Food as a Global Issue

Question 1

Modern food security challenges

Answer 1

1. People’s diets may not contain sufficient nutrients
2. Increased global wealth leads to different food demands
3. Food producers need to reduce climate impact

Question 2

Threefold challenge

Answer 2

1. Math changing demand for food
2. Do so in environmentally + socially sustainable way
3. Ensure poorest population not hungry

Question 3

Past solution to food shortage

Answer 3

Bring new land into agriculture

Question 4

Why bringing more land into agriculture won’t solve modern food security

Answer 4

• Increased competition over land
• Ecosystem protection
• Desertification
• Salination

Question 5

Yield gap

Answer 5

Difference between actual productivity and best possible available with current technology

Question 6

Closing the yield gap

Answer 6

Site-specific improvements to harvest, global food markets to encourage producers to grow the most viable product

Question 7

Increasing production limits

Answer 7

Using genetically modification to produce stronger crops and livestock

Question 8

Reducing waste

Answer 8

• Developing world: develop infrastructure for cold storage/transportation to reduce spoilage
• Developed world: reduce waste at retail/home level

Question 9

Changing diets

Answer 9

Meat has low efficiency compared to plants - vegetarian diets are more sustainable

Question 10

Expanding aquaculture

Answer 10

Technical improvements in hatchery systems, delivery systems, etc.

Question 11

Sustainable Intensification

Answer 11

Increasing production on existing farmland without causing negative environmental impacts

Question 12

Soil erosion

Answer 12

When the top layer of soil is removed by wind, water or farming

Question 13

Green Revolution

Answer 13

Began in 1940’s, a new set of agricultural innovations allowing for better crop yields

Question 14

Eutrophication

Answer 14

Increase of chemicals in bodies of water, leads to increased algae, less oxygen, bad for fish