Apr 18, 2020 · 20 minIn this episode of the Byte-Sized Human Geography Podcast, we discuss everyone’s favorite topic—food! Most specifically, we look at the relationship between a country's economic development and the way in which food is produced focusing on subsistence and commercial agriculture.
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Listener Notes:
Ecumene - (Greek term) habitable part of the Earth
Great chunks of Earth aren’t habitable 70% is water, of the land surfaces 30% are deserts
Most stats say we live on about 2% of the Earth’s surface
Agricultural density - higher the number, the more people are involved in food production; lower, less. Tells you about development of a region.
Higher = less developed, less technology, more people have to work to bring in the harvest. Also tells you lower education levels across the board — you don’t have time for school if you are trying to feed your family.
Lower = more developed, more technology, GIS, amazing machines, high tech stuff! Fewer people are needed leaving them to pursue other interests like education; also leads to rise in leisure time
Comparison - 2-3% of United States are directly involved in agricultural production India, China, most Sub-Saharan Africa - 60% involved in agriculture
Countries cannot continue to develop unless you get food supply is stabilized
High Agricultural Density - Subsistence Farming
More people are fed by this than any other type of farming, just enough to feed your family, most farmers are women.
Think about the social standing of women in most LDCs-very low, not able to own land, get loans, buy equipment
Uses a process called shifting cultivation—“slash and burn”, not the same as letting field lay fallow
Process = Cut trees -> burn and nutrients go into soil ->lasts only for a few seasons and then farmers have to shift.
Because of low education levels, poor farming practices, lots of waste at production end, raw food never makes it to market
Low Agricultural Density - Commercial Farming
Highly technical, tons of schooling involved, not just putting something in the ground and watching it grow
High tech - drones, GIS, GMOs, fertilizers, vertical farming
Agribusiness own all layers of production which is vertical integration Archer Daniels Midland, Cargill, Nestle, Conagra
Strictly regulated/guidelines, have to buy their seeds, chemicals, etc.
Final Thoughts - in LDCs 30% raw food rots before it can get to market due to poor infrastructure - roads, bridges in bad shape; in MDCs - 50% of food is thrown out at the point of consumption — its never eaten. think about water waste, chemical waste;
Experiment — Look at your dairy and food with expiration dates. Use your senses rather than the date before you throw it out. This is a great way to help you reduce your food waste.
Books - Michael Pollan - The Omnivore’s Dilemma, Cooked
Documentaries - Cooked on Netflix (my favorite episode is “Water”)
