Agriculture
The history of agriculture is the story of the development of processes for producing food, feed, fibre, fuel, and other goods by the systematic raising of plants and animals.
Prior to the development of plant cultivation and herding grazing animals, human beings were hunters and gatherers.
The knowledge and skill of learning to care for the soil and growth of plants advanced the development of human society, allowing clans and tribes to stay in one location generation after generation. Archaeological evidence indicates that such developments occurred 10,000 or more years ago.
Agriculture provides most of the world’s food and fabrics. Cotton, wool, and leather are all agricultural products. Agriculture also provides wood for construction and paper products.
These products, as well as the agricultural methods used, may vary from one part of the world to another.:
1. Agriculture fieldwork
Building on our field work in the biome topic, the proposal for a world tour of global agriculture is also still under consideration.
The following is a virtual example of what we had planned.
Answer the questions for each station.
Station 1. The influence of biomes
Which Biome would you associate with each of the following activities?
Station 2. The influence of transport
Where would you expect to find each of the following activities located relative to urban centres? Why?
(Give reasons for the location of each example)
Dairy farming
Market gardens
Beef cattle
Station 3. The influence of soil
Match the soil to the two (2) most suitable agricultural activities.
Dairy
Rice growing
Potato Growing
Sheep Grazing
Intensive Vegetable Cropping
Vineyards
Which of these soil types is least suitable for irrigation?
Which of these soil types has the most available nutrients?
Why are clay soils most suitable for their respective agricultural activities?
Clay soil
Rich soil
Map of canals and irrigation systems in the west Euphrates, Babylonia 684 -47BC
Station 4. The influence of climate
identify the limiting factor (if any) for agriculture at the following locations.
Propose a solution to the limiting climate factor.
Station 5. The influence of markets
St Johns Farm management are meeting to decide which crops or livestock we should grow more of next season
What is your recommendation?
Justify your response using evidence from the following graphs.
Wheat prices
Cattle prices
Goat prices
Station 6. Agriculture review
List 5 methods and/or technologies that farmers have developed to increase yields.
What would you need to do if you wanted to establish an insect farming operation in Australia?
What can orange growers in Renmark do to make their water use more sustainable?
If you were going to establish a culinary herb production farm (Horticulture), which areas do you think would be most suitable?
Why do you think a large number of Australian sheep graziers went bankrupt in the late 1990’s?
2. The Green Revolution
Background briefing: The Green Revolution
The term Green Revolution refers to the revolution in agricultural practices beginning in Mexico in the 1940s. Because of its success in raising yields, Green Revolution technologies spread worldwide in the 1950s and 1960s, significantly increasing the number of calories produced per acre of agriculture.
The Green revolution resulted in a remarkable increase in agricultural yields by using better technologies and farming practices, effects were felt mainly in Less economically developed (LEDC) countries.
Critics say that the Green Revolution was a disaster for the environment.
Answer the following questions to learn more about the green revolution.
1. What was the green revolution and why did the world need it?
In the 1950's there was increasing concern about how the rapidly growing world population would be fed.
"By the year 2000... the entire world, with the exception of Western Europe, North America, and Australia, will be in famine." Peter Gunter, North Texas State University professor, 1970
The results of the Green Revolution were astonishing, wheat and rice yields increased by over 100% in many LEDC countries.
Questions
Describe how much wheat yields increased by in LEDC's as a result of the green revolution using Fig 2.
Explain why people in the 1950's and 1960's predicted that there would be a world famine?
2. What was the green revolution?
The green revolution improved farming in the following 5 areas.
New genetically modified seeds had better yield and disease resistance.
New machinery improved harvest and production
New irrigation programs reduced the limiting factor of rainfall
New pesticides and herbicides reduced crop losses
NPK fertiliser was widely used in LEDC’s for the first time
Question.
1. Explain the green revolution using examples of the 5 main improvements.
3. List the positives and the negatives of the following three 3x green revolution technologies.
Increased use of fertiliser and pesticides
Increased use of machinery
Increased use of irrigation
4. Define these alternatives to the green revolution (You will need to research this.)
Critics of the following traditional farming methods warn that they will result in people in LEDC’s returning to growing enough only to feed themselves and their families.
Traditional Polyculture
Traditional Subsistence Farming
Local Food Movements
Paying ‘The Right Price’ for our food
5. Was the green revolution a disaster for the environment?
Critics say that the Green Revolution is:
Unsustainable
Has led to overpopulation and exceeding our carrying capacity
An environmental disaster
Question.
Outline the 4 main criticisms of the green revolution.
3. Sustainable farming
Activity 3. Sustainable farming brochure
Sustainable farming advocates argue that we should adopt more sustainable practices to protect the environment, preserve soil health, reduce pollution, and ensure long-term food security. They believe current methods harm ecosystems and contribute to climate change, while sustainable approaches support biodiversity, water conservation, and healthier outcomes for future generations.
The Sustainable Farming Association needs you to create a guide to increase awareness of sustainable farming methods. They have asked you to create an informative brochure that describes five techniques including useful pictures that will give farmers an idea of what they can do on their property to become more sustainable.
To do: Include the following sustainable practices in your brochure.
Integrated pest management:
Crop Rotation:
Avoid Soil Erosion:
Managed Grazing:
Save Transportation Costs:
4.Green revolution debate
Debate: Was the Green revolution positive or negative?
The green revolution is still a controversial subject for many people.
On the one hand the Green Revolution increased global food production through high-yield crops, irrigation, and fertilisers, reducing hunger in many regions.
However, it also caused environmental damage, soil degradation, and increased reliance on chemical inputs. Benefits were uneven, often favouring wealthier farmers and widening social and economic inequalities in rural communities.
The Great Debate
• 3 minutes per team
The Red Team: We need more not less industrial farming as the world’s population grows and millions move out of poverty.
The Purple Team: The green revolution is the worst thing that ever happened to the planet!
The Blue Team: That’s ridiculous! Industrial Farming is an environmental catastrophe and we need to consider alternatives!
The Green Team: Actually the green revolution is great and here is why.
