food definitions Flashcards
define food security
exists when all people, at all times have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary need and food preferences for an active and healthy life
define the global hunger index
a tool comprehensively measure and track hunger at a global, regional and national levels reflecting multiple dimensions of hunger over time
intended to raise awareness and understanding of geographical differences in hunger and how these change over time
define globalisation
the growing integration and interdependence of people’s lives in a complex process with economic social political and environmental
define the global food system
encompasses all the activities that are involved in the production, processing, distribution and consumption of food throughout the world.
define MDG
Millenial Development Goals
define extensive farming
large scale commercial
inputs of labour and capital are small
define intensive farming
small scale with high labour and capital inputs
define arable farming
growing food crops
define pastoral farming
raising livestock
define subsistence farming
food grown just for farmer or local communities, not for profit
define commercial farming
large scale
high capital
large profit
define shifting cultivation
isolated areas with low population
large areas with low demand
rotate fields
define sedentary
farmers remain in one place
cultivate same land every year
define leaching
soluble materials draining away in soil
define salinisation
the accumulation of salts in soils
define aspect
the direction a slope faces
define microclimate
local climates whose main characteristics are determined by topography and land use
define humus
organic material when plants and animals decompose
define evapotranspiration
combined loss of water at the surface through evaporation and transpiration by plants
define fluorosis
contamination of water by fluoride
define nitrogen fixing
to supply plants with the vital nutrient that they cannot obtain from the air themselves
define microclimate
local climates whose main characteristics are determined by topography and land use
define humus
dark, organic material that forms in soil when plant and animal matter decays
define irrigation
the practice of applying controlled amounts of water to land to help grow crops, landscape plants, and lawns
define mulching
a layer of material applied to the surface of soil
define xerophytes
a plant with adaptations that enable it to survive in an environement with little water
define tundra
treeless region in the sub-artic and in high mountains which has a short growing season and severe winter temperatures
define indigenous
something that originates naturally from a particular location
define eutrophication
the process whereby nutrient enrichment in water leads to a fall in oxygen levels and the subsequent death of species which are nutrient reliant
define aquifer
a water bearing band of porous or permeable rock
define globesity
the widespread increase in excess average weight due to poor diet and lack of excersise
define geopolitics
ways in which geographical factors were central were central in shaping international politics
define desertification
the reduction of in agricultural capacity due to overexploitation of resources and natural processes such as drought
in extreme cases this results in desert like conditions
define global hunger index
system to comprehensively measure and track hunger at the global, regional, and country levels
define global food security index
annual assessment measuring food security through affordability, availability, quality and safety
define agro-systems
an ecosystem that is managed to produce food
define carrying capacity
the maximum number of a species that can be supported in a given area in a sustainable way
define a global value chain
formed when the different stages of production are located across different countries
companies attempt to optimise their different locations
define foreign direct investment
inward investment by a foreign company in a country
define price shocks
an unexpected and unpredictable change in prices
can be positive or negative
define genetic modified crops
genetic engineering applied to food crops to increase production, quality, and resistance to disease or drought
define monoculture
the cultivation of a single crop
define land grabbing
a process whereby rich countries acquire land in poorer countries
define virtual water
the volume of freshwater needed to make a product measured at the place where the manufactured
define groundwater
water stored underground in permeable and porous rocks called aquifers
define agribusiness
a large scale farming practice run on business lines
define a pinch point
a point where congestion is likely to occur
define just in time
a system companies use to increase efficiency and decrease storage costs and waste
products are delivered immediately just as they are required
define land degradation
the deterioration of land suitability for agriculture by soil erosion, desertification or salinisation
define permafrost
permanently frozen soil
define net primary productivity
the rate at which plants accumulate energy in the form of organic matter taking into account the energy used in respiration
define biodiversity
the number of different plant animal fungi etc species in a given area
define deforestation
net loss of trees
define malnutrition
shortages of proteins and essential vitamins caused by an unbalanced diet
define nutrition spectrum
a scale of diet and health that marks critical thresholds in human health eg starvation and obesity
define trading bloc
A trading bloc is a type of intergovernmental agreement, often part of a regional intergovernmental organisation, where regional barriers to international trade, (tariffs and non-tariff barriers) are reduced or eliminated among the participating states, allowing them to trade with each other as easily as possible.
