Agricultural Revolutions

How did we get here?

Agriculture

• Is the raising of animals or the growing of crops to obtain food for primary consumption by the farm family or for sale off the farm.

The Three Agricultural Revolutions

• First: allowed humans to stay in one place rather than follow animals. Also gave them more food.

• Second: changed farming by adding machinery.

• Third: involved changing farming by adding technology like adding chemicals and gps to watch animals.

First Agricultural Revolution

• From hunting and gathering to planting of seeds and raising animals.

• Very hard work and on a small scale.• As food sources became reliable population

grew.• Animal domestication changed the world’s diet. • People went from eating mostly plants to

eating a lot of animals.

First Agricultural Revolution

From

to

Second Agricultural Revolution

• From 1750 to 1900 in more developed world.• Technology allowed for the increase in production

and distribution of products.• Fields could be double or triple in size with same

amount of labor.• Populations increase.• Less developed countries are still in this era. • Transportation for distribution became more reliable,

food less likely to spoil.• People left farm for urban areas.

Second Agricultural Revolution

From

To

Third Agricultural Revolution

• 1960s+• Uses biotechnology, genetic engineering. • Takes place in labs and tested on farm fields.• Plant and animal hybrids that maximize

growth and production. • Increased use of fertilizers and chemicals.• Industrial farming.• Climate is not as important.

Third Cont.

• Created a global agricultural market. • Wheat grown in North Dakota is shipped to

Asia.• Corporate farms are where Developed

countries get their food. • Enough food is produced to feed the world

but there are barriers in distribution.

Third Agricultural Revolution

From

To

Worlds Food Supply

• On average the world produces enough food to feed all 7 billion people

• However, some countries lack the food security to ensure all people are receiving food.

• This can cause undernourishment

Food Security

• Physical, social and economic access at all times to safe and nutritious food

• 1/8th of the people living in the world do not meet this definition of food security

Dietary Energy Needs

• UNFAO- says people must consume, on average 1,800 calories per day.

• Average world consumption however is around 2,780 kcals.

• Average for developed countries 3,470kcal• Average for U.S 3,800kcal• Average for developing 2,630kcal

Conclusions

• Because these are averages we can assume that a number of individuals in developing regions are not receiving as many calories needed to maintain a healthy life.

• Calorie intake is low in regions where people must spend a large part of their income on food.

Undernourishment

• Dietary energy consumption that is continuously below the minimum requirement for maintaining a healthy life and carrying out light physical activity.

• Not consuming enough calories for easiest of physical movement

Africa’s Food-Supply Struggle

• Sub-Saharan Africa is struggling to keep enough food to feed their growing population.

• Famine is a very real threat with little agricultural land available and a growing population.