Glossary
Agribusiness
The system of commercial farming found in developed countries, encompassing the entire food production industry from farm to table, including processing, distribution, and marketing.
Example:
A major food corporation that owns farms, processing plants, and distribution networks is a prime example of modern agribusiness.
Agriculture
The deliberate modification of Earth's surface through cultivation of plants and rearing of animals to obtain sustenance or economic gain.
Example:
The shift from hunting and gathering to settled agriculture allowed early human societies to establish permanent settlements and develop complex civilizations.
Cultural landscapes
Geographic areas that have been shaped by human activity and culture, reflecting the interaction between people and their environment.
Example:
The terraced rice paddies of Southeast Asia are a stunning example of how human ingenuity has created intricate cultural landscapes for agricultural purposes.
Deforestation
The clearing of forests for other land uses, often for agriculture, logging, or urban development.
Example:
Large-scale deforestation in the Amazon rainforest is primarily driven by the expansion of cattle ranching and soybean cultivation.
Extensive Land Use
Agricultural practices that use a relatively small amount of capital and labor in relation to the amount of land being farmed.
Example:
Commercial grain farming in the Canadian prairies is an example of extensive land use, requiring large fields but fewer workers per acre.
Factory farming
An intensive animal-raising agricultural system that prioritizes efficiency and production volume, often involving large numbers of animals confined in small spaces.
Example:
Concerns about animal welfare and environmental impact are often raised regarding the practices of modern factory farming operations.
First Agricultural Revolution
The transition from hunting and gathering to settled farming, marked by the domestication of plants and animals around 10,000 years ago.
Example:
The First Agricultural Revolution led to the development of permanent villages as people no longer needed to constantly search for food.
Global system of agriculture
The interconnected network of economic, political, and social relationships that govern the production, distribution, and consumption of food worldwide.
Example:
The price of coffee in your local cafe is influenced by the complex global system of agriculture, including weather patterns in Brazil and trade policies in Europe.
Green Revolution
A specific part of the Third Agricultural Revolution that focused on increasing food production, particularly in developing countries, through high-yield seeds, fertilizers, and irrigation.
Example:
India significantly boosted its wheat production in the 1960s due to the introduction of new seed varieties and farming techniques from the Green Revolution.
Intensive Land Use
Agricultural practices that involve a relatively large amount of capital and/or labor applied to a small area of land to maximize output.
Example:
The cultivation of strawberries in Florida, requiring significant labor for planting and harvesting on relatively small plots, exemplifies intensive land use.
Irrigation
The artificial application of water to land to assist in the production of crops, especially in dry regions.
Example:
In arid California, extensive irrigation systems are essential for growing water-intensive crops like almonds and grapes.
Long-Lot
A land survey system that divides land into narrow parcels extending back from rivers, roads, or canals, providing each landowner with access to a water source or transportation route.
Example:
The distinctive linear pattern of farms along the St. Lawrence River in Quebec is a classic example of the Long-Lot survey system.
Metes and Bounds
A land survey system that uses natural features (like trees or rivers) and human-made markers (like stone walls) along with distances and directions to define property boundaries.
Example:
Many older properties in the eastern United States still have deeds that describe their boundaries using the Metes and Bounds system, referencing specific trees or streams.
Pastoral nomadism
A form of subsistence agriculture based on the herding of domesticated animals, where people migrate with their livestock in search of pasture.
Example:
The Bedouin people of the Middle East traditionally practice pastoral nomadism, moving their camels and goats across vast desert landscapes.
Ranching
A form of commercial agriculture in which livestock graze over an extensive area, typically in semi-arid or arid regions.
Example:
Vast tracts of land in the American West are dedicated to ranching, where cattle roam freely across large pastures.
Second Agricultural Revolution
Occurring alongside the Industrial Revolution, this period saw significant improvements in farming technology and practices, increasing food production and supporting population growth.
Example:
Innovations like the seed drill and improved plows during the Second Agricultural Revolution drastically increased crop yields in Europe.
Sustainable agriculture
Farming methods that preserve long-term productivity of land and minimize pollution, often by rotating crops or reducing chemical inputs.
Example:
Many farmers are adopting sustainable agriculture practices, like cover cropping, to improve soil health and reduce their environmental footprint.
Terracing
A method of farming on hillsides by cutting flat steps into the slope, which helps prevent soil erosion and retain water.
Example:
Farmers in mountainous regions often use terracing to create arable land and manage water flow for their crops.
Third Agricultural Revolution
A period of rapid technological advancements in the mid-20th century, characterized by the development of high-yield crops, chemical fertilizers, and mechanized farming.
Example:
The widespread adoption of genetically modified crops is a modern continuation of the technological advancements seen in the Third Agricultural Revolution.
Township and Range
A rectangular land survey system used in much of the United States, dividing land into a grid of six-mile square townships, which are further subdivided into 36 one-mile square sections.
Example:
When flying over the American Midwest, the checkerboard pattern of agricultural fields is a clear visual representation of the Township and Range land survey system.
Von Thunen Model
An agricultural model that explains the spatial distribution of different agricultural activities around a central market, based on transportation costs and land rent.
Example:
According to the Von Thunen Model, dairy farms are typically located closer to urban markets due to the perishability of milk and high transportation costs.