Agricultural Production Systems

Sam Ross

Overview

• Industrial Agriculture• Advanced Systems:

– Hydroponics– Aquaponics

• Organic Agriculture– Integrated aquaculture (i.e. ancient hawaii, china)– Shade-grown crops– Permanent Agriculture– Multi-crop systems (Ex: the corn, soy, and squash)

• Small-Scale Agriculture– Subsistence Agriculture

Shade-Grown Coffee

Hydroponics

Intensive Livestock Operations

Process• Review each type of system

in terms of:– Where they are

implemented– What is required for

implementation– Constraints on use– Productivity/acre

Outcome: Comparison

– Cost– Time until

profitability– ‘Riskiness’ – i.e.

vulnerability to demand and

weather– Environmental

requirements– Environmental

impact

Overarching Goal: Compare different crop systems in terms of multiple characteristics, such as: