Food Production Flashcards
What is the green revolution
1940-60 sparked agricultural improvements, involved the development of technologies such as fertilisers and pesticides
Was the green revolution successful
In Asia but not Africa
Where does the problem of food production lie
Uneven distribution
UN and WB have shown that there is enough calories for all
How many people remain chronically undernourished
1 billion
What is the food and fuel debate
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
Issues of food production
Growing pop Water scarcity Limited land Waste Climate change
How much food is wasted
30-40% crops after harvest
19% of food and drink in uk thrown away
Food and agricultural organisation said
2010
World hunger has been increasing since 1996
925 million people are chronically undernourished
What is the contradiction in world hunger
Higher levels of obesity than undernourishment
WHO global epidemic
What are the potential solutions to lack of food
GMO’s
Novel food production
What type of GMO’s exist
Transgenic and cisgenic
What are the characteristics produced in GM crops HOP 2011
Insect resistance Herbicide tolerance Virus resistance Drought resistance Longer life Nutritional enhancement
Where are GM crops produced HOP 2011
90% in Brazil Argentina India and Canada
Argument against GMOs
HOP 2011
1- gene mixing could see unforeseen externalities
2- environmental risks monoculture
3- economic benefits are not always visible
4- potential impacts in human health
What are the options for novel food production HOP 2015
Edible insects
Culture meat
How are edible insects an option HOP 2015
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
Argument against Insect production HOP 2015
Production lines are labour intensive
Potential for carrying over metals from feed
Cultural view of insects disgusting rooted in western culture
How is cultured meat an option HOP 2015
Lab grown meat could reduce energy land and water use needs more testing
What are the arguments against cultured meat HOP 2015
Upscaling of the industry is achievable but requires substantial investment
Unclear whether people would buy
Hazell 2008 concerns for agricultural development
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
Hazell 2008- global drivers of agricultural change
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
Hazell 2008- regional drivers of agricultural change
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
What are the local drivers of agricultural change Hazell 2008
Poverty
Health
Infrastructure
No farming opportunities
