Why Our Favorite Crops Live Fast and Die Young

The video discusses the lifecycle of crops, focusing on why most crops are annuals that die each year. It contrasts annuals with perennials, which live longer and have different growth strategies. While perennials are more sustainable, annuals are favored in agriculture due to their rapid seed production. The video also highlights how human intervention supports annuals by clearing fields, which would otherwise be dominated by perennials.

Why do most crops die every year?

• Because they are consumed by humans.

• Because they are attacked by pests.

• Because they are annual plants.

• Because they are not watered enough.

What is a key reason for the preference of annuals in agriculture?

• They have a longer lifespan.

• They are more resistant to diseases.

• They grow quickly and produce seeds fast.

• They require less maintenance.

How do perennials benefit from their growth strategy in the wild?

• They require less sunlight.

• They grow faster than annuals.

• They can dominate an area for a long time.

• They produce more seeds than annuals.

What role do humans play in the growth of annuals?

• They clear fields to allow them to grow.

• They genetically modify them.

• They provide them with extra nutrients.

• They plant them in natural habitats.

What event typically allows annuals to take over in the wild?

• A drought

• A flood

• A fire

• An earthquake