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Agriculture

Agriculture. PART 1: Background about Agriculture. Human Consumption. Minimum Calories: 1,200 daily Around 800 pounds of food yearly 6 billion human beings http://math.berkeley.edu/~galen/popclk.html. Human Consumption. 1 lb. of grain = 1 lb. of food

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Agriculture

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  1. Agriculture PART 1: Background about Agriculture

  2. Human Consumption • Minimum Calories: 1,200 daily • Around 800 pounds of food yearly • 6 billion human beings http://math.berkeley.edu/~galen/popclk.html

  3. Human Consumption • 1 lb. of grain = 1 lb. of food • 10 lbs. of grain = 1 lb. of meat = 1 lb. of food • Meat foods are less efficient than plant foods

  4. US Consumption • Calories per person in the US: • 2,234 calories per person per day in 1970 (1,675 pounds each year) • 2,757 calories per person per day in 2003 (1,950 pounds each year)

  5. Food for a Growing Population • Cost of GROWING food • Variety of foods needed (grain, fruits, nuts…) • Maintaining the plant • Sun/Water/Temp limitations • Some crops produce more food per acre • Potatoes vs. blueberries

  6. Food for a Growing Population • Cost of TRANSPORTING food • Seasonal foods imported from other climates • Uses Fossil Fuels • Big cities vs. rural areas

  7. Food for a Growing Population • Cost of PROCESSING food • Grains need to be cooked (wood, gas…) • Washing grains, fruits, veggies • Pre-packaged food (plastic)

  8. Pests (Insects & Disease) • Damages plants • Decrease farm productivity • Pounds of food per acre of land • Aphids, whiteflies, mites, caterpillars… • Moulds, viruses, bacteria, rot…

  9. Pests (Competition) • “Weeds” (undesirable plants) compete for resources • May be faster-growing and out-compete crop plants

  10. Managing Pests (Organically) • Encourage predators to come into the field • Border plants (habitat for predators) • Bring in predators • Bred by a company and shipped out • Perennial crop plants • Established so weeds are less of a problem

  11. Managing Pests (Organically) • Slow to work (weeks and weeks) • Less effective over the short term • Very few negative ecological consequences • Not as well subsidized • Less government money given to farmers • Higher cost of crops

  12. Managing Pests (Chemically) • Pesticides to kill off insects • Herbicides to kill of weeds

  13. Managing Pests (Chemically) • Very quick results (within a week) • Highly effective over the short term • Chemicals wash into waterways and pollute • Well subsidized • Government contributes the most money • Lower cost of crops

  14. Farming Techniques: Monoculture • One big farm with one crop • Easy to have machines do the work • Easier to manage • Higher concentration for pests/disease • Worse for the soil

  15. Farming Techniques: Polyculture • Small farm with many crops in one field • Must be done by hand • Better yields per acre • Lower concentration for pests/disease • Harder to use chemicals effectively • Better for the soil

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