13: The Agricultural System
- Page ID
- 175826
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Steep mountain landscapes aren’t an ideal place for farming. Yet, for thousands of years farmers in mountainous regions all over the world have grown crops, even on some of the steepest slopes. To accomplish this effectively, farmers needed to carve gigantic steps across mountainous contours, forming terraces. These terraces create enchanting ripple like patterns across the landscape and make one almost forget that these farms are meant to help feed local and global communities.
Since the transition to agriculture 10,000 years ago, human communities have struggled against the reality that soil suffers nutrient depletion through constant plowing and harvesting (mostly nitrogen loss). The specter of a significant die-off in human population owing to stagnant crop yields was averted in the 1970s by the Green Revolution, which, through the engineering of new crop varieties, large-scale irrigation projects, and the massive application of petroleum-based fertilizers to supplement nitrogen, increased staple crop production with such success that the numbers suffering malnutrition actually declined worldwide in the last two decades of the 20th century, from 1.9 to 1.4 billion, even as the world’s population increased at 100 times background rates. The prospects for expanding those gains in the new century are nevertheless threatened by the success of industrial agriculture itself. Soil depletion, declining water resources, and the diminishing returns of fertilizer technology—all the products of a half-century of industrial agriculture—have seen increases in crop yields level off.
Thumbnail image - Women farmers planting a rice field in West Sumatra.
- 13.1: Food Security
- This page discusses the ongoing challenges of global hunger, emphasizing that undernourishment is largely driven by poverty, not food scarcity. It highlights the importance of food security and access to nutritious food, which is often restricted by economic factors. Additionally, it addresses the rise of obesity as a health crisis affecting both rich and poor nations, resulting in a complex situation of undernourishment, malnutrition, and obesity.
- 13.2: Industrial Agriculture
- This page discusses the complexities of industrial agriculture, which relies on synthetic inputs and monoculture, leading to increased production but environmental and economic challenges. It highlights issues such as soil depletion, water pollution, and health risks from pesticide use, which can create resistant pests and harm biodiversity.
- 13.3: Selective Breeding and Genetic Engineering
- This page covers agricultural biotechnology, distinguishing between traditional selective breeding and modern genetic engineering for crop development. It discusses the advantages of genetically modified (GM) crops, such as improved resilience and nutritional profiles, while addressing concerns like seed monopolies and ecosystem impacts. Despite these concerns, a 2016 NASEM report found no greater health risks associated with GM crops compared to conventional ones.
- 13.4: Sustainable and Regenerative Agriculture
- This page outlines sustainable agriculture, advocating for practices that safeguard environmental resources while enhancing food security. It highlights the principles of biodiversity and integrated pest management (IPM), effectively using methods like crop rotation and natural pest control to minimize chemical use. Additionally, it emphasizes organic farming's role in sustainability, promoting plant-based diets and local food systems.
- 13.5: Data Dive- Landslides and Agricultural Terraces
- This page explores terraced agriculture's effects on landscapes, highlighting landslide risks post-heavy rain. A 2019 study categorized terraces and assessed landslide frequency and size, offering insights for restoration projects. It raises analytical questions about the study's variables and patterns, aiming to inform future agricultural and restoration strategies while addressing the challenges of abandoned terraces.
Attribution
Modified by Melissa Ha and Rachel Schleiger from The Industrialization of Nature: A Modern History (1500 to the present)(opens in new window) from Sustainability: A Comprehensive Foundation by Tom Theis and Jonathan Tomkin, Editors. Download for free at CNX(opens in new window). (licensed under CC-BY(opens in new window))