food production Flashcards
what is food production?
the process of growing, harvesting, processing and distributing food to consumers
What are the four main groupings used to categorise farming?
Arable and pastoral.
Commercial and subsistence.
Extensive and intensive.
Nomadic and sedentary.
what is subsistence farming?
a type of farming where crops and livestock are grown for personal consumption, not for sale
what is commercial farming?
farming where food is grown to be sold for profit
What is intensive farming?
An agricultural system that relies heavily on capital, labor, and advanced technologies, such as pesticides and chemical fertilizers, in relation to the amount of land used.
SHORTER: farming with high inputs (fertilisers, labor, machinery) per unit of land to achieve high yields
what is extensive farming?
farming over a large area of land with lower inputs per unit of land - e.g cattle ranching in brazil
Define arable farming.
a type of agriculture that focuses on growing crops rather than raising livestock.
what is pastoral farming?
farming that focuses on livestock (animals)
What is sedentary farming?
Sedentary farming is a type of agriculture where farmers remain in one location rather than moving from place to place.
same crops are planted in the same spot year after year
Define malnutrition.
a condition where a person’s diet lacks the correct nutrients to keep them healthy.
What is undernutrition?
a condition where people do not consume enough calories to meet their energy needs.
what is food security?
when all people have access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food at all times
what are threats to food security?
climate change – extreme weather affect crops
soil degradation – overuse of land reduces fertility
population growth – more demand for food
conflict and war – disrupts farming and supply chains
what are solutions to improve food security?
sustainable farming – crop rotation, organic farming
genetically modified crops to resist disease and grow in poor conditions
reducing food waste – better storage and consumer awareness
name some natural causes of food shortages
Flooding
Drought
Pests
Disease
Tropical cyclones
what is monoculture?
an example of commercial farming
Monoculture is a farming practice where only one crop or type of livestock is grown in an area. This approach can lead to a decrease in biodiversity.
What category of farming does sheep farming belong to?
Pastoral - it is raising livestock.
Extensive - there are low inputs and low yields.
Commercial - the sheep are farmed for sale.
What is food aid?
the provision of food supplies usually by more developed countries to less developed countries, often in response to crises or as part of long-term assistance.
name possible solutions to food shortages
Irrigation.
Education of farmers.
Appropriate technology.
Genetically modified (GM) crops.
High yield varieties (HYV).
Food aid.
Fertilisers/pesticides.
Appropriate technology.
What is mechanisation in agriculture?
the use of tractors and other machines to complete farming tasks, which can increase yields but may also reduce jobs.
Disadvantages of subsistence farming?
Way less yields - producing far less
More likely to be affected by food shortages famine
Dependent on the climate
Generally those people aren’t making loads of money
benefits of subsistance farming?
Better for the environment - less land is used
Cheaper
More ethical
what are the stages of the food supply chain?
production – growing the crops or raising livestock
processing – turning raw food into products e.g wheat to bread
transport – moving food from farms to markets
distribution – supplying food to retailers and customers
consumption – people buying and eating food
What are the differences between subsistence and commercial farming?
purpose, technology and scale
SUB
Purpose - personal use
technology - low
scale - small
COM
Purpose - selling for profit
technology - high
scale - large
