Growing food

Apples, oranges, lettuce, squash…have you ever stopped to think about what is involved in growing these different types of foods?

What’s the first step? What would need to go into successfully growing a fruit or a vegetable?

In your brainstorming, did you consider that pollinators and bacteria play an essential role in the growing of these crops? Did you also consider that climate and weather also play a very critical role?

How do you think these new factors influence the growth of different crops?

A closer look at agriculture

Agriculture, simply put, is farming. It’s the practice, or science, of cultivating and growing our food. It is done on a local scale, like in small communities or home gardens, and on a large scale, like commercial farms that supply large populations. It fuels and sustains human life and many insect, animal, and microscopic life on our planet too.

Agriculture is a complex topic. It contributes to the diversity of organisms on our planet and can help sustain biodiversity through the interconnectedness of all the living organisms involved in the process of growing food. But depending on farming practices, it can also hinder biodiversity.

It also plays a key, but interesting, role in our planet’s ecosystem, as it contributes both positively and negatively to the gases in Earth’s atmosphere–both helping and contributing to climate change depending on the type of farm and their farming practices.

Indigenous peoples throughout the world have long studied and taught their younger generations about the complex interconnectedness of all things on the Earth. The delicate balance of webs of life. Historically, not all people have considered this perspective and understanding and now our planet is changing at a rate faster than many life forms can keep up with.

Let’s investigate how our Earth’s changing climate, and its relationship with different agricultural practices, are impacting the diversity of life on our planet.

Exploring terms and facts

Complete the following matching activity to explore some terms and facts related to farming and agriculture.

For each sentence starter, select the ending that you think best fits. Once you've found a correct match, record the full sentence in a notebook or using a method of your choice. You may play multiple times to reveal new pairings.

Monoculture vs. polyculture farming

There are many different methods of farming and agricultural practices, but we are going to investigate two specific types: monoculture and polyculture.

Explore this video clip from Science North entitled “Biodiversity: Agriculture” to learn more about two different types of agriculture, monoculture and polyculture, and their connection to biodiversity.

Let’s do an experiment to simulate being farmers on two different farms to better understand the pros and cons of monoculture and polyculture farming. Before we begin, let’s review the Scientific Experimentation Process.

Check out this video to learn about the steps of the Scientific Experimentation Process.

It’s time to experiment!

Now that you have completed your lab sheet, press ‘Hint’ to access some possible answers to the questions asked.

Hint

While time-consuming to setup and more labour-intensive to harvest, diversity in farming practices creates and supports biodiversity and also helps buffer the effects of climate change.

Let’s examine an example.

Why does monoculture exist?

While it may seem that the benefits of polyculture, such as promoting biodiversity and reducing the speed and effects of climate change, are reason enough for farmers to choose this method of agriculture, the case is not so cut and dry.

Monoculture farming exists because, on the whole, it is a much easier way to get large amounts of one type of crop for various commercial uses.

Because these types of crops have many, many uses, they are needed in very large quantities which requires quick and efficient growing and harvesting methods. Monoculture farming allows for this to happen because machines can be used to quickly harvest the crop given that they are all the same type. It also tends to cost less because the farm is specializing in only one type of species management so they only need equipment, resources and knowledge of that one crop.

But monoculture does not support biodiversity, depletes soils of their nutrients and encourages pests, viruses and diseases from growing and spreading through the crop.

So, what is the better method of farming: monoculture or polyculture? Is it possible that the answer isn’t an either/or? Could a hybrid solution actually be the answer? Afterall, as different Indigenous peoples around the world have long been observing and teaching, everything is interconnected.

Forming our own opinion

Now that you have investigated monoculture and polyculture farming, answer the following questions using a method your choice such as in print, digitally or using an audio recording.

• Which method of farming offers the largest biodiversity?
• Write a pro and a con list for each method of farming.

Reflection

As you read through these descriptions, which sentence best describes how you are feeling about your understanding of this learning activity? Press the button that is beside this sentence.

Now, record your ideas using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.