chapter 11Review
In this chapter, we examined human nutritional requirements and contemporary problems of undernutrition and overnutrition. Modern industrial agriculture in the developed world uses large amounts of fossil fuel inputs and relies on other practices such as irrigation, fertilization, and pesticide application. Genetically modified organisms are also a component of modern agriculture in many parts of the world. Raising meat and fish have specific environmental impacts related to concentrated feeding areas for meat and removal of large numbers of fish from the oceans. Alternatives to conventional modern agriculture exist and often make use of natural patterns observed in nature such as crop rotation and interplanting different species. Organic agriculture is an agricultural practice that does not use chemical pesticides or fertilizers. A variety of sustainable organic and other alternative agricultural practices are being utilized in a variety of locations around the world.
Undernutrition Malnourished Food security Food insecurity Famine Anemia Overnutrition Meat Industrial agriculture Agribusiness Energy subsidy Green Revolution Economies of scale Waterlogging Salinization Organic fertilizer Synthetic fertilizer Inorganic fertilizer Monocropping Pesticides Insecticide Herbicide Broad-spectrum pesticide Selective pesticide Persistent pesticide Nonpersistent pesticide Pesticide resistance Pesticide treadmill Concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) Fishery Fishery collapse Bycatch Shifting agriculture Desertification Nomadic grazing Sustainable agriculture Intercropping Crop rotation Agroforestry Contour plowing Perennial plant Annual plant No-till agriculture Integrated pest management (IPM) Organic agriculture Individual transferable quota (ITQ) Aquaculture | A pesticide that kills many different types of pest. The unintentional catch of nontarget species while fishing. A cycle of pesticide development, followed by pest resistance, followed by new pesticide development. A plant that lives for multiple years. An agricultural method in which two or more crop species are planted in the same field at the same time to promote a synergistic interaction. An agricultural technique in which plowing and harvesting are done parallel to the topographic contours of the land. Livestock or poultry consumed as food. A pesticide that remains in the environment for a long time. A fishery management program in which individual fishers are given a total allowable catch of fish in a season that they can either catch or sell. An agricultural practice that uses a variety of techniques designed to minimize pesticide inputs. A trait possessed by certain individuals that are exposed to a pesticide and survive. A pesticide that targets species of insects and other invertebrates that consume crops. Agriculture that applies the techniques of mechanization and standardization. Also known as Industrial agriculture. The feeding of herds of animals by moving them to seasonally productive feeding grounds, often over long distances. Ingestion of too many calories and a lack of balance of foods and nutrients. Fertilizer produced commercially, normally with the use of fossil fuels. Also known as Synthetic fertilizer. The transformation of arable, productive land to desert or unproductive land due to climate change or destructive land use. Having a diet that lacks the correct balance of proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. A plant that lives only one season. A condition in which people do not have adequate access to food. The fossil fuel energy and human energy input per calorie of food produced. An agricultural method that utilizes large plantings of a single species or variety. The observation that average costs of production fall as output increases. A pesticide that breaks down rapidly, usually in weeks or months. Fertilizer composed of organic matter from plants and animals. An agricultural method in which farmers do not turn the soil between seasons as a means of reducing topsoil erosion. Fertilizer produced commercially, normally with the use of fossil fuels. Also known as inorganic fertilizer. The condition in which not enough calories are ingested to maintain health. The decline of a fish population by 90 percent or more. A form of soil degradation that occurs when the small amount of salts in irrigation water becomes highly concentrated on the soil surface through evaporation. A large indoor or outdoor structure designed for maximum output. A condition in which people have access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs for an active and healthy life. A shift in agricultural practices in the twentieth century that included new management techniques, mechanization, fertilization, irrigation, and improved crop varieties, and that resulted in increased food output. Agriculture that fulfills the need for food and fiber while enhancing the quality of the soil, minimizing the use of nonrenewable resources, and allowing economic viability for the farmer. A pesticide that targets plant species that compete with crops. A form of soil degradation that occurs when soil remains under water for prolonged periods. A substance, either natural or synthetic, that kills or controls organisms that people consider pests. A commercially harvestable population of fish within a particular ecological region. An agricultural technique in which trees and vegetables are intercropped. The condition in which food insecurity is so extreme that large numbers of deaths occur in a given area over a relatively short period. Farming aquatic organisms such as fish, shellfish, and seaweeds. Production of crops without the use of synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. An agricultural method in which land is cleared and used for a few years until the soil is depleted of nutrients. An agricultural technique in which crop species in a field are rotated from season to season. Agriculture that applies the techniques of mechanization and standardization. Also known as agribusiness. A deficiency of iron. A pesticide that targets a narrow range of organisms. |
Module 31 Human Nutritional Needs
Describe human nutritional requirements.
Humans require both a certain number of calories each day and a balance of proteins and other nutrients. Undernutrition is a condition in which not enough food calories are ingested each day. Malnutrition is a condition in which the diet lacks the correct balance of proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals.
Explain why nutritional requirements are not being met in various parts of the world.
Malnutrition occurs due to poverty and political situations that prohibit the efficient and equitable distribution of food. In addition, some grains that could be fed to humans are used to feed livestock and are not available for direct human consumption.
Module 32 Modern Large-
Describe modern, large-
In the twentieth century, a variety of modern agricultural innovations including the Green Revolution transformed agriculture from a system of small farms relying mainly on human labor into a system of large industrial operations that use machinery run by fossil fuels. This shift has resulted in larger farms and monocropping. Irrigation can increase crop yields dramatically, but it can also draw down aquifers and lead to soil degradation through waterlogging and salinization. Fertilizers also increase crop yields dramatically, but can run off into surface waters and cause damage to ecosystems. The negative environmental consequences of pesticides include loss of beneficial nontarget organisms, human health problems, and surface water contamination. When pests become resistant to pesticides over time, a pesticide treadmill can develop.
Explain the benefits and consequences of genetically modified organisms and large-
Agricultural scientists are using genetic engineering to produce genetically modified organisms with desirable traits. GMOs can increase yields and reduce the use of pesticides. Concerns about GMOs include safety for human consumption and their effects on biodiversity. Concentrated animal feeding operations and aquaculture facilities enable efficient animal growth and economically inexpensive food production. However, the disposal of concentrated animal waste presents a problem and the environment can be harmed by runoff containing antibiotics and other waste products.
Module 33 Alternatives to Industrial Farming Methods
Describe alternatives to conventional farming methods.
Traditional farming techniques such as intercropping, crop rotation, agroforestry, and contour plowing can sometimes improve agricultural yields and conserve soil and other resources. No-
Explain alternative techniques used in farming animals and in fishing and aquaculture.
Free-
Wild-