agriculture and agricultural practices the costs and benefits of modern food production
TRANSCRIPT
Agriculture and Agricultural PracticesThe costs and benefits of modern food production
Ecosystems Interaction of
biotic and abiotic factors
Cycle/Re-cycle matter (C, N, P, etc)
Transfer energy
Farms are ecosystems Managed by humans Goal = maximize NPP Cycling of matter is
managed Manage biodiversity Manage
predators/competitors Manage matter
cyclingManaged Ecosystems
Modern v. Traditional Agriculture Traditional agriculture = ~10,000 years old
Utilizes biodiversity to manage ecosystem relationships and water
Modern agriculture = 75-100 years old Relies on ‘inputs’ Mechanization Irrigation Fertilizers Pesticides
Which one is ‘better’?
Traditional Agriculture Sometimes called
‘sustainable’ or ‘organic’
Inputs may be absent, reduced or different
What are the costs and benefits? Food Production Environmental Economic
Modern Agriculture Sometime called
‘industrial’ agriculture
Reliance on some/all of the inputs
What are the costs and benefits? Food Production Environmental Economic
Inputs – Mechanization Started with draft
animals Internal combustion
engine resulted in modern equipment
Wide range of options – tractors, combines, etc.
Reduce human labor/increase efficiency
Costs and Benefits?
Inputs – Irrigation Manages abiotic
factor and matter cycling
Use since the beginnings of agriculture
Surface water and ground water
Need is specific to crop and location
Costs and Benefits?
Inputs – Fertilizers Manages matter
cycling Nutrients include N, P,
K and various micronutrients
Specific to crop, climate and soil
Traditional systems use compost, manure and crop rotation
Modern systems use synthetic fertilizers made from fossil fuels and atmospheric NCosts and
Benefits?
Inputs – Pesticides Manages biotic factors Kill or remove any
competitors for the crop Includes herbicides,
insecticides, fungicides, rodenticides and predator control
Traditional systems rely on natural predators
Modern systems rely on chemical control
Costs and Benefits?