Agriculture dates back at least 10,000 years. It appears to have multiple origins both in the New World and Old. This also is known as the "Agricultural Revolution."

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The Green Revolution

Three systems that provide us food:

1. Croplands
2. Rangelands
3. Oceanic Fisheries

Since 1950, there has been an great increase in productivity known as the "Green Revolution." It is heavily based upon:

1. increased use of farm machinery

2. inorganic chemical fertilizers

3. irrigation

4. pesticides

5. cereal crops

6. densely populated feedlots and pens

7. intensive ocean fishing

 

Some major problems associated with high-imput agriculture:

1. soil and water pollution from pesticides and fertilizers

2. soil erosion and loss of fertiltiy

3. salinization of irrigated soils

4. deforestation and loss of biodiversity

5. pest resistance to pesticides

6. pesticide residues in our food

7. aquifer depletion

8. genetically uniform crops and livestock (monocultures).

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Sustainable Agriculture

The 1850 Sturbridge Farm

The Farmer in North Dakota

Salina Land Institute

The Rancher in Australia

Holistic Range Management

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Some associated concerns:

Undernutrition

Malnutrition

Overnutrition

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)

Pest resistance: Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)

Weed Control

Are they Safe?

Butterflies

Humans

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Government Policy:

Keep food prices low

Provide subsidies to farmers

Eliminate price controls and subsidies

Many environmentalists believe that instead of eliminating all subsidies, we should use them to reward farmers and ranchers who:

protect the soil
protect and land and wildlife habitat
restore degraded land
conserve water
practice more sustainable methods