CHAP 9 : SUSTAINABILITY AND DISTRIBUTION (SUSTAINABILITY PORTION)

Question 1

What strategies do Singapore adopt to ensure food security? [3]

Answer 1

1. Diversify import sources to reduce risk of relying on one single source.
2. Increasing local food production (with the aim to achieve 30% of its nutritional needs by 2030).
3. Support local companies to expand and grow overseas so that their produce can be exported back to SG.

Question 2

How does Singapore increase its local food production?

Answer 2

1. $60 mil funding to Argi-Food Cluster Transformation Fund to support farms to expand their production and capacities
2. $23 mil funded for R&D in sustainable urban food production
3. Argicultural space optimised in certain areas – 390 ha of land in Lim Chu Kang for high tech argi food zone;; Deeper Southern waters for sustainable fish farming ;; Argi-food innovation park at Sungei Kadut Eco-District for argi-food tech ecosystem
4. Alternative farming spaces made available, like multi-storey car park rooftop, vertical farming etc

Question 3

What is the disadvantage and advantage of locl produce?

Answer 3

• Disadvantage : local produce will have a higher price due to higher cost of production
• Advantage : local produce can get from farm to fork in 4h, making products fresher an of higher quality– “From farm to fork” : used to refer to the various processes in the food chain from agricultural production to consumption.

Question 4

What policy does Singapore have to ensure food security?

Answer 4

National stockpiling policy for rice

– Importers of a stockpile grade rice, such as white rice and Masmati rice is mandated to participate in the rice stockpile scheme

Question 5

MRQ
What are the main key strategies to improve food security of Singapore?

1. Encourage local companies to purchase or lease land overseas for farming
2. Encourage organic farming
3. Import essential foods from different countries
4. Develop tecchnology to improve farming in urban and/or limited spaces
5. Encourage all residents to farm their own food.
6. Reserve space in the Singapore master plan for modern industrial farming

Answer 5

1,3,4

Question 6

Supporting local produce will help to improve food security. True or False?

Answer 6

True

Question 7

What is sustainability about ?

Answer 7

It is about continuing to be able to get enough food and nutrition for all to maintain health and well-being without causing further harm to the environment

– “Meeting the needs of the present without comprimising the ability of future generations to meet their needs”

Question 8

What is the biggest problem of the industrial argiculture method?

Answer 8

Soil erosion by tilling (dig) and plowing [to dig into or break up (dirt, soil, land, etc.) with a plow] of land, thus removing the most fertile topsoil which provides nutrients to crops.

Instead, farmers apply synthetic fertilizers

Question 9

What is eutrophication?

Answer 9

It is a process in which a body of water becomes ricch in minerals and nutrients leading to algae bloom and eventually the death of plants and aquatic animals.

Question 10

What are some other problems with the current argiculture system, other than eutrophication, soil erosion, GHG emissions and potentially harmful contaminants? [2]

Answer 10

1. Depletion of fresh water
2. Pesticides affecting humans, esp farmers who are exposed to it, and affecting non-target organisms

Question 11

What are problems related to industrial food animal production?

Answer 11

1. Enormous amounts of waste generated, which contains various microorganism, drugs, hormones that can be potentially harmful contaminants.
2. Does of antibiotis applied to animal feed to result in faster weight gain creates an environment for antibiotic resistant microorganisms to multiply and spread
3. Not only for this, but ALL activities in the food system lead to greenhouse gas emissions, but livestock production is the largest contributor out of all activities in the food system.

Question 12

Activities related to food system contribute to about __ % of greenhouse gas emissions.

Answer 12

20

Question 13

List all the actors involved in bringing fod from farm to fork, starting from the primary producers, farms. [6]

Answer 13

Farm –> Post harvest –> Processing –> Distribution –> Retail –> Consumer

Question 14

How is waste produced during food manufacture?

Answer 14

During food preparation, parts of the food is thrown and wasted : e.g. many parts of the fruits is thrown out, pulp is not used in making of soy and coconut milk etc

Question 15

How cn manufacturers calculate the environmental impact of their operations?

Answer 15

Through the use of a Field to Market Fieldprint calculator (mentioned in the tb)

Question 16

Industrial farming allows enough food to be produced for everyone on the planet. True or False?

Answer 16

True.

Industrial farming has significantly increased global foodproduction, allowing for enough food to be produced to feed the entire population on the planet but their are barriers from preventing people from accessing sufficient nutrition (unequal distribution, economic/political barriers)

Question 17

MRQ

Which of the following are problems associated to indutrial farming?

1. Production of GMO
2. Antibiotic resistance in microorganisms
3. Excessive waste from farm animals
4. Production of green house hases
5. well paid workers due to high profit of indutrial farm.
6. Overuse of organic fertilizers
7. Overuse of synthetic feritilizers
8. Production of synthetic foods
9. Harm to organisms other than pests
10. Overuse of pesticides
11. Lack of whole foods
12. Climate change

Answer 17

2,3,4,7,9,10,12

Question 18

What is distribution? What is its goal?

Answer 18

It involves everything that happens to a product from the time it is produced until it reaches the consumer.

• The goal of distribution is to deliver a product to the consumer in reasonable time in acceptable quality and reducing waste from manufacturing plant to consumer.

Question 19

What is the systems approach that producers use for distribution?

Answer 19

It is looking at how individual operaations interact within the overall context of the system rather than focusing on specific steps.

• A systems approach in food distribution involves taking a comprehensive view of the entire food distribution process, from production to consumption, in order to optimize efficiency, sustainability, and quality. It involves analyzing all the interconnected elements of the food system, such as supply chain management, transportation logistics, inventory control, and packaging, and designing solutions that take into account the interactions between these elements.
• involves considering not only the economic and operational aspects of the system, but also the social and environmental impacts of food distribution. This approach recognizes that the food system is a complex and interconnected network of actors, resources, and processes, and that changes in one area can have ripple effects throughout the system.

Question 20

What techniques does inventory management involve?

Answer 20

It involves techniques to properly rotate stock. FIFO is the most common means to ensure products dont lose their shelf life before they are sold.