Contributions of “resource relocation” to the development of agriculture

Abstract

This paper examines the contributions of “resource relocation” in the development of agriculture. Five (5) selected resources from each sub-sector of agriculture were  examined based on the number of known species (species diversity) and those species that were transferred into artificial environments (relocated resources). With few  exceptions, the number of plant and animal species relocated to artificial environments is low compared to the total number of known species. Resources that were relocated  for the purpose of domestication account for between 2.5-16.67% of known species in crop agriculture, 2.63-60% in horticulture, 12.5-25% in livestock subsector and  5.0-25.71% in aquaculture. The practice of “resource relocation” continues to  contribute to the development of agriculture through the preservation of valuable native organisms, their use for agricultural production and the establishment of agricultural ecosystems.

Keywords: Agriculture, Agroecosystems, Biodiversity, Domestication.