6 The Challenge Of Resource Management

Question 1

What is Agribusiness?

Answer 1

Agribusiness is large-scale, industrial farming where processes from the production of seeds and fertilisers to the processing and packaging of food are controlled by large firms

Question 2

What is a Water Surplus?

Answer 2

Water Surplus means that there is a greater supply than demand of water

Question 3

What is the reason for a Water Surplus in the UK?

Answer 3

Areas have a surplus of water due to there being high levels of rainfall in these areas

Question 4

What is a Water Deficit?

Answer 4

A Water Deficit is when there is a greater demand for water compared to the supply

Question 5

WHat is the reason for a Water Deficit in the UK?

Answer 5

There are water deficits in the UK due to the high population densities in these areas

Question 6

In which areas in the UK is there a water deficit?

Answer 6

South-East and the Midlands

Question 7

What are the problems with water quality in the UK?

Answer 7

• Nitrates and phosphates from fertilisers are being washed into water sources
• Pollutants from vehicles are being washed into water sources
• Chemical and oil spills are polluting local water supplies

Question 8

What are the strategies being used to manage water quality?

Answer 8

Improvement of Drainage systems

Regulations on the use of fertilisers and pesticides

Question 9

How can you deal with the supply and demand problem of water?

Answer 9

To deal with the supply and demand problem, you can transfer water from areas in surplus to the areas in defifict

Question 10

What are the problems of transferring water?

Answer 10

• River wildlife can be affected
• Dams and aqueducts are expensive to build
• Political Issues

Question 11

In 2014, what percentage of the UK’s energy came from renewable sources?

Answer 11

19% came from renewable sources

Question 12

What are the potential negative impacts of fracking on the environment?

Answer 12

Pollute groundwater

Mini Earthquakes

Question 13

Why do more developed areas consume more food?

Answer 13

Developed areas consume more food as they can afford to import more goods and citizens can afford to buy lots of food

Question 14

Why do less developed areas eat less food on average per person?

Answer 14

Wages in these developing areas are lower so they can’t afford as much food

Question 15

What are the reasons for growing demand in food?

Answer 15

• Increasing global population size

- Economic development

Question 16

What is a food surplus?

Answer 16

A food surplus is when a country produces more food than it consumes

Question 17

What is a food deficit?

Answer 17

A food deficit is when a country consumes more food than it produces

Question 18

What is food insecurity?

Answer 18

Food insecurity is when people can’t eat enough nutritious food to stay healthy
This can happen either because food production is too low or because food supplies can’t be accessed

Question 19

What are the reasons that affect the production and accessibility of food?

Answer 19

Conflict
Water Stress
Climate
Poverty
Technology
Pests and diseases

Question 20

What are the impacts of food insecurity?

Answer 20

• Rising Food Prices
• Famine
• Soil Erosion
• Social Unrest
• Undernutrition

Question 21

What are some methods to increase food supplies?

Answer 21

• Usage Of Biotechnology
• Aeroponics and Hydroponics
• Irrigation

Question 22

What is Biotechnology?

Answer 22

Biotechnology involves genetically engineering crops to increase their productivity
Genetically modified (GM) crops can give higher yields using fewer resources and smaller areas
However, there are concerns that GM crops will reduce biodiversity and pass on their modified genes to wild plants

Question 23

What is Aeroponics?

Answer 23

plants are hung and their roots are sprayed with a fine mist of water. The roots absorb nutrients in the water before it drips off and is reused

Question 24

What is Hydroponics?

Answer 24

In hydroponics, plants are placed in a nutrient solution and are supported by materials like gravel or clay balls without the usage of soil

Question 25

What are the advantages and disadvantages of Aeroponics and Hydroponics?

Answer 25

Advantage: Less water is needed and risk of disease and pests is lower
Disadvantage: These methods are very expensive

Question 26

What is Irrigation?

Answer 26

Irrigation involves artificially watering land to help crops grow
This can increase the productivity of dry areas, increase the number of harvests or increase crop yields

Question 27

What is Thanet Earth?

Answer 27

Thanet Earth is a large agricultural development that aims for sustainable food production
It is located in Kent, south-east England

Question 28

What are the disadvantages of Thanet Earth?

Answer 28

• The development has been constructed on pre-existing farmland and has caused the loss of natural habitats and disruption of ecosystems
• Local communities only see a small amount of the profit
• The greenhouses are a source of light and visual pollution because they are located on high land
• Powering the greenhouses requires lots of energy

Question 29

What are the Advantages of Thanet Earth?

Answer 29

• The development has created over 500 jobs
• Improves the UK’s food security because the vegetables can be grown for most of the year, and so the UK’s dependence on imports is lowered
• Pest numbers are controlled using natural predators, and so artificial pesticides are not used heavily
• The automated nature of the hydroponic system means that each plant receives the perfect amount of nutrients; This means that fertiliser use can be decreased