Exam essay plan 1

Question 1

Wheeler and Braun (2013)

Answer 1

Argue that some areas may be more productive

Question 2

Edmonson et al

Answer 2

Leicester allotments study: feed 1.2-1.5% of the population fruit and veg (potentially 2%)

Question 3

Tilman and Clark (2014)

Answer 3

Global food production and agriculture releases more than 25% of all greenhouse gases

Question 4

Dumitru et al (1999)

Answer 4

Upto 50% increase dry weight in radish crops following a 0-20t/ha basalt rock dust application.

Question 5

Schumacher (1973)

Answer 5

We need to develop agricultural production methods which are biologically sound, build up on soil fertility and produce health, beauty and permanence.

Question 6

Raemakers et al (2010)

Answer 6

The use of genetically enhanced plants with increased P acquisition efficiency may offer a sustainable solution to increase crop yields without increasing the input of a finite resource.

Question 7

Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2011)

Answer 7

Humans are at risk of hunger, extreme poverty and avoidable diseases if sustainable changes to agriculture are not made.

Question 8

Battisti and Naylor (2009)

Answer 8

Estimated 200-400 million people more at risk of hunger by 2080 due to climate change

Question 9

Marc-Oliver (2018)

Answer 9

Intercropping leads to 33% increase in gross income.

Question 10

Liu et al (2018)

Answer 10

found that by adjusting distances between rows, the optimal gap width for growing soybeans is 1.6-1.8m, and the best maize row distance is 0.4m. Land equivalent ratio of 1.42 = 140%.

Question 11

Kummu at al (2012)

Answer 11

We already produce enough food to feed double the population, the main problem is unequal access of all people to this food. (An economic, political, ethical and justice issue since we do have the tech to get food to everyone).

Question 12

Elser and Bennet (2011)

Answer 12

Suggest we have a 300 year supply left of P at current rates of use.

Question 13

Lal et al (2003)

Answer 13

Terrestrial C sequestration is a win win. High C leads to high crop yields. An increase of 1 t/ha/yr may enhance food production in developing countries by 30-50 million tonnes per year.

Question 14

FAO (2006)

Answer 14

About 1/3 of all global cereal crop production is fed to animals

Question 15

Mahatma Gandi

Answer 15

Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s need, but not every man’s greed.

Question 16

Pimental et al (2004)

Answer 16

1ha of corn requires 5 million litres of water.

Question 17

UNSESCO (2011)

Answer 17

More than 70% if all available fresh water is used in agriculture

Question 18

Godfray et al (2010)

Answer 18

Demand for food will increase by 70-100% by 2050 ( 9.1 billion population)

Question 19

FAO (2009)

Answer 19

1 in 7 people do not have access to sufficient protein and energy from their diet.