Farming, or agriculture, is the process of simplifying the food webs of nature. It is also defined as the energy rechanneling for animal consumption and human planting. Sunlight is converted by plants to sugars that provide food for plants; this process is known as ‘photosynthesis’.
Herbivores, plant- eating animals, feed on plants. Carnivores, meat- eating animals, are provided with food by herbivores. When animals or plants die, they are broken down by bacteria or decomposers. Nutrients from animals and plants return to the soil. The entire process begins anew, thus, occurring as a cycle.
With agriculture, the aforementioned web is interrupted. The plants are reserved for human consumption, instead of allowing herbivores to eat them. In other words, not only are herbivores eliminated from the web, but carnivores and decomposers as well.
However, in the event that a farmer plants corn for the consumption of his cattle, the said animal eats it to get healthy and fat. Eventually, the cattle are slaughtered for human beings to consume. Although a cow is eating
the corn, the food web is interrupted at the time that the animal is killed for the consumption of humans.
Source: http://www.whatisagriculture.net/define_agriculture.html
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