🌾 Food & Agriculture · IELTS Vocabulary by Topic · 20 words

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organic /ɔːˈɡænɪk/ adj	grown or produced without artificial chemicals Organic vegetables are healthier but usually more expensive.
pesticide /ˈpestɪsaɪd/ n	a chemical used to kill insects that damage crops Heavy use of pesticides can harm bees and other useful insects.
fertiliser /ˈfɜːtəlaɪzə(r)/ n	a substance added to soil to help plants grow Chemical fertilisers can wash into rivers and pollute the water.
crop /krɒp/ n	a plant grown in large amounts for food; the amount harvested Rice is the main crop grown in the Mekong Delta.
harvest /ˈhɑːvɪst/ n	the time when crops are gathered, or the crops gathered A poor harvest can push up food prices across the whole country.
livestock /ˈlaɪvstɒk/ n	animals such as cows, pigs and sheep kept on a farm Raising livestock produces a large share of global greenhouse gases.
genetically modified /dʒəˌnetɪkli ˈmɒdɪfaɪd/ adj	(of plants or animals) having had their genes changed artificially Genetically modified crops can resist disease and produce higher yields.
processed food /ˌprəʊsest ˈfuːd/ n	food that has been changed by industrial methods, often with added chemicals A diet high in processed food increases the risk of heart disease.
yield /jiːld/ n	the amount of crops produced from an area of land New irrigation methods have doubled rice yields in the region.
irrigation /ˌɪrɪˈɡeɪʃn/ n	supplying water to land so that crops can grow Irrigation systems allow farmers to grow food even during dry seasons.
malnutrition /ˌmælnjuˈtrɪʃn/ n	poor health caused by not eating enough healthy food Malnutrition remains a leading cause of death among young children.
food security /ˈfuːd sɪkjʊərəti/ n	a situation in which everyone has reliable access to enough food Climate change poses a serious threat to global food security.
famine /ˈfæmɪn/ n	a serious lack of food in a region that causes many deaths Years of drought and conflict led to famine in parts of the region.
staple /ˈsteɪpl/ adj	forming the main part of what people usually eat Rice is the staple food for more than half of the world's population.
cultivate /ˈkʌltɪveɪt/ v	to prepare land and grow crops on it Farmers in the highlands cultivate tea and coffee on steep slopes.
agriculture /ˈæɡrɪkʌltʃə(r)/ n	the science or practice of farming Agriculture still employs a large proportion of the rural population.
vegetarian /ˌvedʒəˈteəriən/ n	a person who does not eat meat or fish More young people are becoming vegetarians for health and environmental reasons.
intensive farming /ɪnˌtensɪv ˈfɑːmɪŋ/ n	a method of farming that uses chemicals and machines to produce as much as possible Intensive farming produces cheap food but damages soil quality over time.
additive /ˈædətɪv/ n	a substance added to food to improve its taste, colour or shelf life Many snacks contain artificial additives that may be harmful to children.
perishable /ˈperɪʃəbl/ adj	(of food) likely to go bad quickly Perishable goods such as milk and fish must be kept refrigerated.