What Is Agriculture?Agriculture: raising of crops & livestock to produce food, feed

& fuel

1st Agricultural Revolution

– Diffused from Fertile Crescent– 10,000 years ago– Seed crops– Animal domestication– Effects

• More food• Not everyone had to be a farmer; other

professions developed• Made permanent settlements possible• Populations grew

2nd Agricultural Revolution–Diffused from Europe–1600s–Major innovations:

• Mechanization (use machines rather than hand tools)

• Crop rotation• Scientific breeding of plants & animals

–Effects• More food• Even fewer people had to be farmers

– Many became laborers in new factories

• Cities grew• Populations grew

3rd Agricultural Revolution or “Green Revolution”

- Diffused from United States- 1960’s to present- Major innovations:

• Genetically modified seeds • Chemical fertilizers & pesticides• Better irrigation systems

- Effects:• Even fewer people had to be farmers• global food supply

- Controversies:• Environmental effects• Health effects• Expensive for subsistence farmers• Big profits going to agribusinesses

Norman Borlaug “Father of the Green Revolution”