Food

Question 1

Describe the food consumption pattern for DCs and LDCs in terms of the consumption/kg/year.

Answer 1

DCs: High

LDCs: Low

Question 2

Describe the food consumption pattern for DCs and LDCs in terms of starchy staples as percentage of all calories.

Answer 2

DCs: Low

LDCs: High

Question 3

Describe the food consumption pattern for DCs and LDCs in terms of total daily calorie intake.

Answer 3

DCs: High

LDCs: Low

Question 4

Describe the changing food preferences in DCs and LDCs.

Answer 4

DCs: Increase organic food, fruits and vegetables.

LDCs: Increase meat and fast food.

Question 5

Explain how disposable income has led to the increase in global food consumption.

Answer 5

Increased income globally as economies improve -> More money to buy food -> Increase affordability -> Increase food consumption.

Question 6

Explain how difference in disposable income has led to difference in food consumption patterns between DCs and LDCs.

Answer 6

DCs generally have a higher income -> able to afford more food -> higher consumption.

DCs have a higher income -> able to afford more expensive food such as meat and greater variety of food-> less need to rely on starchy staples -> percentage of starchy staples is low.

Opposite for LDCs.

Question 7

Explain how pricing leads to difference in food consumption patterns between DCs and LDCs.

Answer 7

DCs have a better economy and higher income -> can afford a variety of food -> less affected by price fluctuations -> consumption patterns do not vary as much.

Opposite for LDCs.

Question 8

Explain how food preferences lead to difference in food consumption patterns between DCs and LDCs.

Answer 8

Preference of organic food in DCs as there is greater awareness on the need to eat healthily.

Increased consumption of fast food in LDCs as income has increased in LDCs, leading to increased preference to fast food which previously was unaffordable to them.

Question 9

Explain how difference in population growth has led to difference in food consumption patterns between DCs and LDCs.

Answer 9

LDCs have high population growth -> increase in demand for food -> inadequate supply to meet high demands -> less food for each person -> lower overall consumption.

Opp for DCs.

Question 10

Explain how stability of food leads to difference in food consumption patterns between DCs and LDCs.

Answer 10

DCs generally have higher income -> can afford price fluctuations and to import food from various sources -> greater stability of food -> higher consumption.

Opp for LDCs.

Question 11

Explain how food safety affects the consumption pattern in DCs and LDCs.

Answer 11

DCs generally have laws and regulations to ensure food is safe to eat -> people have safe and adequate food to eat -> higher consumption.

Question 12

Discuss the impacts of inadequate food consumption on individuals.

Answer 12

1. Malnutrition
2. Starvation
3. Lower productivity
4. Scavenging

Question 13

Discuss the impacts of inadequate food consumption on countries.

Answer 13

1. Food and economic aid
2. Diversion of financial resources
3. Social unrest

Question 14

Discuss the impacts of excess food consumption on individuals.

Answer 14

1. Obesity and related illness
2. Lower productivity

Question 15

Discuss the impacts of excess food consumption on countries.

Answer 15

1. Diversion of financial resources
2. Food wastage
3. Dieting

Question 16

Discuss how relief affects the intensity of food production.

Answer 16

Generally more difficult to grow and thus less food production. Terracing might be necessary.

High altitudes allow crops which require cooler temperatures to grow.

On steep slopes, the top soil may be washed away more easily and thus the soil may be less fertile, affecting the productivity of the area.

Question 17

Discuss how soils and drainage affects the intensity of food production.

Answer 17

Floodplains with fertile soils: More food crops as soil has more nutrients to support plant growth.

Soils with different ability to retain or drain off water: Type of crop produced and overall yield depends on the suitability of the soil.

Question 18

Discuss how climate affects the intensity of food production.

Answer 18

High rainfall, High temperature: More food crops; Crops that need warmer climates.

Cooler temperatures: Not as conducive for food production; Good for crops that need cooler climates.

Question 19

Discuss how purpose of farming affects the intensity of food production.

Answer 19

Subsistence farming: Lower food production as only need to produce for own and family’s consumption.

Commercial farming: Large scale farming with high food production for sale to earn revenue.

Question 20

Discuss how demand and capital affects the intensity of food production.

Answer 20

Increased demand leads to prices going up. Farmers thus have increased motivation to increase pdt, and pdt increases.

Higher capital allows for greater investment to increase food production.

Question 21

Discuss how agri-business affects the intensity of food production.

Answer 21

Agribusinesses usually control all aspects of the food production, from farm to sales, and need to produce a lot to earn revenue. Thus, food production is usually very high.

Question 22

Discuss how government policies affect the intensity of food production.

Answer 22

Positive policies increase food production such as those that educate farmers on farming technology or increased investment in farming.

Policies that limit agriculture such as land area will negatively affect food production.

Question 23

Discuss how ASEAN has affected the intensity of food production.

Answer 23

Increase stability of food through agreements between ASEAN countries. ASEAN countries also have agreements to share technological knowledge to help increase production.

Question 24

Discuss how the Green Revolution through the use of HYVs, irrigation, mechanisation, fertilisers and pesticides.

Answer 24

Allow more food crops to be grown within a shorter period of time, increasing food production.

Food is more pest resistant, increasing food supply

Allow food to be grown in places that previously was not possible to, increasing food production.

Less manual labour is needed, increased intensification.

Increase food production as soil is more fertile.

Reduced crop loss from pests, resulting in increased yield.

Question 25

Discuss the effects of intensification on water quality.

Answer 25

1. Contamination of groundwater due to chemicals from pesticides and fertilisers.
2. Water pollution due to discharge from chemical use.
3. Eutrophication as chemicals from fertilisers encourage growth of algae.

Question 26

Discuss the effects of intensification on soil quality.

Answer 26

1. Waterlogging when too much water is used during irrigation.
2. Salinisation from salts left behind during irrigation.

Question 27

Explain how extreme weather leads to food shortage.

Answer 27

Extreme weather -> farms are destroyed -> supply limited -> supply cannot meet demand -> food shortage.

Extreme weather -> infrastructure destroyed -> food cannot reach people -> food shortage.

Question 28

Explain how climate change has led to food shortage.

Answer 28

Climate change -> extreme weather events, flooding -> farms destroyed; infrastructure destroyed -> limited supply; food cannot reach the people -> food shortage.

Question 29

Explain how pests lead to food shortage.

Answer 29

Pests destroy crops -> supply drops -> supply cannot meet demand -> food shortage.

Question 30

Explain how civil strife lead to food shortage.

Answer 30

Civil strife -> farms and infrastructure destroyed -> limited supply; food cannot reach the people -> food shortage.

Question 31

Explain how poor governance leads to food shortage.

Answer 31

Poor governance -> lack of planning by the government -> poor food and agricultural policies -> inadequate food for the people.

Question 32

Explain how rising demand for meat and dairy products has led to food shortage.

Answer 32

Increased demand for meat and dairy products, esp from China and India due to better economies -> more crops grown to feed cattle -> less crops for consumption -> supply cannot meet demand -> food shortage.

Question 33

Explain how soaring cost of fertilisers and transport has led to food shortage.

Answer 33

Increased cost -> farmers cannot afford -> reduced food production -> supply cannot meet demand -> food shortage.

Increased cost -> farmers transfer cost to consumers -> consumers who cannot afford will experience food shortage.

Question 34

Explain how conversion of farmland to industries lead to food shortage.

Answer 34

Conversion of farmland to industries -> less land for farming -> drop in supply of food -> supply cannot meet demand -> food shortage.

Question 35

Explain how lack of accessibility leads to food shortage.

Answer 35

Poor infrastructure or natural barriers such as mountains affect accessibility -> food cannot reach the people -> food shortage.

Question 36

Explain how inadequate logistics of food distribution leads to food shortage.

Answer 36

Inadequate logistics -> food is unable to reach people -> people have no access to food -> food shortage.

Question 37

Explain how rapid population growth has led to food shortage.

Answer 37

Increased population -> increased demand -> supply cannot catch up with demand -> food shortage.

Question 38

Evaluate the effectiveness of technology to improve storage in helping to overcome food shortage.

Answer 38

Success: Allow food to be transported further without getting spoilt -> increase accessibility to food -> reduce food shortage.

Limitation: Expensive. LDCs may not be able to afford.

Question 39

Evaluate the effectiveness of farming technology such as the Green Revolution in helping to overcome food shortage.

Answer 39

Success: Increase supply of food; increase affordability as prices drop with increase supply -> reduce food shortage.

Limitations: Harmful effects on the environment, water and soil quality; Not all farmers can afford the increase cost due to technology, and thus might lose out.

Question 40

Evaluate the effectiveness of biotechnology in the form of genetically modified food in helping to overcome food shortage.

Answer 40

Success: Increase food supply.

Limitation: Large amount of investment needed, not possible for LDCs; Potential health risk concerns affect demand and thus production; Limited to a few crops.

Question 41

Evaluate the effectiveness of multiple cropping and crop rotation in helping to overcome food shortage.

Answer 41

Success: Increase food supply.

Limitation: Difficulty to use machines as different crops need different machines, affecting productivity.

Question 42

Evaluate the effectiveness of water and soil conservation in helping to overcome food shortage.

Answer 42

Success: Increase food supply.

Limitation: Lack of knowledge by farmers, reducing effectiveness.

Question 43

Evaluate the effectiveness of lease of farmland to other countries in helping to overcome food shortage.

Answer 43

Success: Increase food supply and stability for country leasing the farmland -> reducing food shortage.

Limitation: Less crops and land for farmers within the country as the crops are brought back to the country that leased the land.

Question 44

Evaluate the effectiveness of support to local farmers in helping to overcome food shortage.

Answer 44

Success: Increase stability and safety of food produced -> reduce food shortage.

Limitation: Limited government funding available. Conflicting interests within the country may force the government to focus on other aspects of the economy instead.

Question 45

Evaluate the effectiveness of population control in helping to overcome food shortage.

Answer 45

Success: Reduce demand -> reduced food shortage.

Limitation: Difficult to implement esp in rural areas.

Question 46

Evaluate the effectiveness of food programmes and aid assistance by UNWFP in helping to overcome food shortage.

Answer 46

Success: Increased food production, stability and safety.

Limitation: Extent of assistance depends on funds received. May lead to a culture of dependency.

Question 47

Evaluate the effectiveness of agricultural policies such as high tech farming in Singapore in helping to overcome food shortage.

Answer 47

Success: Increased food production, stability and safety.

Limitation: High cost of high tech farming and lack of land in Singapore limit the production. Government’s ability to implement the policies will limit the effectiveness. Cash crops may be grown instead of food crops, limiting food supply.