While there are often a number of plant varieties, modern humans tend to focus on the mass production of a single strain. Identify the implications of depending on food monocultures.

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Isabell Nielsen

14 February, 05:37

While there are often a number of plant varieties, modern humans tend to focus on the mass production of a single strain. Identify the implications of depending on food monocultures.

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Meadow Reeves · Answer 1

Depending on food monocultures can result in widescale famine if that particular food becomes infected by a specific pathogen, which would easily spread due to the common availability of the plant itself. Additionally, monoculture farming techniques often deplete the soil over time, leading to entirely infertile soil, and again, famine. Also, relying on a specific food item may lead to malnutrition if it is all that is available for food, as it may not meet all nutritional requirements for a given population.