6.1.4

Agribusiness

Test yourself

The Trend Towards Agribusiness

Farming is becoming more industrial. Unlike the olden days when people were subsistence farmers who ate their own crops, now it is a professional business happening on a large scale.

Illustrative background for Increasing farm sizeIllustrative background for Increasing farm size ?? "content

Increasing farm size

  • Now that expensive machinery has automated farming, it is more efficient to have a few enormous farms, rather than lots of small farms.
  • In the UK, a few farms will produce almost half of the UK's carrots.
Illustrative background for Increased use of chemicals and GMIllustrative background for Increased use of chemicals and GM ?? "content

Increased use of chemicals and GM

  • As farming becomes more professional and more of a business, more chemicals are used to increase crop yields and the amount of food produced.
  • Chemical fertilisers and chemical pesticides can encourage growth and kill pests.
  • Many genetically modified (GM) crops exist. They have been engineered to have the following characteristics:
    • Resistance to diseases, insects, or herbicides.
    • Production of larger or ‘better’ fruits.
Illustrative background for Vertical farmingIllustrative background for Vertical farming ?? "content

Vertical farming

  • Vertical farming is one way of reducing food miles.
  • This involves growing food on shelves in warehouses, close to where it will be consumed.
  • This looks like it will be the next stage of agribusiness.

Jump to other topics

1The Challenge of Natural Hazards

1.1Natural Hazards

1.2Tectonic Hazards

1.3Weather Hazards

1.4Climate Change

2The Living World

3Physical Landscapes in the UK

3.1The UK Physical Landscape

3.2Coastal Landscapes in the UK

3.3River Landscapes in the UK

3.4Glacial Landscapes in the UK

4Urban Issues & Challenges

5The Changing Economic World

6The Challenge of Resource Management

6.1Resource Management

6.2Food

6.3Water

6.4Energy

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