food production

1. Food ProductionFood Production

2. Some Food for Thought

3. FOOD PRODUCTIONFOOD PRODUCTION
 Food production from croplands, rangelands,Food production from croplands, rangelands,
feedlots, fisheries and aquaculture hasfeedlots, fisheries and aquaculture has
increased dramatically – technologicalincreased dramatically – technological
advances (ex: farm machinery, fishingadvances (ex: farm machinery, fishing
equipment, irrigation, fertilizers, pesticides)equipment, irrigation, fertilizers, pesticides)
 Half world’s calories from: wheat, rice, cornHalf world’s calories from: wheat, rice, corn
 Fish and shellfish - important food for 1 billionFish and shellfish - important food for 1 billion
people – mostly Asia and coastal areas ofpeople – mostly Asia and coastal areas of
developing countriesdeveloping countries

4. Industrial Food Production:Industrial Food Production:
High Input MonoculturesHigh Input Monocultures
 Industrialized agricultureIndustrialized agriculture –– high input ag.high input ag.

Produces 80% of the world’s food supplyProduces 80% of the world’s food supply

Uses lots of fossil fuel energy, water, commercialUses lots of fossil fuel energy, water, commercial
fertilizers and pesticides to producefertilizers and pesticides to produce
monoculturesmonocultures (single crops)(single crops)

Greenhouses are increasingly being usedGreenhouses are increasingly being used

5. Industrial Food ProductionIndustrial Food Production
 Satellite images of massive and rapidSatellite images of massive and rapid
development of greenhouse food productiondevelopment of greenhouse food production
in Spain from 1974 (left) to 2000 (right)in Spain from 1974 (left) to 2000 (right)

6. Industrial Food Production:Industrial Food Production:
High Input MonoculturesHigh Input Monocultures
 Plantation agriculturePlantation agriculture – industrial ag. in– industrial ag. in
tropics for cash crops:tropics for cash crops:

such as coffee, sugarcane, bananas, cocoa,such as coffee, sugarcane, bananas, cocoa,
palm oil, soybeans, some vegetablespalm oil, soybeans, some vegetables
 Shifting agricultureShifting agriculture ––
changing fromchanging from
traditional or plantationtraditional or plantation
to industrial ex: Brazilto industrial ex: Brazil

7. Fig. 13-4, p. 275
Plantation agriculture
Shifting cultivation
Industrialized agriculture
No agriculture
Intensive traditional ag.
Nomadic herding

8. Fig. 13-6, p. 276
Natural Capital
Croplands
• Help maintain water flow and soil infiltration • Food crops
• Provide partial erosion protection
• Fiber crops
• Can build soil organic matter
• Crop genetic resources
• Store atmospheric carbon
• Provide wildlife habitat for some species • Jobs
Ecological
Services
Economic
Services

9. Traditional AgricultureTraditional Agriculture
 Traditional agricultureTraditional agriculture – low input, mostly– low input, mostly
human laborhuman labor
 Mostly less developed countriesMostly less developed countries
 Traditional subsistence ag.Traditional subsistence ag. – only enough– only enough
for farm family’s survivalfor farm family’s survival
 Traditional intensive ag.Traditional intensive ag. – enough to feed– enough to feed
families and sellfamilies and sell
 Nomadic herdingNomadic herding – move– move
from place to placefrom place to place

10. Traditional Agriculture: Low InputTraditional Agriculture: Low Input
PolyculturePolyculture
 PolyculturePolyculture – growing several crops on same– growing several crops on same
plot simultaneously:plot simultaneously:

Polyvarietal cultivationPolyvarietal cultivation – planting several genetic– planting several genetic
varieties of same cropvarieties of same crop

IntercroppingIntercropping – two or more different crops grown– two or more different crops grown
at the same time in a plotat the same time in a plot

AgroforestryAgroforestry ((alley croppingalley cropping) – crops and trees) – crops and trees
are grown togetherare grown together

11. Polyculture
Agroforestry
(alley cropping)
Intercropping

12. Traditional Agriculture: Low InputTraditional Agriculture: Low Input
PolyculturePolyculture
 Research hasResearch has
shown that, onshown that, on
average, low inputaverage, low input
polyculture producespolyculture produces
higher yields thanhigher yields than
high-inputhigh-input
monoculturemonoculture

13. Slash-and-Burn AgricultureSlash-and-Burn Agriculture
 Subsistence agriculture in tropical forestsSubsistence agriculture in tropical forests
 Clear and burn a small plotClear and burn a small plot
 Grow many crops that mature at differentGrow many crops that mature at different
timestimes
 Reduced soil erosionReduced soil erosion
 Less need for fertilizer and waterLess need for fertilizer and water

14. Organic Agriculture Is on the RiseOrganic Agriculture Is on the Rise
 Organic agricultureOrganic agriculture – Crops grown with– Crops grown with
ecologically sound and sustainable methodsecologically sound and sustainable methods

No synthetic pesticides or fertilizersNo synthetic pesticides or fertilizers

Has a number of environmental advantagesHas a number of environmental advantages

Usually produces less than conventionalUsually produces less than conventional
agricultureagriculture

16. Industrial Food Production – TheIndustrial Food Production – The
Green RevolutionGreen Revolution
 The Green RevolutionThe Green Revolution – using high-input– using high-input
industrialized agriculture to increase cropindustrialized agriculture to increase crop
yields per unit area of croplandyields per unit area of cropland

Increased global food production 88% since 1950Increased global food production 88% since 1950

17. Industrial Food Production – TheIndustrial Food Production – The
Green RevolutionGreen Revolution
 First Green RevolutionFirst Green Revolution – 1950 – 1970:– 1950 – 1970:
3 steps:3 steps:

Develop monocultures of high yield crops – rice,Develop monocultures of high yield crops – rice,
wheat, corn – selectively bred, geneticallywheat, corn – selectively bred, genetically
engineeredengineered

High inputs of fertilizer, pesticides, waterHigh inputs of fertilizer, pesticides, water

Multiple cropping – more crops per year on aMultiple cropping – more crops per year on a
plotplot

18. Industrial Food Production – TheIndustrial Food Production – The
Green RevolutionGreen Revolution
 Second Green RevolutionSecond Green Revolution – since 1967– since 1967

Fast growing dwarf varieties of rice and wheatFast growing dwarf varieties of rice and wheat

19. Case Study: Industrialized FoodCase Study: Industrialized Food
Production in the United StatesProduction in the United States
 AgribusinessAgribusiness – few corporations control food– few corporations control food
productionproduction

Average farmer feeds 129 people (19 in 1940s)Average farmer feeds 129 people (19 in 1940s)

Annual sales greater than auto, steel, and housingAnnual sales greater than auto, steel, and housing
combinedcombined
 Food production – very efficientFood production – very efficient

Americans spend 10% of income on food (40% inAmericans spend 10% of income on food (40% in
less-developed countries, 70% in some)less-developed countries, 70% in some)
 There are hidden costs of subsidies, pollutionThere are hidden costs of subsidies, pollution
and environmental degradationand environmental degradation

20. THE GENE REVOLUTIONTHE GENE REVOLUTION
 To increase crop yields, we can mix theTo increase crop yields, we can mix the
genes of similar types of organisms and mixgenes of similar types of organisms and mix
the genes of different organismsthe genes of different organisms

Artificial selectionArtificial selection (selective breeding) – used(selective breeding) – used
for centuries to develop genetically improvedfor centuries to develop genetically improved
varieties of crops – 1varieties of crops – 1stst
gene revolutiongene revolution

Genetic engineeringGenetic engineering – transfer of genes from– transfer of genes from
one organism to another – “improved” strains –one organism to another – “improved” strains –
fast – controversial – 2fast – controversial – 2ndnd
gene revolutiongene revolution
• Makes genetically modified food (GMF) or organismsMakes genetically modified food (GMF) or organisms
(GMO)(GMO)

21. THE GENE REVOLUTIONTHE GENE REVOLUTION
 Genetic engineeringGenetic engineering (gene splicing to make(gene splicing to make
recombinant DNA) to make geneticallyrecombinant DNA) to make genetically
“improved” crops and livestock“improved” crops and livestock

88% of U.S. corn, 94% of soybeans, 80% of88% of U.S. corn, 94% of soybeans, 80% of
supermarket foodssupermarket foods

Resistant to heat, cold, herbicides, insect pests,Resistant to heat, cold, herbicides, insect pests,
parasites, viruses, drought, salty and acidic soilparasites, viruses, drought, salty and acidic soil

23. Industrial Food Production – MeatIndustrial Food Production – Meat
 As people have become more affluent, meatAs people have become more affluent, meat
consumption has grown – between 1950 andconsumption has grown – between 1950 and
2010 meat:2010 meat:

Production has increased sixfoldProduction has increased sixfold

Per person consumption has doubledPer person consumption has doubled

24. Industrial Food Production – MeatIndustrial Food Production – Meat
 Livestock production (developedLivestock production (developed
countries) is industrialized:countries) is industrialized:

CAFOsCAFOs ((concentrated animalconcentrated animal
feeding operationfeeding operation) – used to) – used to
fatten up cattle before slaughterfatten up cattle before slaughter

Pigs and chickens – populatedPigs and chickens – populated
pens or cagespens or cages

Livestock – fed grain grown onLivestock – fed grain grown on
croplandcropland

Use lots of energy and water andUse lots of energy and water and
produce lots of wasteproduce lots of waste

25. Industrial Food Production – MeatIndustrial Food Production – Meat
 Problems with CAFOs:Problems with CAFOs:

Unhealthy conditions for animalsUnhealthy conditions for animals

Too many growth hormones and antibioticsToo many growth hormones and antibiotics

Animal wastes and runoff affect air and waterAnimal wastes and runoff affect air and water
qualityquality

26. Industrial Food Production – FisheriesIndustrial Food Production – Fisheries
 FisheryFishery – concentration of particular aquatic– concentration of particular aquatic
species suitable for commercial harvestspecies suitable for commercial harvest
 AquacultureAquaculture – fish farming– fish farming
 Seafood production has increasedSeafood production has increased
tremendously – industrializedtremendously – industrialized
 2012:2012:

57% of fisheries57% of fisheries
harvested at capacityharvested at capacity

30% overfished30% overfished

27. Industrial Food Production - ImpactsIndustrial Food Production - Impacts
 We can now make more food using less landWe can now make more food using less land
– protects biodiversity– protects biodiversity
 Modern agriculture has a greater harmfulModern agriculture has a greater harmful
environmental impact than any humanenvironmental impact than any human
activityactivity
 May limit future food productionMay limit future food production

28. Industrial Food Production - ImpactsIndustrial Food Production - Impacts

29. Industrial Food Production - ImpactsIndustrial Food Production - Impacts

30. Industrialized Food Production Uses aIndustrialized Food Production Uses a
Lot of EnergyLot of Energy
 Energy needed to run machinery, fish,Energy needed to run machinery, fish,
irrigate, make pesticides and fertilizers, andirrigate, make pesticides and fertilizers, and
process and transport foodprocess and transport food
 10 units of nonrenewable fossil fuel energy10 units of nonrenewable fossil fuel energy
are needed to put 1 unit of food energy onare needed to put 1 unit of food energy on
the table –the table – including growing, storing, processing,including growing, storing, processing,
packaging, transporting refrigerating and cookingpackaging, transporting refrigerating and cooking

31. Industrialized Food Production Uses aIndustrialized Food Production Uses a
Lot of EnergyLot of Energy
 Industrialized agriculture uses about 20% ofIndustrialized agriculture uses about 20% of
all commercial energy in the U.S. and foodall commercial energy in the U.S. and food
travels an average 2,400 kilometers (1,300travels an average 2,400 kilometers (1,300
miles) from farm to platemiles) from farm to plate