Food Production

Question 1

What is the green revolution

Answer 1

1940-60 sparked agricultural improvements, involved the development of technologies such as fertilisers and pesticides

Question 2

Was the green revolution successful

Answer 2

In Asia but not Africa

Question 3

Where does the problem of food production lie

Answer 3

Uneven distribution

UN and WB have shown that there is enough calories for all

Question 4

How many people remain chronically undernourished

Answer 4

1 billion

Question 5

What is the food and fuel debate

Answer 5

Increasing demand for biofuel to reduce depending on oil
This has been blamed for the increase in food prices worldwide
EU target of producing 10% of fuel from biofuels by 2020

Question 6

Issues of food production

Answer 6

Growing pop
Water scarcity 
Limited land 
Waste 
Climate change

Question 7

How much food is wasted

Answer 7

30-40% crops after harvest

19% of food and drink in uk thrown away

Question 8

Food and agricultural organisation said

Answer 8

2010
World hunger has been increasing since 1996
925 million people are chronically undernourished

Question 9

What is the contradiction in world hunger

Answer 9

Higher levels of obesity than undernourishment

WHO global epidemic

Question 10

What are the potential solutions to lack of food

Answer 10

GMO’s

Novel food production

Question 11

What type of GMO’s exist

Answer 11

Transgenic and cisgenic

Question 12

What are the characteristics produced in GM crops HOP 2011

Answer 12

Insect resistance 
Herbicide tolerance 
Virus resistance 
Drought resistance 
Longer life 
Nutritional enhancement

Question 13

Where are GM crops produced HOP 2011

Answer 13

90% in Brazil Argentina India and Canada

Question 14

Argument against GMOs

HOP 2011

Answer 14

1- gene mixing could see unforeseen externalities
2- environmental risks monoculture
3- economic benefits are not always visible
4- potential impacts in human health

Question 15

What are the options for novel food production HOP 2015

Answer 15

Edible insects

Culture meat

Question 16

How are edible insects an option HOP 2015

Answer 16

1900 species are safe for human consumption
Protein and nutritional value of insects broadly resembles meat
More efficient at turning feed into biomass
Insect rearing produces less greenhouse gas

Question 17

Argument against Insect production HOP 2015

Answer 17

Production lines are labour intensive
Potential for carrying over metals from feed
Cultural view of insects disgusting rooted in western culture

Question 18

How is cultured meat an option HOP 2015

Answer 18

Lab grown meat could reduce energy land and water use needs more testing

Question 19

What are the arguments against cultured meat HOP 2015

Answer 19

Upscaling of the industry is achievable but requires substantial investment

Unclear whether people would buy

Question 20

Hazell 2008 concerns for agricultural development

Answer 20

Health- 70% diarrhoea cases due to contaminated food, 170,000 die each year

Environment- deforestation’s and degradation are major concerns

Hunger- despite the Green revolution over 500 million people in Asia still hungry in Africa agriculture has stagnated over the last 20 years

Question 21

Hazell 2008- global drivers of agricultural change

Answer 21

International trade- liberalisation of markets more competition, dominated by large trading companies

Low prices- driven down due to competition

High energy prices- mechanised farming will encourage more efficient practises

Question 22

Hazell 2008- regional drivers of agricultural change

Answer 22

Income and urbanisation increases- farms bigger more commercial and specialised

shift in public policy- SAP introduced by IMF in 1980’s meant state in developing counties was removed from producing direct function markets- create private sector opportunities- failed for small farmers

Question 23

What are the local drivers of agricultural change Hazell 2008

Answer 23

Poverty
Health
Infrastructure
No farming opportunities