3.1 Food Supply, Plant Growth and Productivity Flashcards
Food security
the ability of human populations to access food of sufficient quality and quantity
What two factors have led to a demand for increased food production?
- increase in human population
- concern for food security
food production must be… + what this means
sustainable - it cannot degrade the natural resources on which agriculture depends
agricultural production depends on (2)
- factors that control photosynthesis
- plant growth
the area available to grow crops is…
limited
increased food production will depend on factors that control plant growth (3)
- breeding of higher yielding cultivars
- use of fertiliser
- protecting crops from pests, diseases and competition
all food production is dependent ultimately on which process?
photosynthesis
examples of plant crops (4)
- cereals
- potatoes
- roots
- legumes
breeders seek to develop crops with these qualities (4)
- higher nutritional values
- resistance to pests and diseases
- physical characteristics suited to rearing and harvesting
- can thrive in particular environmental conditions
livestock produces … food per unit area than crops
less
why do livestock produce less food per unit area than crops?
the loss of energy between trophic levels
livestock production is often possible in habitats which are…
unsuitable for growing crops