Agriculture: An Overview

Definition

• Agriculture is the science or practice of farming, which includes:
  • Cultivation of soil for crop growth
  • Rearing of animals for food, wool, and other products

Historical Context

• Early Humans:

  • Initially a species of hunter-gatherers, mostly nomadic.
  • Moved in search of food, often in sync with seasonal changes.

• Beginning of Agriculture (~7000 BC):

  • Certain tribes started collecting seeds from edible grasses and vegetation.
  • Shifted to planting seeds in regions suitable for year-round dwelling.
  • Goal: Grow and store food to sustain communities through non-growing seasons.

Domestication of Animals

• Realization that hunted animals were primarily herbivores, feeding on seeds and grasses.
• Led to domestication of animals like cows, goats, and chickens for meat and feed.

Development of Agricultural Tools

• The Plow:
  • Initial tools: handheld hoes, labor-intensive for large areas.
  • Invention of the plow (~5000 BC in India):
    • Pulled by oxen, turned soil, and created furrows for efficient planting.
  • Evolution of the plow design over the centuries, leading to the swing plow in the early 1700s.

Dairy Farming

• Unclear when humans first started drinking milk from domesticated animals.
• Development led to demand for dairy products (cheese, ice cream, yogurt, etc.).
• Genetic adaptation occurred, allowing some humans to consume milk without illness (mapped to ~7500 years ago in Europe).

Modern Agriculture

• Technological Advances:
  • Introduction of computers, robots, and large machinery in farming.

Global Economy Impact

• In a global market, consumers often seek low prices, leading to:
  • Importation of food from distant countries (average travel: 1,400 miles).
  • Impacts on food quality (picked early, chemically treated, etc.).
• Consequences of reliance on imports:
  • Increased fuel costs and environmental impact from transportation.
  • Struggles of local farmers to compete in the global market.
  • Potential loss of local farms leads to:
    • Unemployment
    • Development of prime farmland for housing and industry
    • Dependence on global trade and fossil fuels.

Local Agriculture Significance

• Importance of supporting local farmers in Ontario (e.g., orchards in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Prince Edward County).
• Encouragement to buy seasonal, locally-grown produce.

Conclusion

• The lecture aimed to enhance awareness of agriculture's history, technological advances, and the importance of supporting local farming.
• Encouraged attendees to be more environmentally and socially conscious about their food choices.