A Changing Global Food System PDF

A Changing Global Food System BIOL2309 Farming Demographics 40% of workforce are farmers (1.3 B) Of the 570 M farms in the world: oDeveloping countries have §Smaller farms (500 M < 1 ha) §50% of the population are farmers or live on farms oIn the US §Larger farms (2000 ha) §1% farmers §2% live...

A Changing Global Food System BIOL2309 Farming Demographics 40% of workforce are farmers (1.3 B) Of the 570 M farms in the world: oDeveloping countries have §Smaller farms (500 M < 1 ha) §50% of the population are farmers or live on farms oIn the US §Larger farms (2000 ha) §1% farmers §2% live on farms In both situations, farmers have direct and intimate knowledge of food practices Lowder, Sarah & Skoet, Jakob & Raney, Terri. (2016). The Number, Size, and Distribution of Farms, Smallholder Farms, and Family Farms Worldwide. World Development. 87. 10.1016/j.worlddev.2015.10.041. Science-Based Practices Despite the wisdom of farmers in industrialized and developing countries, science-based practices result in higher production per ha Agriculture oCultivating crops and domesticated animals is a technology oStarted _____________ years ago oIs the first step towards a developed civilization oNeolithic revolution – transition from hunter-gatherer to agriculture (Guns, Germs, and Steel) oProfound effects on culture and population growth oChange from nomadic to sedentary cultures Hunters and Gatherers - our ancestors Human origins – 4 mya Homo ___________ o2.5 mya: ↑ brain capacity; oldest known stone tools H. erectus o2-0.5 mya: use of fire and evidence of cooking H. neanderthalensis (H sapiens neanderthalensis?) o250 kya – 30 kya: shaped tools; evidence of starch consumption (grains) found on fossilized teeth; bitters and medicinal compounds H. sapiens o50 kya: grinding seeds; wider range of foods H. neanderthalensis (H. sapiens neanderthalensis?) “species” means many things The biological species concept defines a species as a group that are interbreeding (produce fertile offspring) oH. neanderthalensis shouldn’t interbreed with H. sapiens Humans have neanderthal DNA in their genome oBook: perhaps humans exterminated neanderthals H. sapiens developed advanced tools Sickle made of deer antler  A modern experiment Wild ____________ (wheat ancestor) Harvested with scythe and electric weed trimmer Which do you think harvested more in a faster amount of time?  Agriculture arose Multiple Times Centre of _________– locations where crop plants originated prior to domestication Generally: oTropical or subtropical oVaried topographies (river valleys, hills, plateaus …) oClimate with distinct wet and dry seasons §Why? Favours plants that can complete their life cycle within the rainy season and can survive the dry season. Makes harvesting more efficient. 6 major centres of origin 6 major centres of origin 6 Major Centres of Origin Plants make seeds for dispersal That’s why seeds are nutritious o“Mom packs a lunch” – seeds are surrounded by food (endosperm) to help their germination §Starch (e.g. wheat) – polysaccharides §Oils (e.g. canola) – lipids Dispersal can be a problem for farmers o“__________” – the natural inclination for plants to release seeds easily when mature oDomesticated versions hold on to their seeds – require “threshing” Natural shattering versus shatter-resistant plants  To make a crop: Plough / clear land Plant crop Control weeds Constant care – leads to ____________ life (non-nomadic) Agriculture involves cultivation of soil and sowing oNote the other technologies: selective breeding; plow, harvesting techniques, canals and pumps for irrigation, removing seeds, & separating out the chaff  Know several (~5-7) of the 12 major food crops O and where they are grown Even dedicated carnivores eat plants Livestock are raised on plants oGrains provided as feed are most economical oFeedlots are provided with supplemented foods; grazing takes more land and manpower Meat consumption correlates with imports of soybeans Farmers thus need to know the feed ___________ratio The feed conversion ratio or FCR is calculated as the weight of food supplied to the animal to generate one equivalent weight unit (e.g. 1 kg) of supplied product (eggs solids, meat, milk solids). As close to 1 as possible  Rising consumption of meat in China… …correlates with increased imports of soybeans for animal feed Crop Production Takes Several Forms Steady requirement of human or animal labour oTilling soil oSow the seeds oHarvest Also required from nature oFertile soil oSufficient water (rain or irrigation) If at a minimum, these lead to subsistence farming – smallholders (80% of farmers in China, Africa) oUsually use ______________ (not scientifically bred) When equipment (e.g. tractors) and supplements (e.g. fertilizer) are used = industrial / production agriculture Different Crop Production Systems Hybrids in Agriculture Combining genetics is powerful oOffspring of two animals or plants of different varieties form _______________________ which have characteristics of both parents oFurther controlled breeding may enhance desirable features (artificial selection) Corn was derived from teosinte oHybrids even more powerful The _________ Revolution The Green Revolution refers to the development of high-yielding plant varieties – especially of wheat, corn and rice, that increased food supplies in the 1940s–60s and staved off widespread starvation in developing countries. The dramatic increase in the productivity of these crops was seen in developing countries such as Mexico, Brazil, India, Pakistan, and the Philippines  Not everyone was thrilled with the Green Revolution It improved the quality of life for many But … o… displaced tenant farmers oLocal economies not capable of absorbing the manpower oBirth rates remained high – increased – required more food oLed to an over-reliance on purchased inputs oQuestionable _________________ Problems with the Green Revolution https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgHy8 KQ4Ifg Organic farming Uses omechanization and improved / hybrid seeds oCrop rotation (science-based farming) Does not use: osynthetic pesticides oGMO seeds oHerbicides Much larger yield gap than industrial farming _____________ to deal with world food demand  Agriculture and food production are significant players in the economic systems of developed countries food prices can be affected when the price that farmers have to pay for purchased inputs like oil, fertilizer, electricity, and machinery fluctuate worldwide because of perturbations in the global economy  Intensive agriculture has environmental effects that may limit its long-term sustainability modern farming practices have a significant ______________ impact on the environment detrimental effects can be partially mitigated ○ e.g. precision agriculture Work with the students around you to come up with problems to long-term sustainability Summary of Agriculture O Primitive (10 k – 1 kya) Domestication Hand tools O Industrial agriculture (300-200 ya) Improvements Pumps; engines Fertilizers Educational programs O Industrial revolution (100 ya) Genetics Transport Refrigeration Gasoline replaces steam and animal power … Summary of Agriculture O Genetics, biochemistry and intensification (1940-2000) Large-scale irrigation Synthetic pesticides Synthetic fertilizers More genetic alteration Precision agriculture O Advanced genomics and sustainability (now) Corporations cooperate (chemical and genetics organizations for agribusinesses New concepts New consumer demands Next Class Guns, Germs and Steel