - Droughts = warm climates (more common over the last 23 years) = Farmers lose their cattle = reduced amount of meat available for consumption - Cash Cropping (e.g. India). - Excessive water being used to produce food. (e.g. a piece of meat contains a large amount of virtual water as the cow was given water) - Overfishing - Increasing consumption of food. - Financial challenges that does not allow them to purchase food, especially with increased demand that increased prices drastically

Answer 27

Access: Having the resources (economic and physical) to obtain appropriate foods for a nutritious diet. Utilization: Proper use of food based on knowledge of basic nutrition and care, as well as adequate water and sanitation. Stability: Maintaining consistent access to food over time, without the risk of losing access due to sudden shocks

Answer 28

a hot climate with distinct wet and dry seasons, an open canopy of scattered trees, and a continuous understory of tall grasses

Answer 29

Food waste refers to edible food that is discarded or left uneaten at various stages of the food supply chain, from production to consumption.

Answer 30

- Spoilage of food - Aesthetic Standards that supermarkets do not accept - The act of buying too much food that you do not end up consuming - Harvesting Inefficiencies - Lack of awareness of impacts of food waste

Answer 31

- OzHarvest - Ugly Food Campaign

Answer 32

OzHarvest rescues good quality, surplus food from supermarkets and restaurants and delivers it to charities and community programs that support people in need.

Answer 33

The Ugly Food campaign aims to influence consumer behaviours and ideas surrounding food in order to create a separate area for ‘imperfect’ foods to be sold. This ensures that healthy, perfectly edible food doesn’t go to waste purely based on aesthetic standards. This campaign has been successful in Coles, Woolworths and Harris Farm where they have incorporated ‘imperfect’ foods.

Answer 34

- Tracking waste: Keep a record of discarded food to identify patterns and reduce unnecessary purchases. - Smart shopping: Buying only what is needed and avoiding panic-buying, which can lead to excess food going bad. - Proper storage: Learning how to store food correctly to extend its shelf life and prevent spoilage using refrigerators and freezers - Creative cooking: Using leftovers and repurposing ingredients to minimize waste

Answer 35

- Average Australian family throws out $3500 per year in food waste -There is enough food produced in Australia to feed 60 million people (250% of our population) but most of that food is wasted - 1 in 5 bags of groceries are thrown out per store - 40% of bananas are thrown out in a factory due to aesthetics

Answer 36

significantly low rainfall, extreme temperature - hot during day, cold during night, drought-resistant vegetation

Answer 37

Large quantities of surplus food are discarded rather than redirected to those facing food insecurity. This means that while some regions have an abundance of food, others lack the physical or economic access to it.

Answer 38

When consumers purchase food it inflates demand. This drives up prices, making food even less accessible to low-income populations and worsening food insecurity.

Answer 39

Food waste in landfills generates greenhouse gases, exacerbating climate change.

Answer 40

- Civil War = lack of employment + education - Low government income - Drought Conditions (= low yields) - High population = high demand.

Answer 41

Crops can: - Be adapted to climate - Be given more nutrients - Become stronger: meaning less pesticides and fertilise are needed

Answer 42

- It can be expensive to implement - Risk to the environment through cross pollination via weeds can create superweeds - Big corporations gain advantage over farmers as they developed stronger crops that local farmers cannot afford

Answer 43

Green Revolution: The Green Revolution was a period of agricultural advancements starting in the mid-20th century, where high-yield crops, chemical fertilizers, and modern irrigation dramatically increased global food production. Gene Revolution: The Gene Revolution refers to the use of biotechnology in agriculture, particularly the development of genetically modified (GM) crops to improve yield, resistance to pests, and adaptability to environmental conditions.

Geography Flashcards

(67 cards)