EnvSci 9:2 "What is Food Production?"

Today’s monoculture systems for producing food focus on yield rather than the health of the soil.

• true

• false

The enormous gains in crop yields brought about by green revolution technologies may soon stop because green revolution technologies are degrading the quality of the soil that they use.

• True

• False

Plantation agriculture is used primarily to reduce soil erosion and restore soil fertility.

• True

• False

A disadvantage of the green revolution is the intensive use of commercial inorganic fertilizers.

• True

• False

Critics of genetically modified foods point out that GMOs are much less nutritious than natural foods.

• true

• false

Which of the following would be LEAST likely to be found on an organic farm?

• polyculture farming practices

• use of fertilizer

• pests

• lower yields than industrial farms

• monoculture farming practices

Which is the type of agriculture most likely to be found in developing countries?

• maximum-tillage agriculture

• subsistence agriculture

• industrialized agriculture

• minimum-tillage agriculture

• high-input agriculture

How does industrialized agriculture reduce food insecurity?

• It avoids use of synthetic pesticides.

• It avoids overuse of synthetic fertilizers.

• It keeps food prices low.

• It raises food prices and keeps supermarkets in business.

• It reduces the need for the use of GMOs.

What proportion of food products sold on U.S. supermarket shelves contains some form of genetically engineered crop?

• around 10%

• almost one-half

• almost all food

• around 1%

• at least 80%

Which describes a problem with government subsidies for industrialized agriculture?

• Harmful environmental impacts of food production are reflected in market prices.

• Harmful environmental impacts of food production are not reflected in market prices.

• Environmental impacts of food production are intensified.

• Environmental impacts of food production are paid for by producers.

• Environmental impacts of food production are paid for by the government.