Knowra Agricultural expansion Agricultural expansion Agricultural expansion is the growth of farming into new areas or the conversion of existing land to agricultural production, increasing the area or intensity of cultivated land and pasture.
Land-use change : The transformation of land cover or land management from one use to another. Agricultural expansion is a major pathway through which land use changes.
Habitat fragmentation : The division of continuous habitat into smaller, isolated patches. New fields and pasture can split habitats even where some natural cover remains.
Soybean production in South America : The cultivation of soybeans across South American farming regions, especially Brazil and Argentina. Rising soybean demand has helped drive conversion of natural vegetation and pasture.
Agricultural intensification : Increasing agricultural output per unit of land, labor, or other input. It raises output through greater productivity rather than necessarily bringing new land into production.
Deforestation : The removal of forest cover, often to make land available for farming, grazing, or other uses. Clearing forests for cropland or pasture is a prominent form of expansion.
Biodiversity loss : The decline or disappearance of biological diversity at genetic, species, or ecosystem levels. Conversion of diverse natural habitats often reduces species richness and abundance.
Palm oil production : The commercial cultivation of oil palm for edible oils and industrial products. Plantation growth has converted forests and peatlands in parts of Southeast Asia.
Sustainable intensification : Increasing agricultural production while reducing environmental harm and conserving natural resources. It seeks production gains without relying on continual land conversion.
Shifting cultivation : A farming system in which plots are cultivated temporarily, then left fallow as cultivation moves elsewhere. Its temporary clearings can expand farming while allowing some land to recover.
Carbon emissions from land-use change : Greenhouse-gas releases caused by changes in land cover and management. Clearing vegetation and disturbing soils can release stored carbon.
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