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Agriculture Timeline

(10,000 BCE - Present)

This timeline chronicles the major milestones and advancements in agriculture, from the Neolithic Revolution to modern industrial farming practices. More Less

Go to: Timeline | Event List | Key Facts | Directory

Ancient Agriculture

Domestication of the Horse

3500 BC

The domestication of the horse in the Eurasian Steppes around 3500 BC revolutionized agriculture, transportation, and warfare, profoundly impacting human civilization.

Image source: Domestication of the horse

Domestication of the Horse

Chinese Granary System

500 BC - 499 BC

In China, from the 5th century BC, a nationwide granary system was established, contributing to the storage and distribution of agricultural produce and ensuring food security.

Image source: History of agriculture in China

Chinese Granary System

Water-Powered Grain Mills

100 BC - 099 BC

Water-powered grain mills were in use by the 1st century BC, significantly improving the efficiency of grain processing and contributing to agricultural development.

Image source: Watermill

Water-Powered Grain Mills

Medieval Agriculture

British Agricultural Revolution

1600 - 1699

Irrigation, crop rotation, and fertilizers advanced from the 17th century with the British Agricultural Revolution, leading to significant increases in agricultural productivity and global population.

Image source: British Agricultural Revolution

British Agricultural Revolution

Modern Agriculture

Scientific Study of Agriculture

1700 - 1799

The scientific study of agriculture began in the 18th century, marking the systematic exploration of agricultural practices, technologies, and sustainability.

Long-Term Agronomy Experiments

1843

Research became more systematic when in 1843, John Lawes and Henry Gilbert began a set of long-term agronomy field experiments at Rothamsted Research Station in England, contributing to the understanding of sustainable agricultural practices.

Image source: Rothamsted Research

Long-Term Agronomy Experiments

Biological Control Research

1881

In agricultural entomology, the USDA began to research biological control in 1881, instituting its first large program in 1905, contributing to sustainable pest management and ecological balance in agricultural ecosystems.

Image source: Biological pest control

Biological Control Research

Hatch Act of 1887

1887

In America, the Hatch Act of 1887 provided funding for what it was the first to call 'agricultural science', driven by farmers' interest in fertilizers, marking a pivotal moment in the development of agricultural research and education.

Image source: Hatch Act of 1887

Hatch Act of 1887

Industrial Agriculture

1900 - 1999

In the twentieth century, industrial agriculture based on large-scale monocultures came to dominate agricultural output, leading to large rises in productivity as mechanization and technology replaced human labor.

Mechanization and Productivity

1900

Since 1900, agriculture in developed nations has seen large rises in productivity as mechanization replaces human labor, leading to significant advancements in agricultural efficiency and output.

Crop Yield Improvement

1900 - 2001

Domestication of plants has increased yield, improved disease resistance, eased harvest, and improved the taste and nutritional value of crop plants, contributing to enhanced agricultural productivity and food supply.

Global Pesticide Use

1950

Pesticide use has increased since 1950 to 2.5 million short tons annually worldwide, with implications for food security, environmental impact, and human health, reflecting the challenges and trade-offs in modern agricultural practices.

Image source: Pesticide

Global Pesticide Use

Aquaculture Growth

1975 - 2007

Aquaculture or fish farming, one of the fastest growing sectors of food production, grew at an average of 9% a year between 1975 and 2007, contributing to global food supply and economic development.

European Union's Agricultural Policy

1991

The European Union certified organic food in 1991 and began reform of its Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in 2005 to phase out commodity-linked farm subsidies, promoting sustainable and efficient farming practices.

Image source: Common Agricultural Policy

European Union's Agricultural Policy

Impact of Mechanization

2009

Motorized mechanization has increased significantly across the world in recent years, impacting agricultural practices and productivity, and reflecting the ongoing evolution of agricultural technology.

Image source: Mechanised agriculture

Impact of Mechanization

Contemporary Agriculture

Pesticide Use

2000 - 2021

Pesticide use in agriculture went up 62% between 2000 and 2021, with implications for food security, environmental impact, and human health, reflecting the challenges and trade-offs in modern agricultural practices.

Environmental Impact of Agriculture

2000

A 2000 assessment of agriculture in the UK determined total external costs, highlighting the environmental impact and sustainability challenges associated with modern agricultural practices.

Image source: Environmental impact of agriculture

Environmental Impact of Agriculture

Agricultural Policy Distortion

2009

As of 2009, there was still a significant amount of policy-driven distortion in global agricultural product prices, influencing market dynamics and agricultural sustainability.

Livestock Production

2010

As of 2010, 30% of Earth's ice- and water-free area was used for producing livestock, with the sector employing approximately 1.3 billion people, reflecting the significant role of livestock in global agriculture and food production.

Image source: Livestock

Livestock Production

Water Use in Agriculture

2010

While industrial withdrawals have declined in the past few decades and municipal withdrawals have increased only marginally since 2010, agricultural withdrawals have continued to grow at an ever faster pace, highlighting the impact of agriculture on water resources and sustainability.

Image source: Water conservation

Water Use in Agriculture

Impact of Agricultural Technologies

2014

Agricultural technologies have the potential to significantly impact food production, food security, and trade, offering opportunities to address global hunger and improve agricultural sustainability.

Global Agricultural Output

2015

By 2015, the agricultural output of China was the largest in the world, followed by the European Union, India, and the United States, reflecting the changing dynamics of global agricultural production.

Agricultural Workforce

2021

Agriculture employed 873 million people in 2021, cultivating about 60% of the earth's arable land, highlighting the significant role of agriculture in global employment and food production.

Global Hunger

2021

Despite increases in agricultural production and productivity, between 702 and 828 million people were affected by hunger in 2021, highlighting persistent challenges in achieving food security and equitable access to nutrition.

Image source: Hunger

Global Hunger

Challenges in Agricultural Land Use

2021

In 2021, the global agricultural land area was 4.79 billion hectares, with implications for food production, environmental conservation, and sustainable land management.

Image source: Land use

Challenges in Agricultural Land Use

Global Agricultural Productivity

2022

In a 2022 report, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change describes how human-induced warming has slowed growth of agricultural productivity over the past 50 years in mid and low latitudes, highlighting the impact of climate change on agriculture.

Image source: Agricultural productivity

Global Agricultural Productivity

Key Facts

  1. The Neolithic Revolution marks the transition from hunter-gatherer societies to settled agricultural communities.
  2. The invention of the plow revolutionized farming techniques and increased food production.
  3. The Green Revolution of the 20th century saw the widespread adoption of high-yield crop varieties and agricultural technologies.
  4. The advent of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) has sparked debate over their impact on food security and the environment.
  5. Sustainable agriculture practices are gaining prominence as a response to environmental concerns and the need for long-term food security.

Source

This Agriculture timeline was generated with the help of AI using information found on the internet.

We strive to make these timelines as accurate as possible, but occasionally inaccurates slip in. If you notice anything amiss, let us know at [email protected] and we'll correct it for future visitors.

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