Changes in demand.

Question 1

4 main changes in demand.

Answer 1

• Importing goods from LEDCs.
• All year demand for seasonal food stuffs.
• Organic food.
• Local/regional sourcing.

Question 2

Importing goods from LEDC’s.

Answer 2

Ghost acres:
•Land used for exports.

Problems:
•Flower crops compete with domestic food crops in developing countries for scarce land and water resources.
•Some land has been cleared to grow cash crops.
•Food production for domestic consumption may decline.
•Poorer farmers may not take safety precautions when handling chemical fertilisers.
•Transporting produce over long distances may contribute to carbon emissions.

Question 3

All-year demand for seasonal food stuffs.

Answer 3

Alternatives to importing from abroad:
•Develop new crops in the UK.
•The Isle of Wight produced its first cherry tomatoes for the UK winter market.
• In winter tomatoes are usually imported from Spain or Israel.
• As the tomatoes produced by Wight Salads are grown near the market they have thinner skins and a better flavour.
•Produced in heated greenhouses.

Question 4

Increasing demand for organic produce.

Answer 4

• Farmers cannot sell produce as organic until they have been certified.
• Weeds may be controlled by hand.
• Labour costs per unit of land are much higher than traditional farming.
• Lower yields are obtained which means the produce is more expensive

Benefits:
•Does not involve the use of harmful chemicals in farming.
•Is better than traditional farming as it can sustain diverse ecosystems.
•Uses less energy and produce less waste.

Problems:
•In 1990 the Cuban government converted the entire country to organic agriculture.
•Defines organic as different to many countries and still uses GM crops.

Question 5

Local and regional sourcing.

Answer 5

• Independent stores.
• Farmer’s markets.
• Direct marketing.
• Local labelling and traceability.

Examples:
•Co-op.
•Booths supermarkets.