The Global System of Agriculture - AP Human Geography
- Identify a benefit of crop rotation.
- Improves soil fertility and reduces pest and disease build-up. Breaks disease cycles and maintains soil nutrients.
- What is the concept of food miles?
- Distance food travels from production to consumer, impacting carbon footprint. Shorter distances reduce transportation emissions.
- What is terrace farming?
- A method of farming on sloped terrain using stepped levels. Prevents erosion and maximizes usable farmland.
- What defines pastoral nomadism?
- Herding domesticated animals in a seasonal migratory pattern. Follows water and grazing resources across landscapes.
- Define the term 'crop yield'.
- The total production of a crop per unit area. Measured in weight or volume per hectare or acre.
- What is the role of a food processor in agriculture?
- Transforms raw ingredients into food products for consumers. Adds value between farm production and retail sale.
- What is the purpose of a seed bank?
- To preserve genetic diversity for future crop resilience. Maintains crop varieties against genetic erosion.
- Identify a key feature of intensive agriculture.
- High input of labor or capital per unit of land. Maximizes output from limited land through resource investment.
- Define the term 'agricultural intensification'.
- Increasing agricultural production on existing farmland. Increases output without expanding farmland area.
- What is precision livestock farming?
- Using technology to monitor and improve livestock management. Improves animal welfare and production efficiency.
- Identify one of the primary concerns of sustainable agriculture.
- Minimizing environmental impact and conserving resources. Balances productivity with long-term environmental health.
- Define GMOs in the context of agriculture.
- Genetically modified organisms with altered DNA for desired traits. Enhances resistance to pests, diseases, or herbicides.
- Describe plantation agriculture.
- Large-scale farming focused on one or two cash crops. Common in tropical regions for export crops like coffee.
- Identify one impact of climate change on agriculture.
- Altered precipitation patterns affecting crop yields. Threatens global food security through weather extremes.
- What is commercial agriculture?
- Agriculture aimed at producing crops and livestock for sale. Driven by profit motives and market demands.
- What is the primary goal of precision agriculture?
- Optimizing field-level management through technology. Uses GPS and sensors for targeted resource application.
- Identify one major impact of deforestation on agriculture.
- Loss of biodiversity and alteration of local climate patterns. Reduces carbon sequestration and increases erosion risk.
- Define the term 'food security'.
- Access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food for all people. Ensures stable food supply for healthy populations.
- Identify a primary goal of regenerative agriculture.
- Restoring soil health and ecosystem biodiversity. Goes beyond sustainability to actively improve ecosystems.
- Define subsistence agriculture.
- Agriculture focused on growing food for household consumption. Farmers consume what they grow rather than selling it.
- Explain the term 'intercropping'.
- Growing two or more crops in proximity for mutual benefits. Maximizes land use efficiency and reduces competition.
- Define the term 'agricultural subsidy'.
- Government financial support to farmers to stabilize food prices. Helps maintain affordable food prices and farmer income.
- Define food desert.
- An area with limited access to affordable and nutritious food. Often found in low-income urban and rural areas.
- Identify one challenge of urban agriculture.
- Limited space and soil contamination risks. Urban areas face unique agricultural constraints.
- What does the term 'food sovereignty' refer to?
- The right of people to define their own food systems. Emphasizes local control over food production and distribution.
- Define agroforestry.
- Integrating trees and shrubs into agricultural landscapes. Provides multiple benefits including erosion control.
- What is shifting cultivation?
- A farming method involving rotation of fields instead of crops. Allows soil to recover while farming different plots.
- What is community-supported agriculture (CSA)?
- A system where consumers subscribe to receive farm produce regularly. Connects consumers directly with local farmers.
- Explain the term 'cash crop'.
- A crop produced for its commercial value rather than for use by grower. Sold for income rather than direct consumption.
- What is vertical farming?
- Cultivating crops in vertically stacked layers, often indoors. Maximizes space efficiency in urban environments.
- What are staple crops?
- Crops that are continuously in demand and form a major part of a diet. Include grains like rice, wheat, and corn.
- What is slash-and-burn agriculture?
- Clearing forest by burning to create fields for agriculture. Traditional method used in tropical forest regions.