How has international trade affected the agriculture of developing countries?

(1 point).
• Women have taken on more of the labor in subsistence agriculture.
• Women and men now have equal rates of land ownership and farm productivity.
• Most farmers in developing countries have made the switch from subsistence to commercial farming.
• Developing countries now produce more than half of the organic produce sold globally.
• Developing countries are increasingly following the self-sufficiency path in agriculture.

11 answers

Most farmers in developing countries have made the switch from subsistence to commercial farming.
Explain why
International trade has provided opportunities for farmers in developing countries to sell their agricultural products on the global market. This has led to a shift from traditional subsistence farming, where farmers only produce enough to feed their families, to commercial farming, where they produce surplus to sell for profit. This shift has allowed farmers to increase their incomes and improve their standard of living. Additionally, access to international markets has enabled farmers to diversify their crops and reach a larger customer base, leading to increased agricultural productivity and economic growth in developing countries.
Cuba is now the world's 10th-largest producer of yams. This is best explained by
(1 point)
• the fact that Latin America is the agricultural hearth for yams.
• Cuba's early role in developing high-yield yams.
• the early free trade agreements Cuba negotiated with the United States.
• the strong relationship between communist Cuba and Russia.
• diffusion from Africa during the Columbian Exchange.

Explain
Diffusion from Africa during the Columbian Exchange is the best explanation for why Cuba is now the world's 10th-largest producer of yams. Yams are native to Africa and were brought to the Americas as part of the Columbian Exchange, the widespread transfer of plants, animals, culture, human populations, technology, and ideas that occurred after Christopher Columbus's voyages to the New World in the 15th century. As a result of this exchange, yams were introduced to Cuba and other parts of the Americas. Over time, yams thrived in the tropical climate of Cuba and became an important crop in the country's agriculture. This historical diffusion from Africa during the Columbian Exchange laid the groundwork for Cuba to become a significant producer of yams today.
Thomas Malthus first raised concerns about food supply more than 200 years before it became a true global threat. Widespread food shortages were avoided in the mid- to late-twentieth century because
(1 point)
• free trade agreements allowed equitable distribution of food products.
• mechanization during the second agricultural revolution had increased food supplies.
• high-yield crops were developed along with new methods to increase production.
• birth rates began to decline in both developed and developing nations.
• ample precipitation allowed for a decade of bumper crops, leading to food surpluses.

Explain
High-yield crops were developed along with new methods to increase production, are the reasons widespread food shortages were avoided in the mid- to late-twentieth century. During this time period, advancements in agricultural technology and practices led to the Green Revolution, which focused on developing high-yield crop varieties and implementing modern farming techniques. These innovations significantly increased crop productivity and allowed for higher food production levels to meet the growing global population's demands. The development of high-yield crops, such as wheat and rice, and the adoption of irrigation, fertilizers, and pesticides helped boost food supplies and prevent widespread shortages. This agricultural revolution played a crucial role in averting the dire food supply concerns raised by Thomas Malthus more than two centuries earlier.
As commercial ranching spread widely in the northwestern United States, it caused desertification and land degradation of the arid sagebrush ecosystem, home to the greater sage grouse and other species. Some ranchers have joined with biologists, governments, and environmental groups in conservation efforts, believing that these also benefit their herds. Other ranchers feel that such efforts are unnecessary and restrictive. Some other interested parties think the sage grouse should be officially protected as an endangered species.
This issue illustrates
(1 point)
• the impending water crisis looming for the arid and semi-arid lands in the United States, and globally.
• the advantages of using shifting cultivation practices in livestock ranching.
• how agricultural innovations cause debate over impacts to the environment, culture, or health.
• how political partisanship pervades modern government in the United States.
• the stresses of the decreased availability of arable land due to urbanization and sprawl.

Explain
This issue illustrates how agricultural innovations cause debate over impacts to the environment, culture, or health. The expansion of commercial ranching in the northwestern United States has led to conflicting views among stakeholders regarding the conservation of the arid sagebrush ecosystem and its wildlife species. Some ranchers, along with biologists, governments, and environmental groups, recognize the importance of conservation efforts for maintaining the delicate ecosystem and the biodiversity it supports. They believe that these efforts can benefit both wildlife populations like the greater sage grouse and their livestock herds in the long term.

On the other hand, some ranchers may perceive conservation efforts as unnecessary and restrictive, potentially impeding their ability to manage their operations as they see fit. Additionally, there are other interested parties advocating for the official protection of certain species, such as the sage grouse, under the Endangered Species Act to ensure their survival and conservation.

This situation highlights the ongoing debate and tension that can arise when agricultural practices impact the environment and wildlife habitats. It underscores the need for balancing economic interests with environmental considerations and the importance of finding sustainable solutions that support both agricultural activities and conservation efforts.
And the answer is?
The issue illustrates how agricultural innovations cause debate over impacts to the environment, culture, or health.