Agricultural Production Systems
Sam Ross
Overview
• Industrial Agriculture• Advanced Systems:
– Hydroponics– Aquaponics
• Organic Agriculture– Integrated aquaculture (i.e. ancient hawaii, china)– Shade-grown crops– Permanent Agriculture– Multi-crop systems (Ex: the corn, soy, and squash)
• Small-Scale Agriculture– Subsistence Agriculture
Shade-Grown Coffee
Hydroponics
Intensive Livestock Operations
Process• Review each type of system
in terms of:– Where they are
implemented– What is required for
implementation– Constraints on use– Productivity/acre
Outcome: Comparison
– Cost– Time until
profitability– ‘Riskiness’ – i.e.
vulnerability to demand and
weather– Environmental
requirements– Environmental
impact
Overarching Goal: Compare different crop systems in terms of multiple characteristics, such as: