commodity chain + economies of scale

Question 1

Agribusiness

Answer 1

large-scale system that includes the production, processing, and distribution of agricultural products and equipment

**Farmers are just a small part of the process of getting the food from the field to the consumer. They are just one part of the commodity chain.

Question 2

Economies of Scale

Answer 2

cost reductions that occur when production rises

Question 3

When Choosing the Best Site for Agriculture
(physical factors)

Answer 3

Soil quality
Topography (sloped/flat lands)
Climate
Access to water

Question 4

When Choosing the Best Site for Agriculture
(cultural factors)

Answer 4

Food taboos

Question 5

But Von Thunen Argued: the most important factor is…

Answer 5

distance to market

Question 6

Global Supply Chain

Answer 6

same as commodity chains, but on the global scale. Allows for the delivery of product between two different countries.

Question 7

WHY Global Supply Chains Exist

Answer 7

Climate
Cost (land, labor, capital)
Transnational corporations
Neocolonialism
Comparative Advantage
…because core countries don’t HAVE to grow if they don’t want to

Question 8

Commodity Dependence

Answer 8

when more than 60 percent of a country’s exports and economic health are tied to one or two resources such as oil, timber, or plantation crops

Question 9

commodity dependence positives

Answer 9

become well-known for it, becomes very specialized

Question 10

commodity dependence negatives

Answer 10

subject to supply and demand, what if disaster strikes

Question 11

how to help global supply chains flow
(infrastructure)

Answer 11

foundation:
Roadways
Water lines
Electric lines
Seaports
Airports
Train stations
Factories
Communication systems
**Sometimes core countries help to sponsor these infrastructural projects (mutually beneficial), but sometimes projects fail

Question 12

how to help global supply chains flow
(political relationships)

Answer 12

Some supranational organizations are trading blocs, and allows for the supply chain to operate easier, more efficiently, and cheaper across multiple countries

Question 13

Terracing

Answer 13

Process of carving parts of a hill or mountainside into small, level growing plots
*Common in subsistence farming
*Common for rice cultivation in mountainous
areas
*Terraces flood as rainfall goes down hillside

Question 14

terracing positives

Answer 14

able to cultivate land that was otherwise unproductive, maintains soil fertility and slows down rainfall

Question 15

terracing negatives

Answer 15

labor intensive, constant maintenance to prevent runoff and mudslides

Question 16

Irrigation

Answer 16

bringing in water from natural sources to farm fields through canals and other means to help supplement rainfall
**Common in all forms of agriculture

Question 17

irrigation positives

Answer 17

has expanded agriculture to places previously too dry to support crop growth

Question 18

irrigation negatives

Answer 18

consequences of dams, water levels dropping and increased salinity in natural sources, increased agriculture has put a growing demand on water sources

Examples: lakes, rivers, aquifers, reservoirs

Question 19

draining wetland (the practice)

Answer 19

draining swamplands and bogs to convert them into agricultural lands

**Common in: The Netherlands, and areas converted to wet rice

Question 20

draining wetlands positives

Answer 20

expands agricultural land, considered wasteland since it did not support construction, gets rids of areas prone to pests and mosquitos

Question 21

draining wetlands negatives

Answer 21

loss of habitat for many animals and natural vegetation, less drainage area following storms,

Question 22

deforestation

Answer 22

loss of forest lands
Why? Shifting cultivation, commercial agriculture

Question 23

deforestation positives

Answer 23

creates more open space for agriculture

Question 24

deforestation negatives

Answer 24

loss of biodiversity, loss of habitat, soil erosion, increased greenhouse gases, increased flooding

Question 25

Desertification

Answer 25

a form of land degradation that occurs when soil deteriorates to a desertlike condition

*Common in areas that area arid, prone to overgrazing, over farming, or deforestation

Question 26

desertification negatives

Answer 26

harms food supply for both humans and animals, health problems with breathing in dust

Question 27

Air Pollution

Answer 27

Increased carbon emissions from machinery
Increased methane emissions from cattle industry

Question 28

Water Pollution

Answer 28

Increase water usage decreases groundwater supply
Fertilizer and pesticide runoff
Runoff causes uncontrollable plant growth in water sources

Question 29

Salinization

Answer 29

the process by which water-soluble salts build up in the soil
**Common in arid areas where water evaporates faster than replenished by rainfall, leaving behind higher concentration of minerals

Question 30

commercial farmers problem areas

Answer 30

Air pollution from heavy machinery
Water use
Toxins in groundwater

Question 31

commercial farmers possible solutions

Answer 31

Setting aside preservation land
Financial incentives to farmers for using sustainable practices
More organic farming practices

Question 32

subsistence farmers problem areas

Answer 32

Soil fertility and depletion
Need to feed an increasing population

Question 33

subsistence farmers possible solutions

Answer 33

• Crop rotation
• Intensify efforts in already cultivated lands, but leaving less fertile land for preservation
• Can use many of the same techniques as commercial ag.–but more focused on survival, not profits

Question 34

Societal Challenges

Answer 34

More organic produce consumption as a reaction to fears of GMOs and overuse of fertilizers and pesticides
*But many consumer resist change and will
continue to consumer certain products no
matter the environmental cost–beef
Roles of women
Changing economic purpose of farming
*In U.S.–steady change from small, family-
owned farms to large-scale agribusiness
*Smaller number of people employed in
farming as a result
Rise in monocropping
*Lack of diversity=problems with all your eggs in one basket, they call ALL break easily (drought, natural disaster, change in consumer demand)

Question 35

Urban Farming

Answer 35

conversion of vacant urban spaces to small local gardens to grow fresh produce for a small community

Question 36

Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs)

Answer 36

community purchases shares in a local farm, and receive a box periodically of locally grown food

Question 37

local food movements positives (CSAs and urban farming)

Answer 37

connects producers and consumers, supports local farmers and local economies, cuts down on transportation costs

Question 38

local food movements negatives (CSAs and urban farming)

Answer 38

limited in scope, not always profitable, transportation costs are not the most impactful factor on environment

Question 39

organic farming focus

Answer 39

using less chemicals and external inputs in their agricultural practices. Use natural fertilizers and focus on soil health. Promote biodiversity and sustainability

Question 40

organic farming positives

Answer 40

less harmful on the environment, there is a growing demand so they are seeing profits, more plant and animal integration

Question 41

organic farming negatives

Answer 41

still some use of chemicals, products are more expensive for consumers, more labor intensive

Question 42

how to produce value-added crops

Answer 42

Differentiate your product (organic, grassfed, etc.)
Quality, functionality, useful form, ease of possession
Process it (vertical integration)
Fill a market niche
Right place, right time

Examples:
Coffee, dairy products, wheat to flour, etc.

Question 43

Fair Trade

Answer 43

a global campaign to fix unfair wage practices and protect the ability of farmers to earn a living

Question 44

Food Security

Answer 44

access to safe, nutritious food

Question 45

Food Insecurity

Answer 45

poor access to food
**In U.S., most common reason: lack of money

Question 46

Food desert:

Answer 46

areas where residents lack access to healthy, nutritious food because stores selling these foods are too far away.

Communities with at least 33% of population living more than one mile from a supermarket/grocery store (rural=10 miles)

Typically: low income, higher unemployment, and higher poverty rates

Question 47

Women in agriculture and rural areas have this in common…

Answer 47

Less access than men to productive resources and opportunities

Question 48

Where the gender gap is found

Answer 48

Land
Livestock
Labor
Education
Extension and financial services
Technology

Question 49

lack of land rights

Answer 49

If a female farmer has no legal right to own or control land, she also doesn’t have the legal backing to make decisions about the land or negotiate farm agreements.