Controlling Food Production and Supply Flashcards
Why do food production and supply have to be controlled?
To prevent overproduction but ensure food availability, create fair living standards for farmers and to preserve the natural environment.
What controls food production and supply in Europe?
The Common Agricultural Policy.
What are subsidies?
Payments made directly to farmers so that they will grow specific products to maintain food security.
what are the negative aspects of subsidies?
The cost of paying farmers, can create overproduction.
What are quotas?
Quotas limit the production of some foods to prevent overproduction.
What are import quotas?
Quotas dictating the amount of produce that can be imported by one country.
What are the negative effects of import quotas?
They prevent consumers accessing cheap imports and influence international production and trade.
What are ‘milk lakes’and ‘butter mountains’?
Terms coined after overproduction of milk in the 1980s, leading to the introduction of milk quotas
Define intervention?
Intervention is when the EU buys produce from farmers.
Why does the EU carry out intervention?
As it improves food security by ensuring all farmers sell their produce even when demand is low.
What happens to intervention stock?
It is either stored by the EU for resale at a later date, exported or disposed of.
Name the three negative impacts of intervention.
The cost of transport, storage and disposal.
It can trigger over production.
It can lead to export dumping and market disruption
What is pricing?
A minimum price set by the EU for a certain product. It controls production by encouraging farmers to start or start producing a specific product.
Name the negative impacts of pricing.
Cost of paying farmers and thus an increased price for consumers.
What are tariffs?
Taxes that are applied to imported good
What is the main benefit of tariffs?
They prevent imports undercutting domestic produce
What are the negative side effects of tariffs?
They prevent consumers buying cheap goods and can affect international production
What is a diversification schemes aim?
To encourage farmers to develop new enterprises, reducing dependence on subsidies.
What is set-aside?
Set-aside involves paying farmers to leave some land uncultivated for a certain amount of time.
What is the environmental stewardship process?
The process of paying farmers who use conservation methods when farming
What are the three levels of environmental stewardship schemes?
- Entry Level Stewardship
- Organic Entry Level Stewardship
- Higher Level Stewardship
How long is an Entry Level Stewardship agreement?
5 years
Who can participate in Entry Level Stewardship?
All farmers and landowners who desire to tackle countrywide environmental problems
How many Entry Level Stewardship agreements have been made?
25,000, covering 3.5 million hectares!
Name the four management options available for Entry Level Stewardship
Arable Land e.g. beetle banks
Boundary features e.g. hedgerow management
Buffer strips e.g. 2, 4 or 6m buffer strips on cultivated land
A range of crop types e.g. under sown cereals
What are the benefits of Organic entry level stewardship?
Farmers receive a double payment, and not the whole farm has to be organic
How does higher level stewardship differ from entry level stewardship?
HLS requires all of ELS, but focuses mainly on resource protection, historic conservation, flood protection and genetic conservation.
