ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AFFECTING PRODUCTION

Question 1

What are the main ENVIRONMENT & MORAL ISSUES?

Answer 1

• Sourcing food
• Organic food
• Animal welfare issues
• Fair-trade food
• Food waste

Question 2

Why is SOURCING FOOD becoming increasingly important to consumers?

Answer 2

• They’re concerned about the distance food travels
• Food with large food miles is often NEGATIVELY seen by consumers
• They’re is more promotion of regional foods in supermarkets because of this

Question 3

What is deemed as LOCAL?

Answer 3

• Food sources within 30 mile radius if where its sold

- Some products have pics of the farmers on the front to measure them of its locality

Question 4

What is the RSPCA?

Answer 4

• A non governmental organisation that campaigns on environmental health & animal welfare

Question 5

What is ORGANIC food?

Answer 5

• Has severe restrictions on PESTICIDES & avoids ARTIFICIAL & CHEMICAL FERTILISERS
• Produced without any artificial CHEMICALS or HORMONES
• Must also follow standards of animal welfare
• Its sales are growing but still only a small proportion of people buy organic

Question 6

What about CHEMICAL FERTILISERS?

Answer 6

• Without them many people would starve
• Best combination is of conventional & organic farming to provide best mix of EFFICIENCY & minimal ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE

Question 7

What is LEAF?

Answer 7

= LINKING ENVIRONMENT AND FARMING

• Farming charity
• Membership scheme where farmers can adopt an INTEGRATED FARM MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Question 8

What does an INTEGRATED FARM MANAGEMENT SYSTEM do?

Answer 8

• Ensures food production has reduced impact on environment

- Means producers can then use LEAF mark on products

Question 9

Why are we seeing a growth in ETHICAL CONSUMERISM?

Answer 9

• Celebrity chefs are caring more about animal welfare
• More documentaries about animal welfare
• Vegetarianism is a growing expression of concern for animal welfare issues

Question 10

What are the consequences of this raised AWARENESS for ANIMAL WELFARE issues?

Answer 10

• We’re buying more products made with minimal harm to HUMANS/ ANIMALS/ ENVIRONMENT
• Manufacturers are applying to RSPCA to qualify for their ‘FREEDOM FOOD’ logo

Question 11

What are FAIR-TRADE Products?

Answer 11

= Adresses the INJUSTICES of trade 
Ensure: 
- Fair prices
- Decent working conditions 
- Sustainability for farmers

Question 12

What about FAIR-TRADE in the UK?

Answer 12

• Large variety of FT products in UK
• More awareness for FT in UK than anywhere else
• 20% Roast/ground coffee = FT
• 20% of Bananas = FT

Question 13

What about FOOD WASTE In the UK?

Answer 13

• Waste Resources Action Programmes says UK throws away 6.7million tonnes of edible food a year
• Average of £420 worth of food per household
• FOOD PROCESSING also produces waste
• Inadequate STORAGE/ TRANSPORTATION of food = 40% of food is lost

Question 14

What is wrong with FOOD WASTE?

Answer 14

• Food roots & produces METHANE GAS
• METHANE GAS = v harmful Greenhouse Gas
• Wastage = increased costs for manufacturers & consumers

Question 15

What is COURTAULD COMMITMENT?

Answer 15

= Voluntary agreement between WRAP & major food retailers/ producers in the UK to make more EFFICIENT FOOD PACKAGING & tackle food waste

Question 16

What is LOVE FOOD HATE WASTE?

Answer 16

= Campaign set up to raise awareness & reduce waste