What term describes the practice of growing food for personal consumption?

The practice of growing food for personal consumption is best described as subsistence farming. This type of agriculture focuses on producing enough food to meet the needs of the farmer and their family, rather than for sale or profit. Subsistence farmers typically grow a variety of crops and may also keep livestock, ensuring they are self-sufficient in terms of food.

This approach to farming is often associated with small-scale operations and can be found in many rural and developing regions. The emphasis is on sustaining the household's needs without significant surplus for commercial exchange. In contrast, other agricultural practices like commercial agriculture primarily aim for large-scale production and profit, while sustainable farming focuses on maintaining ecological balance and conserving resources, which may involve practices that go beyond mere self-consumption.