Food supply, plant growth and productivity (a)

Question 1

Define food security?

Answer 1

Food security is the ability of human population to access food of sufficient quality and quantity.

Question 2

What happens as a result of an increase in human population and concern for food security?

Answer 2

Increased human population and concern for food security leads to a demand for increased food production. - Food production must be sustainable and not degrade the natural resources which agriculture depends on.

Question 3

So what does Agriculture depend on?

Answer 3

Agricultural production depends on factors that control photosynthesis and plant growth. The area to grow crops is limited.

Question 4

What does an INCREASED food production depend on?

Answer 4

Increased food production will depend on factors that control plant growth - breeding of higher yielding cultivators, use of fertiliser, protecting crops from pests, diseases and competition.

Question 5

What does ALL food production depend on?

Answer 5

All food production is ultimately dependant upon photosynthesis. Plant crop examples include, cereal, roots, potato and legumes. Breeders seek to develop crops with higher nutritional values, resistance to pests and diseases, physical characteristics suited to rearing and harvesting as well as those that can thrive in particular environmental conditions.

Question 6

Describe livestock.

Answer 6

Livestock produce less food per unit area than crop plants due to loss of energy due to trophic levels. Livestock production is often possible in habitats unsuitable for growing crops.

Question 7

State two ways in which the yield of a crop, grown on a small area of land, can be increased?

Answer 7

• reduce pests and diseases that attack the crop.
  -reduce competition between growing crop plants.