The Global System of Agriculture Flashcards
Global System of Agriculture
Complex network of economic, social, and environmental factors that shape the production, distribution, and consumption of agricultural goods around the world
Export Commodity
a commodity that is produced in 1 country & sold to another country. Example: wheat, oil, cotton.
Luxury crop
a crop that is grown for its high value & is not necessary for basic human sustenance. Example: coffee, cocoa, tobacco.
Neocolonialism
Economic & political control of a developing country by a more powerful, external country, often through indirect means (corporate investment & trade agreements). How former “mother countries” are still controlling their former colonies.
Fair Trade Agreements
trade agreements that promote fair treatment of workers & sustainable production of goods, that often establish minimum prices for certain products. Example: NAFTA, European Union’s Agricultural Policy
Global supply chains
refers to the networks of organizations, people, activities, information, and resources involved in the production, handling, and distribution of goods and services from raw materials to end consumers.
How has globalization changed the food industry?
Seasons have disappeared in the supermarket; we can get whatever we want year round by importing from another country.
Technological advances & increased trade between countries allow for some countries to specialize in 1-2 key products (like Costa Rica & bananas).
How do international trade deals impact agriculture?
They allow for more unique foods to be traded, which can then influence the diet. For example, NAFTA brought in a bunch of cheaper avocados to the US, which leads to things like avocado toast.
They can also change the food supply of other countries, changing their food needs & what they decide to grow.
What causes some states to import more food than others?
(As mentioned above in #1) Increased trade between countries allow for some countries to specialize in 1-2 key products & then import everything else. {A lot of the plantation economies of former colonies; Neocolonialism.}
Depending on the environment & population density, some countries are more likely to need to import food to sustain the population.
Lack of money to support large-scale farming or lack of farm land.
What patterns have been noticed in global food distribution?
MDCs in the Northern Hemisphere have produced a food surplus & shipped food to the LDCs in the Southern Hemisphere.
Urban areas (cities) tend to have more money & access to diverse foods compared to rural areas.
Rich people have greater access to food than poor people
A lot of countries trade within their regions.
Seasons will cause prices to fluctuate.
What affects those patterns of global food distribution?
Transportation & infrastructure
Trade policies
Market demand
Political & economic instability
Climate & natural disasters
Food safety regulations
An example of patterns of global food distribution:
A drought in South America reduces the production of soybeans, which is a major export crop.
As a result, the supply of soybeans on the global market decreases and the price increases.
Countries that rely heavily on soybean imports, such as China and Japan, may have to look for alternative sources of protein or pay more for soybeans.
At the same time, countries with a surplus of soybeans, such as the United States and Brazil, may experience an increase in demand for their exports.
The changes in the supply and demand of soybeans can affect the distribution of other products that use soybeans as an input, such as animal feed and vegetable oil.
