Mining
Mining is the extraction and processing of valuable materials from the earth such as minerals, metals, gemstones, rock, salt and clay.
Forestry
Forestry is the practice of managing, harvesting and conserving forests and woodlands.
Agriculture
Growing crops or raising animals for food and raw materials. An estimated 1 billion people are employed in agriculture.
Fishing
Catching aquatic animals such as fish, molluscs, cephalopods, crustaceans and echinoderms. The term fishing is not used for the capture of aquatic mammals or the raising of fish in a fish farm. Fishing and aquaculture employs up to 500 million people directly and indirectly on a global basis.
Summary
Primary industries are the root source of the materials and energy that underpin all economic activity and human sustenance. On a global basis, a large number of people work in these industries. As they are involved with extracting resources from natural ecosystems, these industries also have a massive environmental footprint.
| Overview: Primary Industry | ||
Type | ||
Definition | The sector of the economy that extracts and processes natural resources. | |
Related Concepts | ||
