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[[Image:Intensivefarming.jpg|right|thumb|Intensive Farming]] '''Intensive agriculture''' is an agricultural production system characterized by the high [[input]]s as relative to land area (as opposed to [[extensive farming]]). Modern day forms usually rely on the use of chemical [[fertilizer]]s, [[herbicide]]s, [[fungicide]]s, [[insecticide]]s, plant growth regulators and/or [[pesticide]]s. It is associated with the increasing use of [[Mechanised agriculture|agricultural mechanization]], which has enabled a substantial increase in production. |
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==Environmental changes== |
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Intensive farming alters the environment in many ways. |
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* Removal of buffers to make large fields for maximum efficiency leading to lower food costs and greater food avaolability to the poor. But it also limits the natural habitat of some wild creatures and can lead to soil erosion. |
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* Use of [[fertilizers]] can alter the biology of [[rivers]] and [[lakes]]. Some environmentalists attribute the hypoxic zone in the Gulf of Mexico as being encouraged by nitrogen fertilizaiton of the algae bloom. |
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* Pesticides can kill useful insects as well as the those that destroy crops. |
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* Intensive farming of poultry and some other species are claimed to be cruel by animal activists such as [[PETA]] |
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==Premodern intensive farming== |
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Premodern intensive farming techniques and structures include [[Terrace (agriculture)|terracing]], [[Paddy field|rice paddies]], and various forms of [[aquaculture]]. |
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==Modern intensive farming== |
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Modern intensive farming, or "factory farming" or "industrial agriculture", refers to the [[Industry|industrialized]] production of [[livestock]], [[poultry]] (in "battery farms"), [[fish]], and [[Crop (agriculture)|crops]]. The methods deployed are designed to produce the highest output at the lowest cost; usually using economies of scale, modern machinery, modern medicine, and [[Globalization|global trade]] for financing, purchases and sales. The practice is widespread in [[developed nation]]s, and most of the [[meat]], [[dairy]], [[Egg (food)|egg]]s, and crops available in [[supermarket]]s are produced in this manner. |
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== See also == |
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* [[Permaculture]] |
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* [[System of Rice Intensification]] |
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[[Category:Agriculture]] |
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[[ca:Agricultura de plantació]] |
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[[es:Agricultura intensiva]] |
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[[fr:Agriculture intensive]] |
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[[it:Coltura intensiva]] |
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[[nl:Intensieve landbouw]] |
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[[pt:Agricultura intensiva]] |
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[[zh:精耕细作]] |
Revision as of 01:05, 14 May 2007
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