Herein, when did humans first start farming?
12,000 years ago
Likewise, how long have humans been on the earth? about 200,000 years
Thereof, when did mass food production begin?
Mass scale food processing (producing foods in large amounts) was introduced during the industrial revolution in the 18th and 19th century, starting with the advent of canned and pasteurised foods.
Why did humans start farming?
One is that in times of abundance humans had the leisure to start experimenting in the domestication of plants. The other theory suggests that in lean times – thanks to population growth, over-exploitation of resources, a changing climate, et cetera – domestication was a way to supplement diets.