Much of the world’s surface has been impacted by the creation of farmlands. In this topic, we will be able to understand what it wakes to produce our food and what features impact to production of food.

Types of Food Production

There are several reasons for the different types of farming. One of the main reasons is the natural factors. These include the climate (primarily temperature and rainfall) and the soil fertility. Human factors can also affect the types of farming within a region. For example, technology and expertise can lead to different types.

Nomadic Pastoralism - Nomadic pastoralism is the general practice of moving throughout the year to find fresh food and water for their herds, adjusting to the climate. Generally, nomadic farmers seek fresh pastures for animals to graze on.

Commercial Farming - Commercial farming is a for-profit way of farming where farmers grow food to meet others' needs. Commercial farmers grow crops that suit the climate the best, and their produce is sold across the world.

Subsistence Farming - Subsistence farming is when farmers grow food only for themselves and their families. Subsistence farmers usually have low technology and little to no expertise. They also face unreliable climates, with especially unpredictable rainfall.

Impacts of food production due to farming practices

There are four key aspects impacted by farming over the years. These include:

Changes to Vegetation - The expansions of cattle ranching, palm oil plantations and soybean farms in forests, has led to deforestation. To make way for these farming practices, trees have to be burned/cleared out. These has lead to the loss of vegetation, and many animal species have been threatened, and pushed towards extinction

Changes to soil - Soil is created due to the breakdown of soil and rocks and the decomposition of plants. These factors are key drivers of soil fertility. However, by removing these plants, the soil can become infertile. This process, of largely fertile land transforming into relatively dry areas, is known as desertification.

Changes to the atmosphere - It is common knowledge that trees store carbon dioxide and produce oxygen. By burning the trees, all stored carbon dioxide gets released into the air, as a greenhouse gas. This gets trapped in the ozone layer, a key factor in global warming. Another change to the atmosphere is known as eccentric fermentation. Cows and other types of cattle break down their food in a process known as eccentric fermentation, yet this process produces methane, another harmful greenhouse gas.

Changes to the water - For centuries, farmers have relied on rainfall to water the crops/plants. Now, there is increase demand for these foods, so to keep up with the supply, farmers have different ways of accessing water. In some places, these new types of irrigation has meant that salt his risen to the surface of the soil, making it infertile. This can also be a factor which leads to desertification

Food production in Australia

Chapter 2.5 analyzes this graph, showing the foods that are produced most by farmers. Australia is a large country, with many different climates, therefore having lots of different produce. As clearly shown in this source, cattle is produced the most. Another key produce is what, wheat farms are extremely common in Australia. The top 5 products of Australian farms are listed below

1. Cattle (For Meat)

2. Wheat

3. Sheep (For Meat)

4. Wool

5. Coarse Grains/Milk

Greenhouse Gas Problem

The Greenhouse Gas effect is one of the major consequences of farming practices in the world. Greenhouse gases are harmful gases, like methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2). Everyday, lots of these gases are produced and let go into Earth’s atmosphere. However, this creates an issue. When sun passes through our atmosphere, due to these gases, the heat cannot escape. This leads to increasing temperatures, known as climate change.

It is estimated that over a quarter of greenhouses gases are directly related to the food supply, most through the practice of farming. Additionally, beef production causes the most amount of greenhouse gases, due to a process known as enteric fermentation. It is common knowledge that cows let off methane, which goes into the atmosphere, contributing to this problem. The photo depicted below shows other producers of greenhouse gases.

Factors That May Influence Food Production

Numerous factors can influence the food produced on different farms. These factors can be categorized into three types: environmental, technological, and financial. There are 11 main factors that can impact food production.

Environmental Factors:

Sunshine: Generally, places with more sunlight, closer to the equator, can have longer growing seasons compared to farms near the North and South Poles.

Landforms: The shape of the land can also impact food production. For example, the effectiveness of drainage can depend on the shape of the land.

Temperature: Different crops have varying tolerances to temperatures, and extremes can limit plant growth.

Water Supply: A nearby water supply provides water for irrigation and for animals to drink.

Diseases and Pests: Crops can be vulnerable to attacks by pests, such as harmful insects. Some diseases can rot the plant and deeply impact food production.

Soil Fertility: Fertile soil allows for healthy plant growth.

Rainfall: Adequate rainfall is essential for plant growth. Too much or too little rainfall can impact farm yield.

Financial Factors:

Labor: The number of people available to help harvest or plant can increase farm productivity.

Financial Resources: Limited funds for machinery or labor can significantly reduce food production.

Technological Factors:

Expertise: Farmers specializing in specific crops can optimize resources and increase productivity.

Level of Technology: Access to technology such as farm machinery, irrigation systems, and pesticides is crucial for farm efficiency.

The Importance of Soil

Soil plays a crucial role in food production, serving as the foundation for plant growth. It is a complex mixture of air, water, and decomposed rocks/organic matter. One key aspect of soil is its non-renewable nature - once depleted, it cannot be replenished. The formation of soil, as we know it today, can take millions of years.

Farmers assess soil fertility to determine the best crops to cultivate in a particular area. Fertile soil supports a wide variety of crops compared to less fertile soil. Australia boasts some of the world's oldest soils, but prolonged weathering has led to mineral depletion, rendering its soils among the poorest globally. Australian soil is thin and prone to erosion, necessitating the addition of nutrients/chemicals to support plant growth. As crops absorb nutrients from the soil, farmers must regularly apply fertilizers.

Soil moisture levels are crucial for plant growth, with fertile soils typically retaining more moisture than infertile ones. This moisture content is influenced by rainfall and irrigation. The fertility and moisture content of the soil directly impact the quantity of food that can be produced.

Overcoming Problems

Farmers are continuosly look for a way to overocmethe limitatuons set by the natural enivornemtn. This cn both relate to our climate and our soil. In many places rainfall vaires, which can directly relate to pasture and crop growth. In other places, soil iis too infertile and unable to produce crops at a high standard. But Australia is known as an agricultural powerhouse. How? This is due to the ways farmers overcome the challenges that arise. Two key problems that they face is finding access to fresh water, and improving the fertility of soils.

Finding Water

Australian farmers have found ways to access and manage water. In some areas, such as the Murray darling basin, weirs are used and water is carried down an intricate system of pipes or channels. In other areas, farmers use wells to excrete water from aquifers underneath the ground.

New and innovative technologies are now being used to combat these problems.