Food Sustainability Flashcards
What is meant by ethics?
Moral principles
Rights and Responsibilities
Decent human conduct
Difference between right and wrong
Doing the right thing
What is meant by ‘environment’?
The surrounding or conditions in which a person, animal or plant lives or operates
Name 6 ethical issues:
Animal welfare
Spread of disease
Highest output possible
High stocking density
Health risks
Environmental impact
Name 6 environmental issues:
Pollution
Climate change
Water consumption
Soil erosion
Habitat loss
GHG’s
What is meant by the term ‘climate change’?
An increase in green house gases produced by fossil fuels leading to a change in temperature and rainfall
What are natural resources?
Materials from the earth to meet peoples needs
What are some natural resources?
Air
Water
Soil
Sunlight
What is meant by the term ‘Enteric fermentation’?
A natural part of the digestive process in ruminant animals (cattle)
What is meant by the term carbon sink /sequestration?
A natural environment which has the ability to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and plants
What is a waste lagoon?
A manmade outdoor basin filled with animal waste
What is meant by the term ‘carbon footprint’?
The amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere as a result of activities of particular individuals, organisations or communities
What is global warming?
A gradual increase in the overall temperature of the Earths atmosphere to the greenhouse effect
What is deforestation?
The action of clearing a large areas of trees
What is an ecosystem?
A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment
What is biodiversity?
The variety of plant and animal life in the world or in a particular habitat, a high level of which is usually considered to be important or desirable
What is desertification?
The process by which fertile land becomes desert as a result of drought, deforestation or inappropriate agriculture
What is soil degradation?
The decline is soil condition caused by its improper use of poor management
What is monoculture?
The cultivation of a single crop in a given area
What is the definition of carbon dioxide?
A heavy colourless gas that is formed by burning fossil fuels
What is methane?
A powerful GHG
What is agricultural methane?
Released primarily by ruminant animals
What is nitrous oxide?
Released mainly from the use of manmade fertiliser and is also associated with manure management
What are habitats?
The natural home or environment of an animal, plant or other organism
What is irrigation?
The supply of water to land or crops to help growth, typically by means of channels
What is meant by the term ‘soil erosion’?
Movement of topsoil by natural forces such as water and wind or through agricultural practices
What is cultivated soil?
Surface preparation for sowing and planting
This improves soil structure and ensures easy application of fertiliser, manure and lime
What does aquifer mean?
A body of rock that holds ground water
What does eutrophication mean?
Nutrients from fertilisers wash into waterways causing eutrophication
This causes algae to grow and O2 to be reduced leading to the death of fish
Who is contributing to an increase in carbon footprint?
Those who eat meat regularly
What 3 factors does the livestock sector affect?
Climate change
Biodiversity
Management of soil & water
In what ways does cutting out meat help with climate change?
Food being harvested, stored and processed all uses a lot of energy and by reducing meat intake will help climate change
What is an ecosystem?
A community of animals, plants and organisms together within a habitat
How does animal agriculture contribute to climate change?
Feeding massive amounts of grain and water to farmed animals
How does animal agriculture contribute to carbon footprint?
Processing, transporting, storing - very energy intensive
What gas does cow manure release?
Methane - greenhouse gas - affects the environment
What releases carbon dioxide?
Burning fossil fuels
What is deforestation?
Conservation of pasture and cropland
What will affect sequestration?
This is a natural resource of sucking up carbon dioxide, deforestation will affect this
What is the largest source of methane production?
The animal agriculture sector
How is methane produced?
Animal waste is stored in lagoons or pits and releases methane as a gas
What does CAFO’s stand for?
Concentrated animal feeding operations
5 points about local and seasonal produce:
Fresh
Less intensive
Organic
Nutritional
Sell produce in local outlets
Who are the FAO?
An organisation who want to achieve food security and make sure people have regular access to high quality food
Name 1 link between animal farming and water pollution:
Run-off from slurry into waterways is one way water pollution occurs
What happens if slurry runs into waterways?
It stimulates the growth of algae and this therefore reduces the oxygen available for fish leading to the death of the animals in the water
What is the name for this affect on water?
Eutrophication
Give one impact of animal farming on soil:
It can lead to soil erosion which means the soil becomes damaged
Explain soil erosion:
This is when the soil particles detach and deteriorate leading to the breakdown and erosion of soil
What is another impact of animal farming on the soil?
There is a release of greenhouse gases which has a negative effect on the soil and also has a major impact on the environment
Why are greenhouse gases bad?
Greenhouse gases increase climate change and affect the ozone layer which has a negative effect on the environment
