Question

Explain why industrialization allows the creation of food surpluses?

Answer 1

Industrialization creates food surpluses due to the mechanization of agriculture, high labor productivity leading to efficient farming, and improvements like the widespread use of fertilizers. Larger farms and advances in food preservation and transportation also contribute to supplying cities with ample food. Although modern agriculture produces more than enough food, distribution remains a challenge influenced by government policies.

Step-by-step explanation:

Industrialization allows the creation of food surpluses for multiple reasons. One of the key factors is the mechanization of agriculture, which led to the rise in labor productivity allowing farms to produce more food with less labor. This was supplemented by improvements such as fertilizer usage, which enhanced crop yields. As a result, not everyone needed to be engaged in subsistence farming, and people were able to move to urban areas to work in factories, further fueling industrial growth.

The increased efficiency in agriculture allowed for the remaining larger farms to take on the responsibility of feeding a growing urban population. This was also aided by the introduction of mass-produced agricultural machinery and improvements in transportation, such as refrigerated railcars, allowing food to be shipped to cities where it could be processed in factories. Moreover, the access to cheap sugar and the ability to preserve food expanded the availability of food products throughout the year.

Furthermore, modern agriculture and macroeconomic policies play a significant role in creating food surpluses. By increasing food production beyond the immediate needs of a country, modern agriculture has provided a buffer that allows for food availability even in times of unexpected demand or production shortfalls. However, issues related to food distribution still pose challenges, often linked to governmental policies rather than an inability to produce enough food.

Answer 2

Industrialization resulted in food surpluses due to advancements in agricultural efficiency, the mechanization of production, and improved crop varieties which augmented food output and enabled rural populations to engage in industrial work.

Step-by-step explanation:

Industrialization enabled the creation of food surpluses through advancements in agricultural efficiency. Achieving higher yields from farmlands, farmers no longer needed to focus solely on subsistence, allowing a portion of the population to migrate to cities and take up industrial employment.

The mechanization of agriculture led to increased productivity, which in turn facilitated the production of more food with less human labor. Innovations such as the use of fertilizer, the introduction of machinery like tractors, and improved crop varieties revolutionized farming practices.

These advancements also meshed with the economic principle of specialization and economies of scale, where remaining farms grew larger and more specialized, leading to even greater food output. Mass-produced agricultural machinery and improved transportation, like refrigerated railcars, made it possible to bring larger quantities of food to urban centers.

Additionally, the cultivation of new staple crops and scientific advances continued to boost agricultural yields. As a result of these factors, industrialization not only increased the availability of food but also contributed to a burgeoning consumer market for industrial products.