Evolution of Evolution of AgricultureAgriculture

Agriculture DefinedAgriculture DefinedThe art, science, and business of

managing the growth of plants and animals for human use.

Agriculture DefinedAgriculture DefinedCultivation of the soilGrowing & harvesting cropsBreeding & raising livestockPacking, processing, and

marketing

World AgricultureWorld AgricultureBegan over 10,000 years agoHumans discovered the value of wild

plants and animals and domesticated and bred them◦Cereals◦Meat animals◦Poultry, fish, milk, cheese, nuts, oils,

fruits, vegetables etc

World AgricultureWorld Agriculture50% world’s labor force employed in

agriculture> 60% in Africa< 4% in USA and Canada~ 7% in Western Europe

World AgricultureWorld AgricultureAgricultural income

also comes from nonfood crops◦ Rubber◦ Fiber plants◦ Tobacco◦ Oilseeds for synthetic

chemical compounds◦ Animals for pelt

Where does rubber come Where does rubber come from?from?Rubber comes from a milky white juice

which some trees and plants have instead of sap.

This liquid, called latex, can be found in the roots, stems, branches, bark, leaves, and fruit of over 400 different plants.

Most latex, however, comes from the inner bark of the hevea, or rubber tree, of Brazil.

World AgricultureWorld Agriculture

Everyone depends on agriculture for food, income, and raw materials

Food & Agricultural Food & Agricultural Organization (FAO) Organization (FAO) of the UN concerns itself with agricultural trade and policies

Crash course!Crash course!http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=Yocja_N5s1I

Four phases of AgricultureFour phases of Agriculture

1.Prehistoric2.Historical/Roman

period3.Feudal4.Scientific

Prehistoric AgriculturePrehistoric Agriculture

Started near 10,000 BC The main agricultural sites:

◦ southeast and southwest Asia (India, Iran, Iraq, Israel)

◦Nile River in Egypt◦Europe

Prehistoric AgriculturePrehistoric Agriculture

This was the age of agricultural innovations as many new tools and practices were invented due to compulsion of planting, sustaining and harvesting the crops.

Use of wooden and earthen tools Domestication of animals

The Stone Age of The Stone Age of Taiwan Taiwan

Prehistoric AgriculturePrehistoric AgricultureEarly centers of

agriculture continued◦ (China) Yellow

River◦ (India & Pakistan)

Indus River◦ (Mexico) Tehuacan

Valley, NW of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec

http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/graphics/photos/

DomesticationDomestication

Dates of domestication vary by regions

Earliest may be ~ 10,000 BC

DomesticationDomesticationa primitive form of genetic

engineering in which certain plants and animals are brought under human control, their objectionable characteristics eliminated, their favorable ones enhanced and in the case of animals, can be induced to reproduce in captivity.

DomesticationDomesticationSheep 9000 BC (Iraq)

Cattle 6th millennium BC ( Iran)

Goats 8000 BC (Iran)

Pigs 8000 BC (Thailand)

Horses 4350 BC (Ukraine)

Llama & alpaca 3rd millennium (Andes of S America)

CropsCropsWheat & barley 8th millennium BC

(Middle East)

Millet & rice 5500 BC (China & SE Asia)

Squash 8000 BC (Mexico)

Legumes 6000 BC (Macedonia)

PastoralismPastoralismMixed farming, combining cultivation of

crops and stock raising was a common Neolithic pattern

Nomadic herders roamed steppes of Europe and Asia where the horse and camel were domesticated

Neolithic FarmersNeolithic FarmersLived in caves, sun-baked mud houses,

reed or wooden housesHouses were grouped into small villages

with surrounding fieldsGrowth of cities was stimulated by

production of surplus crops

Neolithic SettlementsNeolithic SettlementsMore permanent than camps of

hunting populationsNeeded to move periodically

◦ Soils deteriorated ◦ Practiced slash & burn in Europe

Nile settlements more permanent◦ River kept soils fertile

Historical/Roman PeriodHistorical/Roman PeriodRoughly defined from

2500 BC to 500 AD

Agriculture in ancient Rome was not only a necessity, but was idealized among the elite as a way of life.

Wheat, vineyards, olives, milk, oxen, mules, sheep, goats, wide variety of vegetables & herbs

Roman PeriodRoman Period

Trade in wine and olive oil mentioned in Egyptian records

Rye & oats in N. EuropeDates/figs important source of

sugar in Near EastCotton spun in India Linen & silk in China

Roman PeriodRoman Period

Metal tools longer lasting & more efficient◦Ox-drawn plow (iron tipped)◦Horses for work

Roman PeriodRoman Period

Irrigation in China, Egypt, & Near East◦ Allowed more land to be cultivated

Introduction of fertilizers◦ Animal manures◦ Crop rotations

Feudal AgricultureFeudal AgricultureThe feudal age of

agriculture ranges from 500 BC to 1700 AD, reaching its height near 1000 AD

The usual practice of this age was of intensive agricultural throughout Europe, middle east and southeastern Asia.

Feudal AgricultureFeudal AgricultureIrrigation extended in Egypt & SpainGrain production was sufficient in

Egypt to sell wheat internationallyIrrigation from mountain streams

increased vineyards in SpainSpain - silkworm was raised

Feudal AgricultureFeudal AgricultureManorial system

◦900 to 2000 acres◦Self-contained community◦Large home for the lord◦One or more villages as part of the manor◦Peasants were the actual farmers Raised crops and livestock and paid taxes

to the lord◦Large mill for grinding grain & vegetable

gardens

Feudal AgricultureFeudal Agriculture◦Woolen garments from sheep◦Linen textiles from flax and the oil also◦Food served in feudal castle varied

according to season & hunting ability◦Hunting done by the lord◦Castle residents ate meat from poultry,

cattle and etc produced by peasant farmers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCPp7XWZfHo&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PL5026430812B05DA2

Scientific AgricultureScientific AgricultureBy 16th century populations were

growing

This led to exploration of new methods and practices in agriculture.

It also resulted in commercial agriculture that was based solely on profit than subsistence purposes.

Scientific AgricultureScientific Agriculture

Agriculture trade assumed global proportions and many new economies thrived on specialized production of one or other agricultural products.

Scientific AgricultureScientific AgricultureColonial agriculture

◦Produce cash crops & feed home country◦Cultivation of sugar, cotton, tobacco, tea,

animals for wool and hide etc◦From 15th to 19th centuries slaves were used◦Slaves worked in Caribbean on sugar

plantations & in N America

Scientific AgricultureScientific AgricultureScientific revolution occurred from the

Renaissance and Age of Enlightenment in Europe◦Plant breeding◦Breeding cattle & sheep◦Crop rotations◦Drainage brought more land into cultivation

Scientific AgricultureScientific AgricultureLivestock breeding in

1700sLimestone on soils in late

1700sCast-iron plowSeed drill in early 1700sReaper by Cyrus

McCormick in 1831

Scientific AgricultureScientific Agriculture By late 1800s steam power replaced

animal power in drawing plows and operating threshing machinery

Science and technology developed for industrial purposes in agriculture

◦ Resulting in agribusinesses of the mid-20th century

Poisons for pests developed in 19th century

Improvements in transportation (19 & 20th)

Scientific AgricultureScientific AgricultureAfter World War II (1945)

◦Green revolution Selective breeding of

cropsDNA technology

Intensive cultivation methods

◦Machinery development

http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/graphics/photos/

Agriculture in USAAgriculture in USA20th century

◦Steam, gasoline, diesel, electric power◦Chemical fertilizers manufactured◦Loss of soil combated◦Selected breeding of plants & animals Hybridization of corn in 1930s

◦Improvements in storage, processing, transportation & marketing

◦Chemical control of pests

Agriculture in USAAgriculture in USA In 1980s high technology

farming◦ Hybrids for many crops◦ Better methods of soil

conservation◦ Irrigation systems

improved◦ Growing use of fertilizers◦ Genetic engineering of

many crops

http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/graphics/photos/

Modern inventionsModern inventions

The modern inventions in biotechnology and genetics that have completely changed agriculture production.

New variants of seeds and plants are manufactured in laboratories and genetically modified to suit consumption and commercial needs.

This has enabled the world to meet the food demands of for a population that is crossing 7 billion mark.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIOwRvoOL80&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-P9WzZ3ZGF4&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7A4oAyKOGHg&feature=related

Israel Agriculture http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn1X7K9G_H8&feature=related