GGR107H1 Lecture : 3) Understanding Agri.docx
Document Summary
Agriculture: active production of useful plants/animals in ecosystems that have been created by people, what we do so we can feed ourselves. Agri-ecosystem: supports and allows the practice to take place, ecological& socio-economic system, comprimising domesticated plants and/or animals. Agriculture is the practice, agri-ecosystem is the system used to sustain ourselves. Agri-ecosystems are relatively open, human-modified systems, less diverse than other ecosystems, ie tree farms are less diverse than a forest since they are more controlled. Physical environment is fundamental to agriculture, but economic, socio-cultural and other factors are important in explaining farming systems, can"t grow food without the environment. Not all about gathering: need to cultivate it a bit, eg. make sure trees don"t grow where there are edible plants, agriculture involved, spread the seeds around (eat apple, throw the core somewhere else) No incentive for hunters to have stuff, since they move where the food is.
