Lesson 1.1 - Producing More Food: Part I

When the earth had a small human population, people went to new areas to farm new land to produce their food as the population increased.  Today, almost all productive agricultural land is being farmed. 

Furthermore, with the growth in population, more good land is used for cities and roads. As a result, the available good land actually is decreasing all the time.  At the same time, the increasing human population needs more food.  How can more food be grown on less land? 

To find out, read Producing More Food on page 292 in the textbook. Then, answer the following questions.

 

Question 1. What does food provide people with?

Question 2. Why is more food needed today than 100 years ago?

Question 3. Why have farmers turned to technology?

Question 4. What two types of chemicals have scientists developed to help increase food production?

 

Check your answers with those that follow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Answers to Questions:

Question 1. What does food provide people with?

Food provides people with the energy and nutrients needed to grow and live.

Question 2. Why is more food needed today than 100 years ago?

More food is needed today than 100 years ago because the human population has increased from 1.67 billion people in 1904 to well over 6 billion people today.  More people need more food.

Question 3. Why have farmers turned to technology?

Farmers have turned to technology to help grow more food.

Question 4. What two types of chemicals have scientists developed to help increase food production?

Scientists have developed pesticides and synthetic fertilizers to help increase food production.

 


Go to the next page to continue Lesson 1.