FIRST AGRICULTURE REVOLUTION SECOND AGRICULTURE REVOLUTION THIRD AGRICUTURE

FIRST AGRICULTURE REVOLUTION SECOND AGRICULTURE REVOLUTION THIRD AGRICUTURE REVOLUTION During the first agriculture revolution hunting and gathering was primarily taking place. The second agriculture revolution introduced machines as a result of the Industrial Revolution. This allowed farmers to work faster and use less workers. The third agriculture revolution or “Green Revolution” launched faster technology that allowed bigger crops to be produced. This came from Biotechnology.

The Neolithic Revolution or First Agriculture Revolution occurred around 10, 000 - 12, 000 years ago. During this Revolution, nomadic hunting and gathering took place. This form of agriculture originated in the Fertile Crescent.

The First Agricultural Revolution Continued… Plant domestication was often organized during this time. Asia was said to be the first place where plant domestication took place. In Southwest Asian climate, grain crops such as wheat and barley were often grown.

Along with plant domestication, animal domestication was also in the process. In the Zagros Mountains, goats were domesticated. In Anatolia (Turkey) sheep's were domesticated. The animals provided meat, milk, and the skin was used as shelter.

During the first agriculture revolution, people expanded land by using the slash and burn method. Slash and burn is the clearing and burning of forest in order to create land for planting crops. This method of agriculture was one of the first ways of shifting cultivation. Shifting cultivation is a system in which plots of land are cultivated temporarily, then abandoned.

The Industrial Revolution had a major impact on the Second Agriculture Revolution. Machines were created that allowed farmers to produce crops faster. It also introduced technology to the world.

During the Second Agriculture Revolution, farming methods increased greatly, crop yields were improved, storage size expanded, and distribution systems enhanced drastically. Farmers no longer had to depend on workers to harvest crops. Instead of people picking crops by hand, people used tractor trailers and plows to help do the work.

Irrigation is supplying dry land with water by means of man made holes. The first people who irrigated needed to know how to plant crops, water crops, and use weeds. There are many types of irrigation such as sprinkler irrigation, surface irrigation, and localized irrigation. One of the biggest problem with irrigation is the competition of water.

Von Thunen Model of Agriculture Von Thunen was one of the first economic geographers who created a agricultural land use. The center of the model is the central city or “isolated city. ” The second ring is the intensive farming and dairying because dairy products such be the first things to get to the market faster. The forest is used for fire wood and building materials and the increasing extensive field crops are used for grains which might take longer than other produce. Last, ranching and animal products is where the animals are raised.

…continued • The logic of von Thunen’s model is only partially reflected in what we actually observe • We must consider the effects of different climate and soil conditions, variations in farming methods, and technology available to certain cultures.

Start of the Green Revolution The 3 rd agricultural revolution or Green Revolution was a significant increase in agricultural productivity resulting from the introduction of high-yield varieties of grains, the use of pesticides, and improved management techniques. It started in the early 20 th century. Its early dramatic successes were in Mexico and the Indian subcontinent.

Green Revolution • 1970’s: spread to millions of third world farmers • 1990’s: 40% of all farms in third world – 75% Rice in Asia – 80% Wheat in third world – 70% Corn worldwide • Improved standard of living for millions people worldwide

Technology and Agricultural Production Techonology • Technologies were used widely during the Green Revolution, which included: pesticides, irrigation projects, and synthetic nitrogen fertilizer • Scientist have created HYVs (High Yielding Varieties) which significantly outperform traditional varieties in the presence of adequate irrigation, pesticides, and fertilizers. • On the downside, HYVs are nonrenewable (cannot be saved for next season) which means that farmers have to purchase it each year, thus increasing a farmer’s cost of production.

Production Increase • The rates at which production increased in the early years of the HYVs could not continue indefinitely, which caused some to question the "sustainability" of the new style. • Yields of rice, maize, and wheat increased steadily during the doubling period of the cereal production between 1961 -1985. • The production increases can be attributed roughly equally to irrigation, fertilizer, and seed development, at least in the case of Asian rice. …. . continued

Social Impacts • The Green Revolution led to a sizable increases in returns to land, and hence raised farmer’s incomes • Contributed to better nutrition by raising incomes and reducing prices, which permitted people to consume more calories and more diversified diet • The absolute number of poor people fell from 1. 15 billion in 1975 to 825 million in 1995 despite a 60% increase in population which shows how much of an impact the Green revolution have given to Global Production. • Research studies show that much of the steady decline in poverty is attributable to agricultural growth.

Socioeconomic Impact • The increased level of mechanization on larger farms made possible by the Green Revolution removed an important source of employment from the rural economy, thus reducing labor cost. • Because wealthier farmers had better access to credit and land, the Green Revolution increased class disparities. • The Green Revolution was a product of globalization as evidenced in the creation of international agricultural research centers that share information

Ecological change

Pesticides and Water Issue • Green Revolution agriculture increased the use of pesticides, which were necessary to limit the high levels of pest damage • Pesticides, although help farmers, also can harm them in many ways • Problems with pesticides include the poisoning of farm workers, the contamination of water, and the evolution of resistance in pest organism populations • Irrigation projects have created significant problems of salinization, waterlogging, and lowering of water tables in certain areas

Biodiversity • The spread of Green Revolution agriculture affected both agricultural biodiversity and wild biodiversity • There is little argument that the Green Revolution acted to reduce agricultural biodiversity, as it relied upon just a few varieties of each crop. • Critics argue that new plant varieties displaced landraces in the fields and thus led to a loss of biodiversity.

Biotechnology • Biotechnology means any technological application that uses biological systems, living organisms, or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes for specific use • With biotechnology, the technology is more precise and farming becomes less time consuming • It is believed that biotechnology may hold the key to feeding the world’s billions without unduly harming the environment.

…continued • Plants that are genetically modified to reduce susceptibility to disease can reduce modified food. • Biotechnology allows the world to have less impact on soil erosion, biodiversity, wildlife, forests, and grasslands. • Biotechnology can play a role in addressing the problem of hunger, but it cannot solve the problem.

The Green Revolution has afford many benefits throughout years. First, the revolution provided more jobs for people. The Green Revolution provided a major social and economic impact on the world. The revolution has increased yields greatly.

The Green Revolution has provided many jobs for people in the world. One job is working with hydroelectric power systems. Another important job is working in the industrial system which includes warehouses that provide the crops needed to double their consumption.

During the Bengal Famine, India became one of the worlds worst recorded food disasters. About four years later, green revolution slowly became to impact India by allowing the country to achieve food sufficiency. Eventually, India became one of the worlds largest food productions.

The Next Green Revolution? • Biotechnology helps farmers produce higher yields on less land. • Technology allows us to have less impact on soil erosion, biodiversity, wildlife, forests, and grasslands • To achieve comparable yields (1950 -1999) with old farming methods, would have needed an additional 1. 8 Billion hectares of land

• Green Revolution not sustainable – destroys resource base on which agriculture depends, creates a cycle of dependency. • Poor farmers could not buy seeds, fertilizer, irrigation to make Green Revolution work • Wealthy corporations invested, got richer, drove out poor independent farmers to a neo-colonialism.

Problems • Not ecologically sustainable: depletes soil, pesticide race • Rural people are displaced from land • Though the Green Revolution is creating jobs, the mechanization are also reducing agricultural jobs

Soil Depletion • Dramatic increases in yields during 1970 s, 1980 s • Soil now depleted, resulting in leveling off or dropping yields • India was one of the countries that were most positively affected by the Green revolution • Now, 6% of Agricultural land in India is useless

Destruction of Agricultural Resources • Desertification- taking away of land using it repeatedly • Though technology have a less impact on soil erosion, it will still occur. • Soil erosion- High-yielding varieties rapidly deplete micronutrients from soils • Water shortages- Where crops are dependent on groundwater for irrigation, the water table is declining at an estimated rate of one-third to half a metre per year.

Unsustainable Agriculture • “War” between humans and weeds, insects and disease. • Marketing weapons: – pesticides and chemical fertilizers • Our food source becomes a separate entity, unknown of its harms on the population.

Global Food Supply

Resources • Human Geography book • whyfiles. org/238 earthda y/index. php? g=4. txt • http: //people. hofstra. edu/ geotrans/eng/ch 6 en/conc 6 en/img/vonthunen. gif • http: //en. wikipedia. org/wik i/Green_revolution • www. public. iastate. edu/~ cfford/Increasing. Yields. Th e%20 Green%20 Revoluti on. ppt- • http: //www. fao. org/FOC US/E/Women/greene. htm • http: //edugreen. teri. res. i n/explore/bio/green. htm • www. grain. org/seedlin g/? type=00002006&l=1 • www. rgp. ufl. edu/is/biot echnology/ • ETC