1. Why do modern and intensive forms of farming have the greatest environmental impact?

1. What is land cover change and why are geographers particularly interested in studying it?

1. How do chemical fertilizers, insecticides, pesticides, and herbicides contribute to air, water, and soil pollution?

2. What role do governments play in regulating agricultural chemical use?

1. What causes desertification and how can common farming practices contribute to it?

1. How does improper irrigation lead to soil salinization and what are its effects on crop production?

1. What strategies do individuals, organizations, and governments use to counter the environmental damage from agricultural expansion?

2. How do protected zones and preserves help defend natural ecosystems from agricultural development?

1. How have humans historically altered landscapes to support agriculture, and what were these changes considered at the time?

1. What is terrace farming and what are its benefits for agriculture in hilly or mountainous regions?

2. What risk does terrace farming pose if terraces are not properly maintained?

1. What is irrigation and how has it contributed to feeding the world's growing population?

1. What are wetlands and what benefits are lost when they are converted to agricultural land?

1. What are the local and global environmental consequences of deforestation for agriculture?

2. How does the loss of rainforests contribute to climate change?

1. How does slash-and-burn agriculture work and why is it classified as shifting cultivation?

2. Why does large-scale slash-and-burn agriculture cause permanent environmental damage while small-scale practice allows ecosystem recovery?

3. What was the Dust Bowl and what caused this ecological disaster in the United States?

1. How does pastoral nomadism work and why do herders move their animals frequently?

2. What is overgrazing and how can it lead to desertification in regions like the Sahel?

3. Why is pastoral nomadism an efficient way to use poor-quality land when practiced responsibly?

1. How has agricultural development influenced world population, diet, gender roles, and economic development?

1. How do changing dietary preferences in semiperiphery countries affect global food production and the environment?

2. Why is livestock production inefficient as a food converter and what environmental demands does it place on agriculture?

3. How have processed foods changed people's diets and what health concerns have resulted?

1. How has economic development in periphery and semiperiphery countries changed women's roles in agriculture?

2. What does the feminization of agriculture mean and why have international aid agencies increased focus on women farmers?

3. What barriers prevent female farm owners from accessing capital and investing in large-scale operations?

1. How do agriculture's contributions to GDP differ between core countries like the United States and periphery countries like Afghanistan?

2. Why do core countries have smaller percentages of their labor force in agriculture compared to periphery countries?

1. Why do agricultural innovations often raise concerns even when they increase yields or improve food quality?

1. What are genetically modified organisms and what advantages do GMO crops offer compared to traditional crops?

2. What are the main concerns about GMO crops and why have many countries, particularly in Europe, restricted their use?

1. What is aquaculture and why has it become the fastest-growing form of food production?

2. What environmental and social concerns are associated with open-pen aquaculture systems?

3. How do wild-caught seafood and aquaculture systems each present sustainability challenges?

1. What are the main sources of agricultural chemicals and how do they damage the environment?

1. What practices help farmers maintain soil fertility and minimize erosion while operating sustainably?

2. How do farmers use technology like GIS software to improve sustainable agricultural practices?

1. What are the broad trends in agriculture over the past century and what smaller counter-trends are emerging?

1. Why does food insecurity persist globally despite sufficient food production?

1. What factors influence farmers' decisions about what and how much to produce?

1. What percentage of the world's agricultural labor force is female and how does this vary by region?

1. What is gender inequality and how does it affect agricultural productivity in periphery countries?

2. What gender-specific obstacles prevent female farmers from reaching their potential productivity?

3. What is the crop gap and how would achieving gender equality affect agricultural productivity?

1. What is agritourism and how does it provide revenue for farmers, especially small family farms?

2. What educational and recreational experiences do agritourism farms offer to visitors?

1. Why has organic farming become profitable despite higher production costs?

2. Where is organic food consumption concentrated and why is distribution geographically uneven?