Environmental Issues and Economics in Food Production Flashcards
1
Q
What air pollutants does farming contribute?
A
- CO2 90%
- GHGs 18%
- N20 65%
- CH4 37%
- NH3 64%
2
Q
Describe water pollution
A
- 70% all withdrawn water used in agriculture
- Meat production especially ruminants is the worst
- Leaching of nitrates/ phosphates big issue
3
Q
What is the impact of farming on energy use?
A
- Heavily dependent on fossil fuels
4
Q
What are the key areas that farming causes environmental damage?
A
- Pollution
- Reduced biodiversity
- Resource consumption
- Spread of zoonotic diseases
5
Q
What legislation helps limit damage of farming on the environment?
A
Nitrates Directive
6
Q
What measures can farmers use to reduce water usage?
A
Drip irrigation
7
Q
What are the disadvantages of having fewer, larger farms?
A
- More vulnerable to disease outbreaks
- Local ecosystem struggles to process large amount of waste
- Possible poorer welfare of animals
8
Q
What is the risk of using poultry manure?
A
- Botulism outbreaks in sheep/ cattle
- Feathers contain botulinum spores
9
Q
Which animal disposal systems can cause pollution?
A
- Incineration (air)
- Pyre burning (air, water, soil)
- Burial/ landfill (soil)
10
Q
What are the 3 options for manure?
A
- Spread on your own land
- Process for sale as fertiliser
- Transport offsite for storage
