History of Agriculture

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History of Agriculture

• Modified by Georgia Agricultural Education
  Curriculum Office
• July 2002

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History of Agriculture
In what ways have humans utilized plants
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Source of all energy
What is the source of almost all energy within
the Earths system
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Problems
What is the largest problem facing the human race
Can agriculture solve it
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Agriculture
Most people were botanists before agriculture
75 of the people in developing countries are
involved in food production Only 3 in the U.S.
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Agriculture
What aspect of the future of agriculture did you
find interesting
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Agriculture
How do we solve the problems Put more land into
production
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Agriculture
We extensively use only 6 flowering plant species
out of an estimated 235000
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Agriculture
How is modern corn different from its supposed
nearest relative Why could modern corn
theoretically not survive (thrive) without humans
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Peanut
Other names goobers groundnuts Native to
South America It is a legume (N fixing
plant) after pollination flower is pushed
underground where pod forms 1st evidence of
human use peanut shaped jewelry in tomb of
priest from 1800-1100 yrs ago
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Peanut
16th century Spanish explorers brought peanuts
back to Europe Traded from Europe to
Africa Slave trade brought peanuts to North
America
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Peanut
Uses 45-50 oil 25-30 protein snacks peanut
butter (50 of all peanuts produced) oilsfoods
cosmetics paints industrial
products plastics soaps remainder fed to
animals
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Peanut
Peanut Butter developed in 1890 by doctor who
wanted high energy food to feed invalids who
had trouble chewing rare treat in some parts of
world
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Peanut
George Washington Carver son of a slave
(1864-1943) created 300 uses for peanuts used to
reclaim soil depleted by cotton
production Peanut information taken from Plants
Society by Levetin McMahon 2nd ed
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Agriculture
Green Revolution 3 key parts
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Agriculture
Green Revolution 3 key parts Plant
breeding Fertilization Irrigation
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Agriculture
What are some negative impacts of the Green
Revolution
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Agriculture
What are some negative impacts of the Green
Revolution Fossil fuel reliance equipment
fertilizers Impact on land holdings and social
structures Impact on jobs
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Agriculture
Foci of genetic engineering
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Agriculture
Foci of genetic engineering yield
quality resistance to pests preserving genetic
information
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Agriculture
With advances in industrial synthesis of
materials why do we need to worry about the
survival of native plants
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Agriculture
New diseases Plants provide blueprints Synthesis
is expensive Synthesis is based on fossil fuels