Plant Science Chapter #1

Civilization In the beginning, Nomads followed herds of animals and gathered food. When they discovered that they could seed grain and harvest it, they no longer needed to follow a food source. This allowed people to live in one place, thus the beginning of civilization.

Origin of Grain Wheat = Egypt, Iran, Turkey Corn = Mexico Explorers would bring wheat to North America, and return with corn.

Plants as a Food Factory Green plants are the only living things capable of Photosynthesis (using energy from sun to make sugar)

How will we provide food for a growing planet? l ?????

World population: l 1978 = 4 billion l population growns 200,000/day l 60-80% of deaths in world are from undernutrition or malnutrition l average person needs 2200 Kilocalories per day l half the world recieves less than 1500 Kilocalories

Balanced diet meat and cereals North America = 35% meat, 40% cerial, 25% fruits/veg Asia = 10% meat, 75% cereal (rice)

How can we produce more food? l increase number of acres in production l 3 million acres per year taken out of production in the U.S. for residential and commercial use l increase production per acre (Japan, Canada, Deserts, Jungles)

How has production changed in America? l Civil War: 1 farmer produced enough food for his family (1:6) l 1920 = 1:10 l 1970 = 1:50 l 1990 = 1: 70 l 1998 = 1:128 l Corn production per acre doubled from 1940 to 1960 (hybrid corn & fertilizer) l Research: colleges, USDA, Industry