Chapter 11 Vocab Flashcards
undernutrition
chronic hunger, the condition in which not enough calories are ingested to maintain health
malnourished
having a diet that lacks the correct balance of proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals; 3 billion people - nearly half of the world’s population - are malnourished
food security
a condition in which people have access to sufficient, safe. and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs for an active and healthy life
food insecurity
a condition in which people do not have adequate access to food
famine
The condition in which food insecurity is so extreme that large numbers of deaths occur in a given area over a relatively short period
anemia
A deficiency of iron, the most widespread nutritional deficiency in the world
overnutrition
ingestion of too many calories and a lack of balance of foods and nutrients, causes a person to become both overweight and malnourished
industrial agriculture
agriculture that applies the techniques of mechanization and standardization. Also known as agribusiness.
energy subsidy
the fossil fuel energy and human energy input per calorie of food produced
green revolution
A shift in agricultural practices in the twentieth century that included new management techniques, mechanization, fertilization, irrigation, and improved crop varieties. Resulted in increased food output.
economies of scale
the observation that average costs of production fall as output increases
waterlogging
A form of soil degradation that occurs when soil remains under water for prolonged periods, impairs root growth because roots cannot get oxygen
salinization
a form of soil degradation that occurs when the small amount of salts in irrigation water becomes highly concentrated on the soil surface through evaporation, salts can eventually reach toxic levels and impede plant growth
organic fertilizer
Fertilizer composed of organic matter from plants and animals, used by traditional farmers
synthetic (inorganic) fetilizer
produced commercially, normally with the use of fossil fuels. Also known as inorganic fertilizers. Have severe adverse effects on the environment.
monocropping
an agricultural method that utilizes large plantings of a single species or variety, the dominant agricultural practice in the United States
pesticide
A substance, either natural or synthetic that kills or controls organisms that people consider pests; the US accounts for about 1/3 of worldwide pesticide use
insecticide
a pesticide that targets species of insects and other invertebrates that consume crops
herbicide
a pesticide that targets plant species that compete with crops
broad-spectrum pesticide
a pesticide that kills many different types of pests
selective (narrow-spectrum) pesticide
a pesticide that targets a narrow range of organisms
persistent pesticide
A pesticide that remains in the environment for a long time, for example, DDT
non-persistent pesticide
A pesticide that breaks down rapidly, usually in weeks or months
pesticide resistance
decreased susceptibility of a pest population to a pesticide that was previously effective at controlling the pest
pesticide treadmill
a cycle of pesticide development, followed by pest resistance, followed by new pesticide development
shifting agriculture
An agricultural method in which land is cleared and used for a few years until the soil is depleted of nutrients.
desertification
The transformation of arable, productive land to desert or unproductive land due to climate change or destructive land use.
nomadic grazing
The feeding of herds of animals by moving them to seasonally productive feeding grounds, often over long distances.
sustainable agriculture
Agriculture that fulfills the need for food and fiber while enhancing the quality of the soil, minimizing the use of nonrenewable resources, and allowing economic viability for the farmer.
intercropping
An agricultural method in which two or more crop species are planted in the same field at the same time to promote a synergistic interaction.
crop rotation
An agricultural technique in which crop species in a field are rotated from season to season.
agroforestry
An agricultural technique in which trees and vegetables are grown next to each other in rows or other patterns.
contour plowing
An agricultural technique in which plowing and harvesting are done parallel to the topographic contours of the land.
no-till agriculture
An agricultural method in which farmers do not turn the soil between seasons as a means of reducing topsoil erosion.
integrated pest management (IPM)
An agricultural practice that uses a variety of techniques designed to minimize pesticide inputs.
organic agriculture
Production of crops without the use of synthetic pesticides or fertilizers
individual transferable quota (ITQ)
A fishery management program in which individual fishers are given a total allowable catch of fish in a season that they can either catch or sell.
meat
the second largest component of the human diet, livestock or poultry consumed as food
concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO)
An animal feeding operation (AFO)—a farm in which animals are raised in confinement—that has over 1000 “animal units” confined for over 45 days a year.
aquaculture
Farming aquatic organisms such as fish, shellfish and seaweeds.
fishery
a commercially harvestable population of fish within a particular ecological region
fishery collapse
the decline of a fish population by 90% or more
bycatch
the unintentional catch of non-target species while fishing
perennial plant
A plant that lives for multiple years.
annual plant
A plant that lives for only one season.
soil compaction
the compression of soil particles into a smaller volume, which reduces the size of pore space available for air and water
