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Questions and Answers
What percentage of recent increases in food production is attributed to conventional agriculture?
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of conventional agriculture?
What is a significant ecological concern associated with conventional agriculture?
How many land animals are used for food production in the United States annually?
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What contributes to the phenomenon of desertification in agricultural practices?
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What is a consequence of nutrient runoff from agricultural practices?
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Which factor is linked to the decline in soil productivity?
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What is the role of mechanization in conventional agriculture?
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What is often the condition of facilities in which livestock are raised in conventional farming?
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Which of the following practices is commonly associated with conventional agriculture?
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What is one major environmental impact of agricultural practices?
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Which factor has contributed to the loss of small farms in the agricultural sector?
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What health risk is commonly associated with the use of antibiotics in animal production?
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How has agricultural production impacted global climate change?
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What is a consequence of converting wildlands into agricultural fields?
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What is a common misunderstanding regarding pesticides?
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Which of the following is a challenge for new farmers entering the agricultural business today?
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What percentage of Americans currently produce food for the population?
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What primary challenge faces many developing countries regarding food security?
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What is one potential consequence of reduced water quality in agriculture?
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Which of the following best explains the impact of overuse of water resources in agriculture?
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What environmental problem is associated with the conversion of tropical forests into agricultural land?
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How has the agricultural sector's economic structure changed in recent decades?
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What is a primary risk to the health of farm workers?
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What contributes to the declining number of farms, particularly small farms, in recent years?
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What effect do antibiotics in animal production have on public health?
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What misconception do people often have about pesticides?
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What is a characteristic feature of conventional agriculture?
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What ecological issue is primarily caused by conventional farming practices?
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Which of the following practices contributes to water pollution in agricultural areas?
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How does conventional agriculture typically manage livestock?
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Which factor significantly impacts soil productivity in agricultural practices?
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What is one outcome of nutrient runoff from conventional agriculture?
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What is a consequence of expanding industrial farming practices?
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What is a major environmental concern linked to the practices of conventional agriculture?
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Study Notes
Conventional Agriculture
- Conventional agriculture (also called modern agriculture or industrial farming) is a key contributor to increased food production worldwide, responsible for 70-90% of recent gains.
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High productivity and efficiency are hallmarks of conventional agriculture, achieved through:
- Rapid technological innovation
- Large capital investments in equipment and technology
- Large-scale farms
- Monocultures (single crops)
- High-yield hybrid crops
- Dependency on agribusiness
- Mechanization
- Extensive use of pesticides, fertilizers, and herbicides
- Livestock production in conventional agriculture often involves intensive, confined animal systems, leading to crowding and potential unsanitary conditions.
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Concerns about conventional agriculture include:
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Ecological Concerns:
- Soil Degradation: wind and water erosion, compaction, loss of organic matter, reduced water holding capacity, and salinization.
- Desertification: caused by overgrazing, especially in parts of Africa.
- Water Pollution: non-point source pollution from salts, fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides.
- Eutrophication and Dead Zones: nutrient runoff affects rivers, lakes, and oceans.
- Water Scarcity: overuse of surface and groundwater for irrigation.
- Pesticide Resistance: over 400 insects and mites, and over 70 fungal pathogens resistant to pesticides.
- Pollinator and Beneficial Insect Decline: pesticide use and habitat loss.
- Global Climate Change: destruction of forests and other native vegetation, and methane emissions from livestock.
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Economic and Social Concerns:
- Federal Expenditures: increasingly large federal spending on the agricultural sector.
- Income Disparity: widening gap between farmer incomes and the concentration of wealth in agribusiness corporations.
- Limited Market Competition: farmers have limited control over prices and receive a decreasing share of consumer spending.
- Farm Loss: significant decline in the number of farms, especially small farms.
- High Costs for New Farmers: high cost of entry for new farmers.
- Land Loss: loss of productive farmland to urban and suburban development.
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Human Health Impacts:
- Antibiotic Resistance: potential health hazards from antibiotic use in animal production.
- Food and Water Contamination: pesticides and nitrates can contaminate food and water.
- Farm Worker Health: physically demanding work and high risk of pesticide exposure.
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Philosophical Considerations:
- Shift in American Identity: from a predominantly agrarian nation to a culture with few farmers (less than 2% produce food for the U.S. population).
- Sustainable and Equitable Food Production: questioning sustainable and equitable food production with limited consumer connection to food production processes.
- Decline of Rural Life: impacts on rural life and farmland ownership.
- Population Growth: projected global population increase to 9.7 billion in 2050 and 11.2 billion in 2100, posing challenges for food security, especially in developing countries.
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Ecological Concerns:
Pests and Pesticides
- Pests: organisms that are unwanted or cause damage to crops, humans, or animals.
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Pesticide: any substance used to prevent, destroy, repel, or mitigate pests.
- Includes insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, and other pest control substances.
- Pesticides pose risks: they are designed to kill or adversely affect living organisms.
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Benefits of Pesticides:
- Control disease-causing organisms.
- Control insects, weeds, worms, and fungi.
Conventional Agriculture
- Also known as "modern agriculture" or "industrial farming"
- Has led to increases in productivity and efficiency for food production
- World Bank estimates that 70-90% of recent food production increases are due to conventional agriculture
- Common characteristics include:
- Rapid technological innovation
- Large capital investments in equipment and technology
- Large-scale farms
- Monocultures (single crops)
- High-yield hybrid crops
- Dependency on agribusiness
- Mechanization of farm work
- Extensive use of pesticides, fertilizers, and herbicides
- Livestock production is often done in highly concentrated and confined systems
- Raises ecological, economic, social, and health concerns
Ecological Concerns
-
Soil Degradation:
- Wind and water erosion of topsoil
- Soil compaction
- Loss of soil organic matter and water-holding capacity
- Salinization of soils in highly-irrigated areas
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Desertification:
- Caused by overgrazing and is a growing problem, especially in Africa
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Water Pollution:
- Non-point source water pollutants include salts, fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides
- Pesticides are commonly found in groundwater and surface waters
- Eutrophication and "dead zones" due to nutrient runoff affect rivers, lakes, and oceans
- Reduced water quality impacts agriculture, drinking water, and fisheries
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Water Scarcity:
- Overuse of surface and ground water for irrigation
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Pest Resistance:
- Over 400 insects and mites, and 70 fungal pathogens, resistant to pesticides
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Pollinator and Beneficial Insect Decline:
- Stress on pollinators due to pesticides
- Habitat loss due to conversion of wildlands to agriculture
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Climate Change:
- Destruction of forests and other native vegetation for agriculture contributes to greenhouse gas emissions
- Cattle and sheep produce methane through their digestion
Economic and Social Concerns
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Large Federal Expenditures:
- U.S. agricultural sector has a history of increasing federal spending
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Agribusiness Concentration:
- Widening disparity in farmer income
- Concentration of agribusiness into fewer corporations
- Limited market competition for farmers
- Farmers receive a decreasing share of consumer dollars spent on agricultural products
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Farm Loss:
- Significant loss of farms, especially small farms, in recent decades
- Difficult for new farmers to enter the business due to high costs
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Land Loss:
- Productive farmland lost to urban and suburban sprawl
Impacts on Human Health
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Antibiotic Resistance:
- Use of antibiotics in animal production can lead to drug-resistant bacteria
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Food and Water Contamination:
- Potential contamination of food and water by pesticides and nitrates
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Farmworker Health:
- Farm work is physically demanding and workers are at higher risk of pesticide exposure
Philosophical Considerations
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American Identity:
- Shifting from agrarian roots to a culture with few farmers
- Less than 2% of Americans produce food for the entire population
- Questions about sustainable and equitable food production with limited consumer connection
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Rural Life and Farmland:
- Decline of rural life and farmland ownership
- Implications for American values
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Global Population Growth:
- UN projections indicate world population will reach 9.7 billion in 2050 and 11.2 billion in 2100
- Rapid population growth in developing countries, coupled with industrialization, poverty, and instability, creates urgent food security challenges
Pests and Pesticides
- Pests are organisms that cause damage or are unwanted
- Pesticides are substances used to prevent, destroy, repel, or mitigate pests
- Include insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, and other substances
- Most pesticides create some risk of harm to humans, animals, and the environment
- Pesticides are also useful for controlling disease-causing organisms, insects, weeds, worms, and fungi
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Description
This quiz covers the fundamentals of conventional agriculture, outlining its characteristics, benefits, and ecological concerns. Key topics include high productivity, technological innovations, and the implications of livestock production. Learn about the impacts of conventional farming practices on the environment and food production.
