Population Demographics & Social Dynamics
Historically, why did high child mortality lead families to have more children?
To ensure that some children survived to adulthood.
a population of 3500 grows at 2%. how many years will it take for this population to double and what will that population be?
In 35 years the pop will be 7000
What prompted the first increase in crop yields at the start of the green revolution?
invention of synthetic fertilizer in the 1900s
What are some methods of subsistence farming?
intercropping, polyculture, growing at a smaller scale, organic fertilizer, plants & animals present on the same farm, etc.
A country with high CBR and rapidly falling CDR is likely in this stage of the demographic transition model.
stage 2
A population doubles in 14 years. What is the approximate growth rate, and the population after doubling from 6000?
5% and 12000
List one pro and one con of GMOS
Pro - increased crop yield, addressing hunger
con - no genetic diversity
Name two major environmental impacts of CAFOs.
Water pollution from manure runoff and nutrient overload, and air pollution from methane and ammonia emissions.
What is the replacement-level fertility target often used to stabilize populations?
A total fertility rate of about 2.1.
If a population grows from 1000 to 1050 in one year, what is the percent growth rate?
5%
change =( final-initial )/initial
(1050-1000) / 1000 = .05 = 5%
Describe the second green revolution
The Second Green Revolution refers to a period, beginning around the late 20th century, where advances in agricultural technology, crop management, and biotechnology were applied to increase food production, especially in developing countries. Unlike the First Green Revolution (1940s–1960s), which focused on high-yield varieties of staple crops like wheat and rice, irrigation, and chemical fertilizers, the second phase emphasizes sustainability, technology, and diversification.
Discuss the connection between livestock production, antibiotic use, and public health, and propose one policy solution to address this problem.
What are some pronatalist policy measures used by governments to address aging populations?
Tax breaks, parental leave, and childcare subsidies.
This country has a CBR of 40 and a CDR of 15, this is the doubling time
~28 years
(40-15)/10 = r
70/r
If you added up all the cow grazing land in the US what country is the equivalent size?
Germany!
Identify one regulatory or policy approach used to mitigate CAFO environmental impacts.
clean water act, safe drinking water act, buffer zones along water, incentives/tax breaks for sustainable farming
Country X has the following characteristics:
The government wants to slow population growth and reduce population momentum.
What stage in the DTM is country X? Identify three social or policy interventions that could reduce the TFR in Country X.
Stage 2,
A population of 6,000 grows 3% per year.
1. 6,753
2. 23 years (70/3)
3.
Final population ≈ 12,731
Describe the cost price squeeze and how this has influenced the modern farmer
the price that fertilizers & pesticides go up is more than the value of the increasing yield. the larger volume of yield you are producing, the more you can close the cost/price gap. this influenced the loss of the family farmer and the increase in large scale farming
What role has the US government played for industrial ag?
Provide subsidies to farmers in order to stabilize food prices on the grocery shelves. However, the majority of gov't subsidies go to cash crops - not food for people. These farms tend ot be the biggest and invest in industrial ag techniques. this has lead to disappearance of small family farm.