i. understanding food & fiber...

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A Guide to Food and Fiber Systems Literacy

Agriculture is the world’soldest, largest, and most essentialindustry. Food and Fiber Sys-tems, or agriculture, encom-passes all the processes neces-sary to bring food and fiberproducts to the consumer,including production, processing,research, development, distribu-tion, and marketing. Food andFiber Systems provides people’sbasic needs of food, clothing,shelter, and more.

Food and Fiber Systems iscomplex and far-reaching. About20 percent of the United State’slabor force works in some part ofthe system. Globally, morepeople depend on agriculture fortheir livelihood than any otheroccupation. The growing worldpopulation will increase thedemand for agricultural products,as well as qualified people towork in Food and Fiber Systems.

management of wildlife, rangelands, forests, rivers, oceans andnatural resources. In addition,people use agricultural productsand knowledge to improve andbeautify their homes and com-munities through horticultureand landscaping.

Agricultural production usesmany kinds of inputs, includinghuman resources and naturalresources. Human resources arenecessary to provide the laborand management for differentcomponents of the systems. Soil,water, air, and energy are theprimary natural resources used inFood and Fiber Systems.

Food and Fiber Systems, oragriculture, is the foundation of anation’s standard of living. Byproviding the basic needs offood, clothing and shelter,agriculture permits individuals topursue other interests andactivities. To continue meetingsociety’s basic needs, Food andFiber Systems must sustain,conserve, and replenish re-sources.

I. UnderstandingFood & FiberSystems

A.Understand the Meaningof Food and FiberSystems/Agriculture.

Food and Fiber Systems, oragriculture, provides the plantand animal products people needfor food, clothing, and shelter.The word agriculture comesfrom Latin agricultura, ager,meaning land and cultura,meaning cultivation.

Traditionally, agriculture hasbeen defined as the science, artand business of cultivating thesoil, producing crops and raisinglivestock. Food and FiberSystems also includes the

B. Understand theEssential Components ofFood and Fiber Systems(e.g. production, processing,marketing, distribution,research and development,natural resource management,and regulation).

Food and Fiber Systemsutilizes a wide array of compo-nents to create food, clothing andshelter products. Often, thoseproducts require special inputs orcomponents. Just as there aremany kinds of farms andranches, there are many kinds of

Food & Fiber Systemsis the world’s oldest,

largest, and mostessential industry.

Agriculture is thescience, art, and busi-ness of cultivating thesoil, producing crops,and raising livestock.


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processors, marketers, distribu-tors, etc. The essential compo-nents of Food and Fiber Systemsinclude production, processing,marketing, distribution, researchand development, regulation,support services, and naturalresource management.

The journey a product takesfrom producer to consumerusually includes numerous steps.Although some agriculturalistsmarket and distribute their ownproducts, the process ofteninvolves many people. Each stepadds value to the product.

Processing takes a raw prod-uct, or commodity, and changesit to make it more useful for theconsumer. Most agriculturalcommodities, such as fresh fruit,beef, cotton, and timber areprocessed in some form.

The marketing and distributioncomponents take the processedproduct to the consumer. Thismay include transportation,wholesale and retail sales, andadvertising.

Research and developmentincludes the efforts of scientiststo improve Food and FiberSystems products. To meet theneeds of a growing worldpopulation and generally in-crease the efficiency of thesystem, governments, privatecompanies, and universitiesconduct agricultural research anddevelopment.

Many public and privateagencies support and regulate thefood and fiber system to ensureproduct safety, worker protec-tion, and resource conservation.

Natural resources are aprimary component of Food and

Fiber Systems. They provide thematerials agriculturalists dependon to produce, process, market,and distribute agriculturalproducts. The management ofsoil, water, air and energy iscritical for sustaining agriculture.

C. Understand Food andFiber Systems’Relationship to Society.

When people think of agricul-ture, often they have the limitedunderstanding that agricultureonly affects individuals throughfood, clothing and shelter.However, many of the productspeople use daily, directly orindirectly, come from Food andFiber Systems. Plants andanimals, especially, yield numer-ous by-products in addition tothe primary product.

Today, the majority of theworld’s people still directly workwith the land. In developedcountries like the United States,less than two percent of thepopulation is involved in agricul-tural production. Instead, manypeople work in non-productionaspects of Food and FiberSystems, including processing,marketing, distribution, researchand development, natural re-source management, andregulation.

Agricultural production existsalmost everywhere in the world,but it varies according to re-gional factors such as climate,soil and water quality, laborsupply, and land-use priorities.People depend on food and fiberproducts not grown in their stateor country. Within the U.S., each

Production, process-ing, marketing, distribu-tion, research and de-velopment, regulation,support services, andnatural resource man-agement are essentialcomponents of Foodand Fiber Systems.

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state is characterized by theagricultural commodities pro-duced there.

The American agriculturesystem is one of the mostefficient in the world. U.S.citizens spend the smallestproportion of income on food.Approximately 35 cents of eachfood dollar pays the actualproduction cost.

The ability to provide forfuture generations concernsmany people today, and manyagriculturists have made im-provements towards a moresustainable agriculture system.Over time, human ingenuity hassolved numerous problems offood production, storage, andpreparation.

Throughout history, agricul-tural practices have changed inresponse to society’s needs andnew knowledge. Improvementsin practices continue to occurwith society’s increasing needsfor food, clothing and shelter.

All over the world, Food andFiber Systems shares resourceswith other industries, house-holds, and wildlife. Thoseinclude natural and humanresources. Often, multiple usesallow scarce resources to beadapted for mutual benefit.

Early U.S. settlers broughtfood and fiber products fromother countries. They alsoencountered plants and animalsnative to the New World. Someof those new products weretraded and sent back to thecolonist’s native homeland.Expanding settlements anddiverse cultures brought aboutdemand for a greater variety offood and fiber products.

In America, the success ofmodern agriculture allows theU.S. economy the freedom todiversify and develop manyother industries. Agriculturalproducts still are the largestsingle U.S. export, and agricul-ture continues to be the largestindustry.

Agriculture is an integral partof almost every economy,providing employment and rawmaterials for people’s basicneeds. Agriculture is the primaryeconomic activity in many partsof the world, including America.In particular, rural areas areheavily dependent on agriculture.Weather changes, availability ofsupplies, market prices, andinternational political relation-ships dramatically affect theviability of local producers andagribusinesses. Globalization ofmarkets may stabilize the impactof such events for consumers.Those who work in Food and

D. Understand the Local,National, & InternationalImportance of Food &Fiber Systems.

Agribusiness includes manyenterprises associated with Foodand Fiber Systems. Theseinclude brokers, processors,distributors, suppliers, andservice providers such as con-sultants and financiers. The termagribusiness includes all indus-tries that supply food and fiberproducts and services or processand distribute agriculturalproducts.

Agricultural products are the largest,

single U.S. export.


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Fiber Systems in this countrymust understand the globalmarket forces that determinedemand for their products.

high school is required for mostpositions. The demand forgraduates in agricultural businessand management, engineering,food science, sales, marketing,education and communicationsdramatically has expanded inrecent years.

E. Understand Food andFiber Systems Careers.

Approximately 20 millionFood and Fiber Systems jobsexist in the United States. About50 percent of the jobs are inwholesale and retail trade ofagricultural products, and manyare in metropolitan areas.Processing, marketing, anddistribution account for 30percent of all agricultural jobs,while the remaining 20 percentare in production.

Today, Food and Fiber Sys-tems is America’s largestindustry. More than 20 percentof America’s workforce isemployed in some phase of theagricultural industry. Sevenpeople work in agribusiness forevery farmer. In fact, more than8,000 agricultural job titles exist.

Continued growth in worldpopulation means a greaterdemand for food and fiber. Italso means a growing demandfor qualified people in theagricultural industry. Almost 10percent of today’s professionaljobs in agriculture go unfilledbecause more jobs are availablethan there are people whounderstand agriculture. Food andFiber Systems is rapidly chang-ing, and many non-traditionalagricultural careers exist intechnology, science, engineering,and related fields.

Educational requirements forwork in agriculture also haveincreased and education beyond

II. History,Geography, andCultureFood and Fiber Systems

played a key role in developingand sustaining every civilization.Agriculture has been the work ofmost of humanity through theages. Agricultural themes canenhance the study of any periodof history, from ancient civiliza-tions and cultures to the west-ward movement and contempo-rary social issues.

The entire globe is open toscrutiny through agriculture andmany important historicalfigures, inventions, and eventsare related to agriculture. Cul-tural, physical, and politicalgeography can be taught throughFood and Fiber Systems studiesworldwide.

A. Understand Food andFiber Systems’ Role inthe Evolution OfCivilizations.

Agricultural systems con-stantly have adapted to conformto the changing needs of society.Throughout history, people haverelied upon Food and FiberSystems for food, medicine,clothing, and shelter. Historicalevidence shows humans werenomadic, relying on hunting and

Approximately 20 millionFood and Fiber Systems

jobs exist in the U.S.

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gathering before learning towork with plants and animalsand to cultivate the land. Earlyagricultural practices facilitatedthe more complex societies.

People began to live in perma-nent settlements. Eventually,abundant agricultural productionallowed people to pursue activi-ties other than working the landfor their livelihood.

Humans always have alteredand affected the places wherethey have lived. Originally,people lived as hunter/gatherersin tribes and bands. The hunter/gatherers lived off the land,collecting and catching what waslocally and seasonally available.

Hunter/gatherer culturestended to be limited in popula-tion and technological develop-ment. As groups followed animalmigration, they traveled acrosswhole continents entering newterritories and natural environ-ments. The availability of foodand shelter in the places theylived impacted the size ofindividual groups, tribes or clans.

Many hunter/gatherer culturesdeveloped pre-agriculturalpractices in which they manipu-lated the environment to controlor increase their kills and har-vests. The American Indiansburned grasslands, which stimu-lated the germination of desiredplants that attracted greaterconcentrations of bison and othergrazing animals to hunt.

Domestication of plants andanimals may have occurred inmany places at once. The appli-cation of these, and other discov-eries, resulted in distinct prac-tices depending on the local

natural environment. The firstcivilizations to rapidly grow withthe arrival of cultivation werelocated in flood plains. Soilquality and available water madesuch rapid growth possible. Theearliest irrigation systems werebuilt about 7,000 years ago inMesopotamia, which now is Iraq.

Agrarian societies, like theones in Mesopotamia, expandedrapidly. The study of stars,moon, sun, and planets helpedpeople schedule planting andharvesting. Cultivation practicesenabled surplus food production.

With food stored, people coulddedicate their time to otherpursuits such as the arts, science,and culture. Surplus food andfiber products were traded usingthe barter system. Agriculturaltrade stimulated the developmentof measurement, accounting, andwritten communication.

B. Understand Food andFiber Systems’ Role inSocieties throughoutWorld History.

Improvements in the ability toprovide food, clothing, andshelter have been paralleled byimprovements in the health andwell being of people in theworld. As a result, the world’shuman population has grown inproportion to agricultural pro-duction.

As early agricultural societiesgrew, they became more com-plex. When populations ex-panded, emerging societiesbegan to look beyond theirimmediate environments forresources that had becomelocally depleted. The expansion

Agricultural trade stimu-lated the developmentof measurement, ac-counting, and written

communication.

About 20 percent ofthe U.S. labor force

works in some part ofthe Food and Fiber

System.


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of societies has involved con-flicts over crop and grazing landsas well as access to ports andtrading routes. The permanenceof societies has also been depen-dent on access to and steward-ship of soil and water resources.

Agricultural productionthroughout the Mediterraneanregion became dominated by in-kind taxation exacted by theconquering Romans. Non-perishable products such aswheat, olive oil, wine, andtimber were produced on a largescale and shipped long distancesto support the city of Rome.

Eventually, soil erosion,deforestation, overgrazing, andconflicts between farmers andherdsmen dramatically reducedthe productivity of agriculturewithin the Roman Empire.Hunger and social unrestdestoyed the Roman politicalsystem , bringing the Dark Ages.

In many parts of the world,feudal societies emerged.Landowners or “lords” relied onslaves, serfs, or peasants to workthe land. The workers relied onthe lords for protection fromraiding bands and robbers. Warswere fought over crop andgrazing lands, as well as accessto ports and trading routes.

With the development offeudalism, merchants emerged asa class of people who made theirliving traveling between regionstrading goods from other places.

Among wealthy Europeans,demand for food and fiberproducts from distant landsincreased. For example, silkcloth, carried overland fromAsia, was finer and more luxuri-

ous than the rough wool andlinen people had been using forclothing. Also, spices helpedpreserve food and diversified thediet of Europeans in the MiddleAges. The desire for agriculturalproducts, as well as preciousgems and minerals, eventuallyled to exploration and conquestof the Americas.

Before the arrival of Europe-ans in the Americas, agriculturealready was highly developed inCentral and South America,although less so in NorthAmerica. The Incas thrived inthe West Andes Mountains witharchitecture and irrigationsystems that rivaled those ofancient Rome and Egypt.

The Maya, Olmec, Toltec, andAztecs living around the Valleyof Mexico are considered thefirst to cultivate maize, or cornas we know it today.

Development of internationaltrade between societies, culturesand nations led to industrializa-tion. That industrialization, inturn, led to increased amounts ofFood and Fiber Systems productsand a higher standard of livingfor industrialized societies.Industrialization and interna-tional trade of agriculturalproducts and services have led toalliances between nations andhave created global societieswhere different cultures blendand co-exist.

Festivals and celebrationswithin societies also came aboutbecause of agriculture. Springplanting and fall harvest festivalshave been celebrated for centu-ries. Other world celebrationsstill are based on agriculture.

The permanence ofsocieties depends on

access to and steward-ship of soil and water

resources.

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The most agriculturallyadvanced native people in NorthAmerica included the Iroquois,who established permanentterritorial associations aroundagricultural settlements and theShoshone, who practiced agricul-ture in an arid climate, mostlyrelying on maize as a staple crop.

Most early American settlerswere farmers. Many cameseeking land, and religiousfreedom. When Europeancolonists arrived on the EastCoast, they tried to keep theagricultural practices they usedback home. Many times, thesepractices failed, and massstarvation occurred in the earlyyears of colonization. Spaniardsfound the Mediterranean climatein the west very similar to Spain,thus many of their agriculturalcrops including olives, grapes,figs, and cattle readily adapted tothe new land.

On many occasions, AmericanIndians came to the aid of thecolonists, teaching them aboutnative plants used for food andmedicine. The settlers alsoadapted clothing and shelterfrom American Indians.

The colonies along the EastCoast experienced economicprosperity derived from cashcrops such as cotton and tobaccofor export to Great Britain andother places. The RevolutionaryWar was waged over issues suchas high taxes on agriculturalcommodities produced by thecolonies. Many of the country’s

early leaders, including signersof the Declaration of Indepen-dence, were agriculturalists.

Other historical events alsorelate to Food and Fiber Sys-tems. The Homestead Actencouraged increased expansionof settlements west of theMississippi River. Agriculturecontinued to impact U.S. historythrough the 20th century.

The crash of the stock marketforced people to return to theland as a means of survival. TheDust Bowl drought on the GreatPlains caused people to abandonfarms and ranches in search ofwork in cities. Some of thenations largest dam projects wereundertaken to control flooding ofprime agricultural land.

The labor demands of agricul-ture in the U.S. strongly affectedimmigration and migrationpatterns. Historically, U.S.agriculture has provided employ-ment opportunities to immigrantsfrom all over the world. Sincethe beginning of World War II,the farm population of the U.S.has been declining principallydue to improved agriculturaltechnology. Migration fromfarms to cities has added to thecultural diversity in modernAmerica.

In pursuit of rapid growth andshort-term economic success,some agricultural practices havecaused loss of valuable nutrient-rich topsoil, clean ground waterreserves, and species diversity.The creation of the National ParkService, National Forest Serviceand the Environmental Protec-tion Agency, and others, can allbe tied to agriculture.

C. Understand Food andFiber Systems’ Role inU.S. History.

The National ParkService, National

Forest Service and theEnvironmental Protec-tion Agency are tied to

agriculture.


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Historically, climate andgeography have determined theplants and animals that grew bestin a region. As a result, distincteating habits emerged for peopleliving in different places onEarth. As cultures and societiesdeveloped, religions and otherbeliefs further guided people’sfood choices. Food, language,dress, and the arts are character-istics that evolved in relation tospecific cultures.

When people migrate, theybring their culture and diet.Immigrants brought some staplesof the American diet to thiscountry. The United Statesproduces many food and fiberproducts introduced by immi-grants. With increasing ethnicdiversity, there are more oppor-tunities for businesses catering tochanging consumer tastes.

The U.S. blends culture andtraditions of people fromdifferent climates and geo-graphic and regions. U.S. foodand fiber products reflect thesedifferences.

As Americans develop tastesfor foods from all over theworld, international consumersdevelop a great demand for U.S.food and fiber products. Newplant varieties and animal breedshave changed eating habits inmany places of the world. Theintroduction of new varieties ofplants and breeds of animals maycause new challenges from pestsand disease.

Some people view agricultureas nothing more than farming orranching. Often, a person’sbackground or even geographicorigin forms contrasting view-points surrounding Food andFiber Systems. Many socialissues are related to agriculture.The U.S. has moved from a ruralsociety to an urban society partlydue to the loss of jobs in produc-tion agriculture and the increaseof jobs in agricultural productprocessing, packaging, market-ing, and distribution.

In addition to agriculturallabor, society is concerned aboutissues such as land use policies,protection of the environment,pesticide use, food safety, andanimal welfare to name a few.Other issues include the practiceof food irradiation and thedevelopment of geneticallyengineered foodstuffs.

Some of the issues are local innature, while some are regional,statewide, national, and eveninternational. The determinationof issues and the viewpoints ofstakeholders are often related tohistorical, cultural and geo-graphic factors.

D. Understand theRelationship betweenFood and Fiber Systemsand World Cultures.

E. Understand HowDifferent ViewpointsImpact Food andFiber Systems.

III. Science,Technology, andEnvironmentThe environment and agricul-

ture are closely linked. Humanshave transformed the environ-ment through agricultural

The U.S. blends cul-ture and traditions ofpeople from differentgeographic regions.

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pursuits since before recordedhistory. Scientific and techno-logical knowledge makeagriculture more productive.Countless innovations havehelped solve problems relatedto all aspects of the food andfiber system.

Agricultural abundance hasmade possible an increase inpopulation worldwide, but thisincrease has put more demandson the planet’s natural resourcesystems. Scientific observationand investigation have con-firmed that ecosystems aredelicately balanced and glo-bally interrelated, and we canno longer independentlymanage agriculture and theenvironment.

The vitality of Food andFiber Systems now, and in thefuture, depends on publicunderstanding of this interde-pendence. The need to preservethe quality of shared resources,land, air, and water will makethe work of those in the agri-cultural and environmentalsciences more important inyears to come.

generally determine ecosystemdiversity.

Food and Fiber Systems de-pends on ecosystem managementfor sustaining and increasingproduction. The natural cycles ofplants and animals intricately arerelated to agriculture. Othernatural cycles, including water andsoil, make the production of foodand fiber products possible.

Humans have manipulatedsuccession in ecosystems forcenturies, not only for agriculturalpurposes, but for industrial andpersonal use as well. Left alone,those ecosystems eventually willregenerate.

Agriculture affects ecosystemsin both positive and negativeways. Inputs required for agricul-tural production, such as fertilizersand pesticides, often come fromoutside the ecosystem. Theyincrease production potential.Once introduced, chemicals maychange the system’s naturalbalance.

Modern agriculture is energyintensive, requiring non-renewablefossil fuels in all parts of the foodand fiber system. As with anyindustry, air, water, and soilpollution are produced as a resultof the activities of the system.Agriculture also is a leader inmanaging ecosystem pollutants.

The destruction of naturalhabitats through the draining ofwetlands, soil erosion, and expan-sion into wild areas continues tobe a problem. Self-regulation andgovernmental regulation in Foodand Fiber Systems have madegreat strides toward stopping andreversing some of the problems.

Agriculture also enhances the

A. Understand HowEcosystems Are RelatedTo Food and FiberSystems

Ecosystems include plants,animals, environmental, andgeographic factors that makeup life systems. Food and FiberSystems uses different ecosys-tems to produce, process,market and distribute agricul-tural products. Geography andtopography, the factors thatlimit agriculture production,

Scientific and techno-logical knowledge

make agriculture moreproductive.

Agriculture is a leaderin managing ecosys-

tem pollutants.


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environment. Landscape designand ornamental plants beautifyhomes and communities. Conser-vation and restoration efforts byagriculturists have re-createdhabitats for previously threat-ened species. Food and FiberSystems designed to work withnature can even reverse damageto ecosystems from the effects ofpoor land management.

energy, Food and Fiber Systemsalso depends on non-renewablefossil fuel energy resources. Thisenergy is used, for example, inthe production, packaging, andapplication of chemical fertiliz-ers and pesticides, in the manu-facturing and operation of farmmachinery, and in the distribu-tion of agricultural products.

Some nations have abundantnatural resources and can de-velop strong agricultural sys-tems. Nations without the rightcombination of natural resourcesmust rely on others for food andfiber. Nations also compete foravailable resources and thoseresources are traded betweencountries. The U.S. trades andsells Food and Fiber Systemsproducts to other nations. Inreturn, those nations may tradeor sell resources or other goodsand services to the U.S.

B. Understand Food andFiber Systems’Dependence on NaturalResources.

Soil, water, sunlight, and airare the renewable natural re-sources necessary for agricul-tural production. However,agriculture relies on living thingsand biological processes totransform these basic materialsinto food and fiber products.Food and Fiber Systems dependson plants, animals, and microor-ganisms. They range from thetiniest algae, bacteria, yeast, andfungi to edible plants, fiberplants, and trees, as well asinsects, birds, fish, and even thelargest of animals.

Living organisms use theresources, but also replenishnatural resources. Plants improveair quality by capturing carbondioxide and producing oxygen inthe atmosphere. Perennial plants,grasses in particular, with theirextensive fibrous root systems,can help reduce soil erosion.Poplar trees can clean sewagewater while growing wood forpaper pulp production. The lifecycle of plants and animals addsorganic matter to the soil.

In addition to the sun’s

C. UnderstandManagement andConservation PracticesUsed in Food & FiberSystems.

Conservation is the controland management of resources forpresent and future use. Agricul-turalists have long been aware ofthe need to conserve naturalresources. Conservation Districtshave been created by all states todevelop and carry out programsfor natural resource conserva-tion, use, and development.

The United States Departmentof Agriculture’s Natural Re-source Conservation Serviceprovides conservation technicalassistance through local conser-vation districts to individuals,

Soil, water, sunlight,and air are the renew-able natural resourcesneeded for agricultural

production.

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communities, watershed groups,tribal governments, federal, state,and local agencies, etc.

Conservation practices havebeen used in Food and FiberSystems for years. Farmingalong the contour of hills or interraces is an example of conser-vation technique that minimizessoil erosion.

Cover crops are grown to beplowed back into the soil to addorganic matter. Cover crops alsoprovide an alternative to leavingthe ground bare for a season. Thefoliage keeps the topsoil frombaking in the sun, and the rootshold soil in place when it rains.

Examples of other traditionalconservation practices includecrop rotation and the use ofhedgerows. Farmers rotate theplants and animals they raise inone place to resist the develop-ment of disease-causing organ-isms. Hedgerows protect fieldsfrom the wind and providehabitats for beneficial speciesthat help protect crops andlivestock from pests and disease.

Some conservation practices,such as Integrated Pest Manage-ment, are relatively new. Dan-gerous inorganic pesticides havebeen phased out and regulationsregarding pesticide use havebecome more stringent. IPMreduces dependence on pesti-cides by using combinations ofpractices to keep pest damage tocrops and livestock in check.

There are other relatively newconservation practices. Mini-mum tillage reduces the numberof times land must be tilled toprepare for planting, therebysaving labor costs while also

conserving topsoil and water.Genetic engineering has thepotential to increase plantresistance to disease.

Sophisticated drip irrigationand soil moisture monitoringdevices tell a grower exactlywhen, where, and how muchwater to apply to avoid waste.Modern agriculture is once againlooking to traditional conserva-tion practices to combine withstate-of-the-art technologies inaddressing environmentalproblems.

D. Understand Scienceand Technology’s Role inFood and Fiber Systems.

Humans always have usedtechnology in Food and FiberSystems. The first technologicaladvances were simple tools, suchas sticks, for planting seeds ordigging roots. More sophisti-cated developments, such asdiverting irrigation water fromrivers and selecting preferredseed and breeding stock, werecritical to early agriculture.

Agricultural inventions cameabout through science andtechnology. Those inventionshave impacted every aspect ofFood and Fiber Systems. Someinventions, like McCormick’sreaper and Whitney’s cotton gin,improved production and pro-cessing capabilities. Others, likeCarver’s peanut butter, creatednew possibilities for storing andmarketing products. Technologi-cal innovations, like gene-splicing and embryo transplant-ing, benefit agriculture and manyother industries.

Agricultural inven-tions, such as the haybaler, have impactedevery aspect of Foodand Fiber Systems.


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A. Understand Food andFiber Systems andEconomics Are Related

The word economics comesfrom the Greek oikos, meaninghouse or village, and nomos,meaning to manage or distribute.

are needed to solve those prob-lems. Biosystems and agricul-tural engineers find solutions toproblems in soil and waterconservation, tropical deforesta-tion, and energy conservation.

Physiologists and toxicologistsstudy agricultural chemicalbreakdown to determine environ-mental impacts. Biologists andmicrobiologists detoxify soil andwater. Bio-researchers analyzeinformation to make assessmentsand recommendations relating toplants, animals and humans.

Agriculture is the world’slargest and most essentialindustry. People everywheredepend on the products of Foodand Fiber Systems for food,clothes, and homes.

IV. Business andEconomics

Agribusinesses engage in theproduction, processing, market-ing, or distribution of agricul-tural products, or in supplyingagricultural inputs.Agribusinesses may furnishcapital, machinery, equipment,chemicals, and supplies, as wellas managerial and technicalservices. Revenues generatedfrom Food and Fiber Systemsbusinesses account for close to20 percent of the annual U.S.gross national product.

Technology to produce,process, and preserve agricul-tural products has been handeddown through generations.Today, Food and Fiber Systemsrelies on technology in nearlyevery scientific field.

Examples of the application ofscience to real-world problemsare found in each component ofthe food and fiber system. One ofthe most important technologiesto change agriculture was theintroduction of the internalcombustion engine.

Machines effectively havereplaced human and animalpower in most aspects of Foodand Fiber Systems. Fewer peopleare needed to do the manuallabor agriculture once required.However, increasing numbers ofpeople are needed to support newagricultural technologies.

For example, in the area ofbreeding and selection, scientistscontinually are working todevelop improved plant varietiesthat are more nutritious andresistant to pests and diseases.Genetic engineering is revolu-tionizing this area of agriculture.

Many other aspects of agricul-ture have benefited from technol-ogy. Milk production, storage,and processing depend onmicrobiology. Plant Pathologyresearch has revealed the role ofinsects in disease transmission.Chemistry has advanced theunderstanding of soil fertility andpest management.

Inappropriate use of technol-ogy, however, has led to prob-lems, both for agriculture and theenvironment. People trained forFood and Fiber Systems careers

Revenues generatedfrom Food and FiberSystems businesses

account for close to 20percent of the annualU.S. gross national

product.

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Economics involves managingthe income and resources of ahousehold, community, orgovernment.

Agriculture and economics areinterdependent. Throughouthistory, the development ofcultures and economies has beenbased on agricultural practices.The economy of any household,community, or governmentdepends on meeting food,clothing and shelter needs of thepopulation.

Trade opportunities arise whenproduct surpluses or shortagesoccur. For example, extremeweather may cause a shortage ofa commodity in a state or region.Surplus production of thecommodity in another regionusually can meet the demand forthe product. International mar-keting stabilizes the supply/demand fluctuations for mostfood and fiber products.

Natural, political, and societalevents impact food and fibertrade. Weather that negativelyimpacts production influencesprices of consumer goods.Elections and other changes ingovernments affect nations’economies and the globalmarketing of products andservices. Changes in lifestyles,such as the trend toward lowerfat foods, cause changes inconsumer demand for products.Producers, processors andmarketers use the expertise ofeconomic analysts to betterforesee and meet consumerdemands.

Most of the world’s people areemployed in Food and FiberSystems. Each step from produc-

tion to consumption of agricul-tural products generates jobs andeconomic activity. The primaryeconomic activities of Food andFiber Systems include:n Production – the output of

raw food, clothing and shelterproducts.n Processing — the refining

of raw products into finishedgoods.n Supplies and Services -

providing the inputs producersand processors require, includingseeds, machinery, energy,chemicals, equipment, labor orexpertise.n Transportation and

Distribution — moving rawproducts to processors andfinished products to market.n Marketing, and Trade —

advertising, buying, and sellingthe products of Food and FiberSystems.n Research and Develop-

ment— creating new crop andlivestock varieties, new food andfiber products, uses for by-products, or new methods ofproducing, processing, andstoring products.n Finance and Insurance —

providing capital to pay for andinsure land, crops, machinery,and personnel.

B. Understand Food andFiber Systems Have AnImpact On Local,National, & InternationalEconomics.

Food and Fiber Systemsrepresents a continuum extend-ing from farms to factories,markets, and tables in every partof the world. Producers sell

Natural, political, andsocietal events impactfood and fiber trade.

Food and Fiber Sys-tems represents a

continuum extendingfrom farms to facto-ries, markets, and

tables in every part ofthe world.


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directly to consumers in placeslike local farmers’ markets.However, most agriculturalproducts are processed, pack-aged, and shipped long distancesbefore reaching consumers.

There are large, internationalbusinesses that deal in food andfiber products. There are alsosmaller agribusinesses that relyon agriculture. Feed, seed andfertilizer dealers, implementdealers and equipment repairbusinesses rely on agriculturalproducers. The cardboard orplastic packaging manufacturer,restaurant owner, florist, andgrocery store clerk also dependon Food and Fiber Systems fortheir livelihood.

Each step from production toconsumption adds value toagricultural products. Forexample, what the producer sellsfor one dollar is processed andre-sold for more than one dollar.Packaging, transportation andadvertising also add to theconsumer cost of the product.The difference in the productprice from the producer’s sale tothe consumer’s purchase canmore than double the final price.

Business opportunities exist inadding value to agriculturalproducts, and many businessesuse food and fiber inputs.Agricultural products are the rawmaterials of numerous industries.For example, the sap fromtropical rubber trees is used tomake car tires and tennis shoes;the fibers which surround theseeds of the cotton plant aremade into clothing and paper;and trees become houses, paper,and packaging. Agricultural

exports are the number oneincome source for the U.S.C. UnderstandGovernment’s Role inFood and Fiber Systems.

Government regulations existto ensure an abundant andaffordable food supply and toprotect farmers, consumers, theenvironment, and the economy.Governments work to ensure thatthe market system operateswithout impediment to providestability to the market structure.Tariffs and trade agreementsbetween nations are measuresused to provide that stability.

Some of the governmentalfunctions regulating agriculturein this country include safety,inspection, and grading. Thereare regulations to protect thesafety of agricultural workers.There are also safety regulationsto protect human and animalfoodstuffs. The United StatesDepartment of Agriculture andthe Environmental ProtectionAgency are but two of thegovernment entities performingagricultural inspections.

All meat and many other foodsare inspected by the UnitedStates Department of Agricul-ture. The Environmental Protec-tion Agency inspects watershedsand wildlife habitat for contami-nation. Nearly all agriculturalcommodities (eggs, milk, meat,grain, cotton, wool, etc.) arequality graded to ensure theymeet government or industrystandards.

Governments provide much ofthe funding for research aimed atimproving agricultural practices.

Government regula-tions exist to ensurean abundant and af-fordable food supply

and to protect farmers,consumers, the envi-

ronment, and theeconomy.

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They also regulate trade throughimport duties and tariffs andcreate policies to manage thedistribution of resources, such aswater.

International Food and FiberSystems issues sometimesrequire government intervention.Some agricultural productsgrown in other countries cannotbe sold in the U.S. because theydo not meet governmentalstandards or may carry parasitesor disease that could damageU.S. agricultural products. TheU.S. government regulates theuse of illegal immigrant farmlaborers in an attempt to preventthe exploitation of those indi-viduals.

Government policies impact-ing agriculture are partly theresult of political action bygroups or individuals. Peoplefacing common problems bandtogether to influence electedofficials to help solve thoseproblems. In some instances,issues are taken directly to thevoters. Organizations, often withcompeting interests, advocatelegislation favoring particularindustries and commodities. Thepolitical process provides ameans for settling differencesabout resource management andagricultural activities impactingthe environment. Often, the bestsolution is a compromise be-tween the two extremes.

trade. The import and export offood and fiber commodities areconcerns of foreign policymakers. In parts of the world,land ownership, technology, andthe education level of farmerslimit what is grown. Addition-ally, currency exchange rates andworld markets influence interna-tional trade choices.

Historically, nations haveprotected markets, therebylimiting international trade. TheU.S. is establishing open tradepolicies with nations limiting orheavily taxing imports. TheNorth American Free TradeAgreement, the World TradeAgreement the General Agree-ment on Trade and Tariffs, andother trade agreements work tominimize or eliminate taxes onfood and fiber products.

International supply anddemand affects the types andquantities of products producedand traded worldwide. Wars,political unrest, and relatedissues influence a nation’s abilityto produce surpluses for interna-tional trade. Adequate infrastruc-tures, such as transportation anddistribution systems, are requiredto successfully export and importproducts.

People in the United States areaccustomed to food and clothingfrom other countries. Fresh fruitand vegetables from Central andSouth America supplement U.S.production, allowing a year-round supply. Beef from Argen-tina, wool from Australia andcotton from Egypt help providestability to the market, but alsoforce U.S. producers to becompetitive.

D. Understand FactorsInfluencing InternationalTrade of Food & FiberProducts.

Agricultural exports are amajor component of U.S. foreign

Governments regulatetrade through importduties and tariffs and

create policies tomanage the distribu-

tion of resources, suchas water.


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Numerous agricultural ser-vices are traded or sold betweennations. Education, technologyand consultation are a fewexamples of services tradedamong nations. Often, Food andFiber Systems products orservices are traded for industrial,or even military, products andservices.

Increasing world population,food choices and economicprosperity are providing anexpanding international marketfor affordable agriculturalcommodities. U.S. Food andFiber Systems production is farahead of the nation’s consump-tion. With additional free tradeopportunities, the nation’sbalance of trade—importscompared to exports— maybecome more favorable.

product, but are differentlyprocessed to be appealing andpalatable to animals or people.

Most human foods are pro-cessed in some way. Manyanimal feeds are also processed.Processing adds flavor, increasesdigestibility, and makes foodproducts more convenient.Processing also allows foodstuffsto be stored for long periodswithout spoiling or losingnutritive value.

Often, processing changes theraw product in such a way that itis unrecognizable. Corn syrup isused as sweetener in candy andconfections. Grain and hay foranimal feed may be ground andpelletted. The law requiresprocessed foods to have aningredient label attached.

Food and feed products mayalso contain additives. Additivesare materials added to foodstuffsto aid in processing or preserva-tion or to improve nutritivevalue, taste or visual appeal.Additives in food and feed soldin the U.S. are regulated andmust be listed on ingredientlabels.

V. Food, Nutrition,and Health

Food and Fiber Systemsprovides the abundant andaffordable food supply neededfor survival, growth, and health.Nutrition, food, and agricultureare inseparable. Knowledge ofnutrition and health increasinglyare important due to abundantfood choices.

A. Understand Food &Fiber Systems ProvideNourishment for Peopleand Animals

Making bread, cheeseor butter; raising fruits

and vegetables; andpreserving and prepar-

ing various foodsalways are great learn-

ing experiences.

People and animals depend onFood and Fiber Systems forsurvival. Food for humans andfeed for animals come fromagriculture. Often those food andfoodstuffs are from the same raw

B. Understand Food andFiber Systems ProvideHealthy-Diet Components

Healthful eating means eatinga variety of nutritious foods.Food contains six nutrients thatpeople need for good health.These nutrients include carbohy-drates, proteins, fats, minerals,vitamins, and water.

The USDA makes generalrecommendations about whatpeople should eat. The USDA

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Food Guide Pyramid suggestsdaily food servings. The Pyramidis made up of six sections, eachcontaining foods of similarorigin or nutrient value. Whenplanning healthy meals, it isimportant to recognize theserving sizes according to theFood Guide Pyramid. The majorfood groups, their primarynutrients, and the number ofrecommended daily servings areimportant to a healthy diet.

Fats and sweets are notconsidered part of the major foodgroups and should be eaten inlimited quantities. Some fatsprovide essential fatty acids,which are necessary for properbody function. However, foodsprimarily made of sugar or fatare considered empty caloriesbecause they provide little or nonutrition. Processed foods, incomparison to fresh foods,generally have more fat, sugar,and salt. Processed foods alsomay have preservatives added toextend shelf life.

An ideal diet, according to theFood Guide Pyramid, shouldprovide all the essential nutrientsfor life stages, including, growth,maintenance, reproduction, andlactation. Exercise and activitylevels are other considerationswhen determining food intake.

It is important to eat a varietyof foods from all the major foodgroups. Breads, cereals, veg-etables, and fruits form thelargest part of the total diet,followed by milk and milkproducts and meat or meatalternates. Fats, sweets, and oilsshould form the smallest portionof the diet.

C. Understand Food andFiber Systems ProvidesFood Choices

Food and Fiber Systemsprovides a variety of year-roundfood choices. Foods not locallyproduced are available, partlydue to the transportation anddistribution networks.

Many factors influence foodchoices. One factor in foodchoice is cost. Generally, staplefoods are less expensive; pre-pared foods are more costly.

Individual preferences areimportant in food selection.Many of these are based onhabits, largely determined bycultural backgrounds. MoreAmericans are purchasing foodthat is convenient to preparebecause they choose to spendtime on activities other than foodpreparation.

In addition to these fundamen-tal factors, food choices areinfluenced by information thatshapes opinions about food.Scientific research has revealedmuch about the nutritive proper-ties of foods, as well as humanrequirements for nutrients.According to health profession-als, eating well and exercisingnot only promotes health andwellness, but reduces risk ofdisease. Nutrition researchfindings affect consumer demandfor specific foods.

Advertisements are anotherform of information that guidesfood choices. Advertising targetsfoods toward specific consumers.Demand also ultimately influ-ences what is produced and howit is processed and marketed.

Individual preferencesare important in food

selection. One factor infood choice is cost.


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The food industry tests anddevelops new varieties of foodsand food-processing methods,and sponsors research to exam-ine the health benefits of specificfoods. The food industry workswith health professionals andgovernment agencies to ensurethat nutritional benefits of foodsaccurately are represented.

Food safety is a growingconcern among consumers.Agriculturists have worked toaddress food safety concernsthrough new managementmethods, technology, and themedia. New technologies such asfood irradiation and biologicallyengineered food products mustbe explained to consumers andsafety concerns addressed if thetechnology is to be accepted.

The U.S. food supply isconsidered the safest in theworld. Still, food safety issues doexist here and elsewhere. Ac-cording to food safety experts,improper storage, handling, andpreparation of food, both athome and at food establishments,poses the number one food safetyproblem today. Everyone whohandles food in any form shouldknow the basic safe food-handling practices.

habits or demand better regula-tion of food production practices.Together, food producers,consumer groups, and govern-ment agencies work to developfood safety and nutrition guide-lines and regulations.

There are numerous foodcontaminants. Some, likeinsects, bacteria, and fungi, areliving. Others, such as bonefragments or chemical residueare non-living. Contaminationmay occur during any step offood processing. Governmentpolicy and inspection guardagainst food contamination.

The USDA revised food-labeling laws so nutrition infor-mation on packaged foods ismore complete and uniform tohelp consumers make healthierfood choices. The USDA alsoregulates many areas of foodsafety, as well as providingconsumer guidelines for safehandling, preparation and storageof foods.

D. Understand Food andFiber Systems PromotesA Safe Food Supply

Agriculturists haveworked to address

food safety concernsthrough new manage-ment methods, tech-

nology, and the media.

The USDA reformedfood-labeling laws sonutrition informationon packaged foods ismore complete anduniform to help con-

sumers make healthierfood choices.

Safety concerns includemicrobiological contaminationand drug and pesticide residuesin food. As public health prob-lems related to these substancescontinue to emerge, consumersmay change some purchasing

i. understanding food & fiber...

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