The term "plantation economy" refers to an economic system that is characterized by the large-scale cultivation of a single crop on a large piece of land. This system was typically used in colonial and post-colonial times, and was associated with large-scale agricultural production for export purposes. Synonyms for the term "plantation economy" include "monoculture economy," "single-crop economy," "export-oriented economy," and "agricultural export economy." Each of these terms describes the same economic system, which relies on the cultivation of a single crop for export, often at the expense of local food production and environmental sustainability.