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While the [[Green Revolution]] massively increased food production after World War II and helped prevent the widespread famine that was predicted, it also increased the use of [[monocultures]], [[fertilizers]] and [[pesticides]]. | While the [[Green Revolution]] massively increased food production after World War II and helped prevent the widespread famine that was predicted, it also increased the use of [[monocultures]], [[fertilizers]] and [[pesticides]]. | ||
While population growth rates are slowing,{{fact}} there is still a need for increased food production. Improved knowledge about natural processes in food production, especially [[soil]] science | While population growth rates are slowing,{{fact}} there is still a need for increased food production. Improved knowledge about natural processes in food production, especially [[soil]] science are needed. | ||
[[Biofuels]] from [[crops]] have begun to compete with food crops, resulting in increased [[food prices]] and thus hunger. | |||
== | == Gardening vs agriculture== | ||
Agriculture needs to be seperated from [[gardening]]. [[Permaculture]] for example is type of [[gardening]] as the agricultural field is arranged around a family house. Other types of gardens are ie [[Urban gardening|balcony garden]]s, ... | |||
== | == Small and large scale crop growing == | ||
[[ | Agriculture can roughly be divided in 2 types: monocultures and polycultures. | ||
Within these types, we can further differentiate into models. | |||
Polyculture can be split up into: | |||
* [[community-assisted agriculture]] | |||
* [[agroforestry]] | |||
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No-till No tillage agriculture]: This type of agriculture will help reducing use of fuel and labour, and will retain [[nutrients]] like carbon, nitrogen and the humidity in the soil. Preventing top soil erosion and [[eutrophication]] in neighbouring waterways. | |||
== Alternatives == | == Alternatives == | ||
[[Community gardens]] and other forms of [[urban agriculture]] offer alternatives, with benefits in improved food quality, freshness and variety, richness of experience, [[education]] and building of social connections. These are potentially more sustainable through [[waste management]] ([[composting]] and possibly [[greywater reuse]]), reduced [[goods transport]] and possible economic benefit. | |||
[[Community gardens]] and other forms of [[urban agriculture]] offer alternatives, with benefits in improved food quality, freshness and variety, richness of experience, [[education]] and building of social connections. These are potentially more sustainable through [[waste management]] ([[composting]] and possibly [[greywater reuse]]), reduced [[goods transport]] and possible economic benefit | |||
== See also == | == See also == | ||
{{portal box|Food and agriculture}} | {{portal box|Food and agriculture}} | ||
* [[commercial agriculture]] | |||
== References == | == References == | ||
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}} | {{Reflist|colwidth=30em}} | ||
;For the introduction. | |||
{{attrib wikipedia|Agriculture}} | |||
== | ==External links== | ||
* [http://www.worldchanging.com/archives//002835.html Community Supported Agriculture for Urban Lifestyles] - WorldChanging, June 3, 2005. A flexible model of community-supported agriculture. | |||
* [http://www.ourfutureplanet.org/topic-agriculture-food OurFuturePlanet - Agriculture and Food] | |||
* [http://www.miller-mccune.com/business-economics/sinking-feelings-about-storing-carbon-emissions-on-the-farm-5942/ Storing carbon on the farm] | |||
* [http://knowledge.allianz.com/en/globalissues/safety_health/food_water/agriculture_sustainable_farming.html sustainable farming] | |||
* [http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_ideas/EnvSci_p052.shtml How no-plow farmers try to save our soil] | |||
* [[Wikipedia:Agriculture]] | * [[Wikipedia:Agriculture]] | ||
* [[Wikipedia:Portal:Agriculture and Agronomy]] | * [[Wikipedia:Portal:Agriculture and Agronomy]] | ||
Line 51: | Line 58: | ||
* [[Wikipedia:No-till farming]] | * [[Wikipedia:No-till farming]] | ||
* [[Wikipedia:Zero tillage]] | * [[Wikipedia:Zero tillage]] | ||
[[Category:Agriculture| ]] | [[Category:Agriculture| ]] | ||
[[Category:Food and agriculture]] | [[Category:Food and agriculture]] | ||
[[Category:Food production]] | [[Category:Food production]] |
Revision as of 12:06, 2 August 2012
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life.[1] Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the development of civilization. The study of agriculture is known as agricultural scienceW. Agriculture is also observed in certain species of ant and termite,[2][3] but generally speaking refers to human activities.
History
The history of agricultureW dates back thousands of years, and its development has been driven and defined by greatly different climates, cultures, and technologies. However, all farming generally relies on techniques to expand and maintain the lands suitable for raising domesticated species. For plants, this usually requires some form of irrigation, although there are methods of dryland farmingW; pastoralW herding on rangelandW is still the most common means of raising livestock. In the developed world, industrial agricultureW based on large-scale monoculture has become the dominant system of modern farming, although there is growing support for sustainable agriculture (e.g. permaculture or organic agriculture.
Sustainability of current agriculture
Our current food system is not sustainable. Development, especially Urban sprawl, is shrinking the agricultural land base. We use large amounts of energy, chemicals, synthetic fertilizers, water. Deep ploughing in large-scale farming is causing the soil to loose much of its nutrients, carbon and is a source of dehydration, soil-erosion and eutrophication.
Food is produced far from the point of consumption, which is a factor in the ecological impact of the food; it also makes truly fresh produce a rare luxury. Local food is a response to these concerns
While the Green Revolution massively increased food production after World War II and helped prevent the widespread famine that was predicted, it also increased the use of monocultures, fertilizers and pesticides.
While population growth rates are slowing,[verification needed] there is still a need for increased food production. Improved knowledge about natural processes in food production, especially soil science are needed.
Biofuels from crops have begun to compete with food crops, resulting in increased food prices and thus hunger.
Gardening vs agriculture
Agriculture needs to be seperated from gardening. Permaculture for example is type of gardening as the agricultural field is arranged around a family house. Other types of gardens are ie balcony gardens, ...
Small and large scale crop growing
Agriculture can roughly be divided in 2 types: monocultures and polycultures. Within these types, we can further differentiate into models. Polyculture can be split up into:
- community-assisted agriculture
- agroforestry
- No tillage agriculture: This type of agriculture will help reducing use of fuel and labour, and will retain nutrients like carbon, nitrogen and the humidity in the soil. Preventing top soil erosion and eutrophication in neighbouring waterways.
Alternatives
Community gardens and other forms of urban agriculture offer alternatives, with benefits in improved food quality, freshness and variety, richness of experience, education and building of social connections. These are potentially more sustainable through waste management (composting and possibly greywater reuse), reduced goods transport and possible economic benefit.
See also
References
- For the introduction.
External links
- Community Supported Agriculture for Urban Lifestyles - WorldChanging, June 3, 2005. A flexible model of community-supported agriculture.
- OurFuturePlanet - Agriculture and Food
- Storing carbon on the farm
- sustainable farming
- How no-plow farmers try to save our soil
- Wikipedia:Agriculture
- Wikipedia:Portal:Agriculture and Agronomy
- Wikinews:Portal:Agriculture
- Wikipedia:Sustainable agriculture
- Wikipedia:List of sustainable agriculture topics
- Wikipedia:Category:Sustainable agriculture
- Wikipedia:Permaculture
- Wikipedia:Urban agriculture
- Wikipedia:Community-supported agriculture
- Wikipedia:Eutrophication
- Wikipedia:No-till farming
- Wikipedia:Zero tillage
- ↑ International Labour Office (1999). Safety and health in agriculture. International Labour Organization. pp. 77–. ISBN 978-92-2-111517-5. Retrieved 13 September 2010.
- ↑ "For sustainable architecture, think bug". NewScientist. Retrieved 2010-02-26.
- ↑ B. Hölldobler & E.O. Wilson (1990). The Ants. Cambridge MA: Belknap. ISBN 978-0-674-48525-9.