Toward a worlwide economy

The revolution in transportation, the growth of purchasing power for European consumers, colonizations by Europeans (def.), European migrations (def.), and establishment of free trade (def.), jointly led to an international worldwide economy for foods. The consequence was a spectacular increase in production for young countries (def.) (USA, Canada, Australia,...), the growth of plantation agriculture (def.), and then to competition between «young countries» and European countries, as well as competition between the products of tropical and European climates.

Food consumption became more diversified, especially as a result of the increasing use of tropical products (coffee, cocoa, tea, tropical oils, and fruits). After the food revolution in Neolithic times (def.) and again following the discovery of America, Europe underwent a third great food revolution.

Inedible tropical agricultural products (textiles, rubber,...) also saw major development .

But European agriculture had to face two major economic crises, in 1880 and 1930.

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