Countdown to Christmas

18 - Farming

• Around 12,000 years ago, humans shifted from hunting and gathering to agriculture during the Neolithic Revolution, domesticating plants and animals for reliable food sources.
   
• Livestock farming involves breeding and raising animals (e.g., cattle, sheep, goats) for food, labor, and materials like milk, meat, and wool.
   
• Crop farming focuses on cultivating plants (e.g., wheat, rice, maize) on managed land to provide food, feed, and raw materials.

Inventors

• Origins of Farming (12,000 years ago): Farming began during the Neolithic Revolution, with humans domesticating plants and animals to create stable food supplies, leading to settlements and population growth.
   
• By the 15th century, trade routes (e.g., Columbian Exchange) spread crops, livestock, and farming techniques worldwide, increasing food diversity and connecting economies.
   
• The 19th and 20th centuries brought mechanization, fertilizers, and GMOs, boosting productivity to feed a growing population.
   
• Modern farming faces challenges like climate change, resource depletion, the need for sustainable, and tech-driven solutions (e.g., precision agriculture, renewable energy).