monoculture
Noun: 1. The agricultural practice of cultivating a single crop species over a large area for consecutive seasons. This system focuses on uniformity and efficiency but can impact biodiversity and soil health. 2. A more general concept of uniformity or lack of diversity in any system, such as in thought, economics, or culture, often used metaphorically.
The term is primarily used in agricultural, environmental, and economic contexts to describe a system lacking diversity. It often carries a critical or analytical tone regarding the risks of such uniformity.
Examples: - The vast monoculture of corn stretched to the horizon, leaving little room for other plants. - Modern industrial farming often relies on monoculture to maximize the yield of specific commodities like wheat or soybeans. - The economist warned against an intellectual monoculture within the industry, which could stifle innovation.
- "to create a monoculture": to establish a system dominated by a single type.
- The widespread planting of a single high-yield rice variety has created a genetic monoculture in the region.
- "the dangers/risks of monoculture": the negative consequences associated with lack of diversity.
- The lecture focused on the environmental dangers of agricultural monoculture, such as increased vulnerability to pests.
- Monocultural (adjective): Characterized by or relating to monoculture.
- The region's monocultural farming practices have led to soil depletion.
- Monocropping (noun): A near-synonym specifically for the agricultural practice of growing a single crop year after year on the same land.
- Single-cropping
- Uniform cultivation (for the agricultural sense)
- Homogeneity (for the metaphorical sense)
- Polyculture
- Crop rotation
- Diversification
- Biodiversity
- "Monoculture vulnerability": Refers to the heightened risk of total crop failure when a single disease or pest attacks a genetically uniform crop.
- The Irish Potato Famine is a historical example of monoculture vulnerability.
- "Cultural monoculture": Used metaphorically to describe a society or group with a dominant, uniform set of cultural practices or ideas.
- Some critics argue that globalization can lead to a cultural monoculture.
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the cultivation of a single crop (on a farm or area or country)