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Picture of rice farmer in SE Asia

Picture of rice farmer in SE Asia. 600. 520. Millions of people. Arable acres per capita. 17 acres. 0.6 acres. 5 acres. 0. 1700. 2100. Year. Population versus arable land in the U.S. Picture of combine harvesting wheat. Factors driving increased food production.

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Picture of rice farmer in SE Asia

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  1. Picture of rice farmer in SE Asia

  2. 600 520 Millions of people Arable acres per capita 17 acres 0.6 acres 5 acres 0 1700 2100 Year Population versus arable land in the U.S.

  3. Picture of combine harvesting wheat

  4. Factors driving increased food production • New cultivars (breeds) of crops

  5. Factors driving increased food production • New cultivars (breeds) of crops • Good cropland made better • Irrigation • Fertilizers • Pesticides • Mechanization

  6. Factors driving increased food production • New cultivars (breeds) of crops • Good cropland made better • Irrigation • Fertilizers (N from fossil fuels) • Pesticides • Mechanization • Marginal cropland put into cultivation • Irrigation • Fertilizers • Tillage

  7. Energy use in agricultural production (in billions of Kcal)

  8. 10,000 Energy input (x 1000 Kcal/ha) 1000 1700 1950 1990 Year Energy use in US corn production

  9. Food versus fuel

  10. Modern agriculture is subsidized by fossil fuels 1 unit food energy = 12 units fuel energy

  11. Modern agriculture is subsidized by fossil fuels 1 unit food energy = 12 units fuel energy Think back to the trophic pyramid... Does negative energy transfer efficiency make sense?

  12. Agricultural carbon cycle does not balance! 1 unit food energy = x g C, so took y g C out of the atmosphere 1 unit fuel energy = x g C, so put z g of C (CO2) into the atmosphere

  13. Problems of modern agriculture

  14. Problems of modern agriculture

  15. Problems of modern agriculture

  16. Problems of modern agriculture

  17. Picture of soil erosion in Georgia

  18. Solutions... • Erosion from mechanical tillage • No till or low till systems • Perennial crops • Field layouts • Controlled irrigation

  19. Picture of contour planting in WA state

  20. Solutions... • Fertilizer pollution of water and atmosphere • Keep litter on the fields • Increased use of organic fertilizers • Type and timing of fertilizer application

  21. Solutions... • Pesticide resistant insects, pollution and human poisoning • Integrated pest management • “Smart” application of pesticides • Changes in consumer expectations • Genetic engineering of “natural” pesticide resistance

  22. Solutions... • Loss of genetic diversity • “Seed saving” • Crop diversification • Consumer demand

  23. Solutions... • Fossil fuel dependency • Buy local • Buy less processed foods • Eat lower on the food chain • Buy organic (?)

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