"UN6L5 PAGE2..Costs and Benefits of Sustainable Farming Farming provides people with the food and commodities they need, from corn and rice to rubber and cotton. However, farming methods require a lot of resources, including water and land, and can have significant impacts on the environment. The goal of sustainable farming practices is to meet a community's current needs for food and commodities while protecting resources for future use. Sustainable farming practices are tailored to the specific needs of a region based on geography, climate, and the crops being cultivated. Farmers need to consider carefully the short- and long-term costs and benefits of each conventional and sustainable farming option."

Question

"PAGE3... Farming in the Rain Forest Rain forests are home to millions of species of plants, animals, and insects. However, as the human population increases, more and more rain forest land is used for agriculture. Farmers need to balance the need for expanding farm lands with the potential impact that many farming techniques have on the region. The sustainable practice of intercropping involves growing multiple crops on the same plot of land. (Inter- means "between," so intercropping often involves planting rows of one crop in between rows of another crop.) With alley cropping, rows of trees are planted in between rows of crops. Intentionally using trees and shrubs in farming via agroforestry is increasingly popular in rain forest regions."

"PAGE4... Short- and Long-Term Effects When weighing the costs and benefits of a particular farming practice, farmers need to consider the impacts in the short term and the long term. Some environmental consequences may not be immediately clear, but may help or harm the region in years to come. For example, trees are able to absorb and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through a process known as carbon sequestration. When farmers plant trees for alley cropping—or even maintain existing forests in more complex forms of agroforestry—they allow for greater carbon storage. When more carbon dioxide is stored, less carbon dioxide is in the atmosphere, which slows down the process of climate change. Cross Connections: Sustainable Farming Technologies As with any technology, farming methods influence both society and the natural world. Sustainable farming technologies seek to protect ecosystems from negative effects, like water pollution and soil erosion. Additionally, sustainable farming can increase job opportunities in a community due to the increased labor needs of sustainable methods. Some experts define sustainable agriculture not just in terms of environmental impact, but its impact on health, safety, and fair wages for farm workers."

Paragraph Sentence Starters – Just fill in the blanks, then copy/paste into the essay box on your test! Remember to copy/paste the source we give you below in your answer!

Use U6L5 PAGES 2-5.
Intercropping is _______. (give the definition)
Deforestation affects the soil by _______. It can affect the plants and animals of the forest by _______. Deforestation happens because farmers need _______.
Carbon storage is _______. (give the definition) It is important because _______.
The costs of intercropping to the farmer are _______.
Planting two or more crops a year can affect the soil by _______.
The benefits of intercropping to the farmer are _______.
It is a good idea to intercrop tea/coffee and rubber crops together because _______.

Answer 1

Use U6L5 PAGES 2-5.

Intercropping is the sustainable practice of growing multiple crops on the same plot of land, often involving the planting of rows of one crop in between rows of another crop. Deforestation affects the soil by making it more prone to erosion and reducing its fertility. It can affect the plants and animals of the forest by destroying their habitats and disrupting the ecosystem balance. Deforestation happens because farmers need to expand farmland to meet the growing food demand.

Carbon storage is the process by which trees and other natural systems absorb and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. It is important because it helps slow down climate change by reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

The costs of intercropping to the farmer are the potential need for increased labor, more complex management of multiple crops, and possible yield competition between crops. Planting two or more crops a year can affect the soil by improving soil health through crop rotation and reducing nutrient depletion.

The benefits of intercropping to the farmer are higher biodiversity, improved pest control, and better resilience against crop failure due to environmental changes. It is a good idea to intercrop tea/coffee and rubber crops together because the trees can provide shade for the smaller crops, improve soil health, and enhance overall biodiversity, which can lead to better yields over time.