Food

Food is any substance consumed by living organisms, including liquid drinks{{fn|1}}. Food is the main source of energy and of nutrition for animals, and is usually of animal or plant origin.

Food production or acquisition

Food is traditionally obtained through farming, ranching, and fishing, with hunting, foraging and other methods of subsistence locally important for some populations, but minor for others.

Related Topics:
Farming - Ranching - Fishing - Hunting - Foraging - Methods of subsistence

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In the modern era, in developed nations, food supply is increasingly dependent upon agriculture, industrial farming, aquaculture and fish farming techniques which aim to maximise the amount of food produced, whilst minimising the cost. These include a reliance on mechanised tools which have been developed, from the threshing machine, seed drill, through to the tractor and combine, etc. These have been combined with the use of pesticides to promote high crop yields and combat those insects or mammals which reduce yield.

Related Topics:
Developed nations - Agriculture - Industrial farming - Aquaculture - Fish farming - Cost - Threshing machine - Seed drill - Tractor - Combine - Pesticide - Crop - Yield - Insect

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More recently, there has been a growing trend towards more Sustainable agricultural practices. This approach - which is partly fuelled by consumer demand - encourages biodiversity, local self-reliance and Organic farming methods.

Related Topics:
Sustainable agricultural - Consumer - Demand - Biodiversity - Organic farming

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Major influences on food production are international policy, e.g. the World Trade Organization and Common Agricultural Policy, national government policy or law and war.

Related Topics:
World Trade Organization - Common Agricultural Policy - Law - War

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Food for livestock is fodder and traditionally comprises hay or grain.

Related Topics:
Livestock - Fodder - Hay - Grain

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:See also: mariculture, horticulture, agribusiness, gardening.

Related Topics:
Mariculture - Horticulture - Agribusiness - Gardening

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From plants

• Seeds
• Cereals from grasses, including barley, maize, oats, rice, rye, and wheat
• Cereals from non-grasses, including buckwheat, amaranth, and quinoa
• Legumes, including beans, peas, and lentils
• Nuts, including coconuts, almonds, and pine nuts
• Oilseeds, including sesame, sunflower, and hemp
• Vegetables (see also list of vegetables)
• Root vegetables, including potatoes, cassava, and turnips
• Leaf vegetables, including amaranth, spinach, and kale
• Sea vegetables, including dulse, kombu, and dabberlocks
• Stem vegetables, including bamboo shoots, nopales, and asparagus
• inflorescence vegetables, including globe artichokes, broccoli, and daylilies
• Fruit vegetables, including pumpkin, okra, and eggplant
• Fruits (see also list of fruits)
• Herbs and spices (see also list of herbs and spices)

From animals

• Dairy products, including milk
• Eggs, including roe and caviar
• Insects, including honey
• Meat, including beef, frogs' legs, gaegogi, goat, horse, kangaroo, lamb, mutton, pork, veal, rodents, human (i.e. cannibalism)
• Offal, including blood
• Poultry, including chicken, turkey, duck, goose, pigeon or dove, ostrich, emu, guinea fowl, pheasant, quail
• Seafood, including finfish such as salmon and tilapia, and shellfish such as mollusks and crustaceans
• Snails
• Game, this includes all animals hunted for food.

From neither animals or plants

• Salt
• Mushrooms, which are a type of fungi
• Seaweed, which is a protist
• Water, including mineral water and spring (water)