Food ResourcesFood Resources
G. Tyler Miller’sLiving in the Environment
13th Edition
Chapter 13
G. Tyler Miller’sLiving in the Environment
13th Edition
Chapter 13
Dr. Richard ClementsChattanooga State Technical Community CollegeDr. Richard ClementsChattanooga State Technical Community College
Key ConceptsKey Concepts
Methods of producing food Methods of producing food
Increasing food production Increasing food production
Environmental effects of food production Environmental effects of food production
Increasing sustainability Increasing sustainability
How Is Food Produced?How Is Food Produced?
Sources of foodSources of food
Primary plants:wheat, corn, and rice
Primary plants:wheat, corn, and rice
Primary animals:beef, pork, and chicken
Primary animals:beef, pork, and chicken
Major Types of AgricultureMajor Types of Agriculture
Traditional subsistenceTraditional subsistence
Traditional intensiveTraditional intensive
PlantationPlantation
Industrialized (high-input)Industrialized (high-input)
See Fig. 13-3 p. 280See Fig. 13-3 p. 280
Industrialized agricultureIndustrialized agriculture
Shifting cultivationShifting cultivation
Plantation agriculturePlantation agriculture
Nomadic herdingNomadic herding
Intensive traditional agricultureIntensive traditional agriculture
No agricultureNo agriculture
World Food ProductionWorld Food Production
Fig. 13-2 p. 279Fig. 13-2 p. 279
Producing Food by Green-Revolution TechniquesProducing Food by Green-Revolution Techniques
High-input monoculture High-input monoculture
Selectively bred or genetically-engineered crops
Selectively bred or genetically-engineered crops
High inputs of fertilizer High inputs of fertilizer
Extensive use of pesticides Extensive use of pesticides
High inputs of water High inputs of water
Increased intensity and frequency of cropping
Increased intensity and frequency of cropping
Green RevolutionsGreen Revolutions
First green revolution(developed countries)First green revolution(developed countries)
Second green revolution(developing countries)
Second green revolution(developing countries)
Major International agricultural research centers and seed banksMajor International agricultural research centers and seed banks
Fig. 13-6 p. 282
Producing Food by Traditional TechniquesProducing Food by Traditional Techniques
Intercropping Intercropping
Polyvarietal cultivationPolyvarietal cultivationAgroforestry (alley cropping)Agroforestry (alley cropping)
Polyculture –like a home gardenPolyculture –like a home garden
Food ProductionFood Production
Rapidly increasingRapidly increasing
Prices decreasingPrices decreasing
Shortages in developing countriesShortages in developing countries
Approaching limits on meat productionApproaching limits on meat production
NutritionNutrition
UndernutritionUndernutrition
Malnutrition Malnutrition
OvernutritionOvernutrition
Refer to Fig. 13-11 p. 286Refer to Fig. 13-11 p. 286
Refer to Solutions p. 289Refer to Solutions p. 289
Environmental Effects of Food ProductionEnvironmental Effects of Food Production
Biodiversity lossBiodiversity loss
SoilSoil
Air pollutionAir pollution
WaterWater
Human healthHuman health
See Fig. 13-13 p. 288See Fig. 13-13 p. 288
Increasing World Crop ProductionIncreasing World Crop Production
Crossbreeding and artificial selection Crossbreeding and artificial selection
Genetic engineering (gene splicing) Genetic engineering (gene splicing)
Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) Genetically modified organisms (GMOs)
Continued Green Revolution techniques Continued Green Revolution techniques
Introducing new foods Introducing new foods
Working more land Working more land
See Fig. 13-16 p. 291See Fig. 13-16 p. 291
Producing More MeatProducing More Meat
Rangeland Rangeland
Pasture Pasture
Adaptations of rangeland plants Adaptations of rangeland plants
Range condition and management Range condition and management
Efficiency Efficiency
Environmental consequences (Connections p. 299) Environmental consequences (Connections p. 299)
Kilograms of grain needed per kilogram of body weightKilograms of grain needed per kilogram of body weight
Beef cattleBeef cattle 77
PigsPigs 44
ChickenChicken 2.22.2
Fish (catfishor carp)
Fish (catfishor carp) 22 Fig. 13-25
p. 298Fig. 13-25
p. 298
CAFO’s (confined animal feeding operations)CAFO’s (confined animal feeding operations)
•Drip• Center Pivot•Sprinkler
Farm Water UseFarm Water Use
Catching and Raising More FishCatching and Raising More Fish
FisheriesFisheriesFishing methods (See Fig. 13-30 p. 303)Fishing methods (See Fig. 13-30 p. 303)Sustainable yieldSustainable yieldOverfishing Overfishing Commercial extinctionCommercial extinctionAquicultureAquicultureFish farming and ranchingFish farming and ranching
AquacultureAquaculture
•Farms (marine cages) –raise and cultivate fish
and harvest when reach desired age or size.
•Ranch –raise juveniles, then
release to grow to adulthood in wild waters, then recapture when return to spawn (ex: salmon) *farm raised vs wild caught. (uncommon)
Government Agricultural PolicyGovernment Agricultural Policy
Artificially low pricesArtificially low prices
Subsidies Subsidies
Elimination of price controlsElimination of price controls
Food aidFood aid
Solutions: Sustainable AgricultureSolutions: Sustainable Agriculture
Low-input agricultureLow-input agriculture
Organic farmingOrganic farming
More benefits to the poorMore benefits to the poor
Increasing funding for research in sustainable techniques
Increasing funding for research in sustainable techniques
See Fig. 13-36 p. 308See Fig. 13-36 p. 308
Solutions: Soil ConservationSolutions: Soil Conservation
Conventional-tillage All topsoil is turned under and exposedto erosion and the elements.
Conventional-tillage All topsoil is turned under and exposedto erosion and the elements.
Conservation tillage Minimum or no-till –either loosely breakthe surface or use special planting equipmentto put seeds into earth without exposing
topsoil.
Conservation tillage Minimum or no-till –either loosely breakthe surface or use special planting equipmentto put seeds into earth without exposing
topsoil.
Refer to Fig. 10-26 p. 224Refer to Fig. 10-26 p. 224
Solutions Cont.dSolutions Cont.d
•Cropping methods •Strip
•Contour
•Terrace
•Windbreaks
•Land Classification
Soil RestorationSoil Restoration
Organic fertilizerOrganic fertilizer
Animal manureAnimal manure
Green manureGreen manure
CompostCompost
Crop rotationCrop rotation
Commercial inorganic fertilizerCommercial inorganic fertilizer
Soil ConservationSoil Conservation• 1985 Farm Act – strategy to reduce soil erosion in the
US• Reduce erosion & restore fertile land
– Conservation tilling – disturb soil as little as possible
– Terracing – reduce erosion on slopes
– Contour farming – plant along contours of gentle slopes
– Strip cropping – planting alternate strips of crops
– Alley cropping – planting between shrubs and trees
– Wind breaks – planting a row of trees or shrubs on perimeters
– Gully reclamation – fast growing vines and shrubs