🔴 GEOG Food GW1-3 + Diseases Flashcards
What are indicators of a countrys development
Economic: Gross domestic product GDP per capita, employment opportunities
Social: Adult literacy rate, life expectancy
What are indicators of food consumption
- food consumption per capita (kg/capita/yr)
- starchy staples as percentage of all calories
- total daily calorie intake
Why variations exist and persist in food consumption between LDCs and DCs
Difference in affordability, accessibility, stability !!
Economic: disposable income, pricing
Sociocultural: food preferences(organic and fast food) , population growth
Political: stability of supply, food safety
Impacts of too little in food consumption
Health: malnutrition, starvation
Economic: lower productivity, food aid can cause long term debt, diversion of finances to healthcare
Political: social unrest
Social: scavenging
Impacts of too much food consumption
Health: obesity and related illnesses
Economic: lower productivity
Social: food wastage, dieting
Economic: disposable income (Variation in food consumption patters)
Refers to amt after taxes
Ppl in dcs have higher d.income than ldcs. However it has been increasing in both -> more consumption. Also ^ consumption of meats and less of cereals
For every US$1 incr in income in dcs eg. New Zealand/France/USA only 20% spent on food
In ldcs eg democratic republic of Congo, up to 60% on food
Economic: pricing (Variation in food consumption patters)
Ppl in ldcs generally more affected by variations in pricing than dcs, as ppl in dcs have more disposable income.
From 2006-2008 food prices spiked worldwide, creating global food crisis -> many ppl in ldcs cannot afford staples : pushed 100 million more ppl to chronic hunger and poverty. Ldcs - riots and street protests, dcs- ppl just chose less exp options
Socio-cultural: food preferences (Variation in food consumption patters)
Ppls concerns abt health, morals, income and environment influence food choices. Religious reasons as well
Fast food: refers to food prepared easily and quickly. Convenient and affordable. Fast food chains set up in ldcs eg. McDonald’s and Pizza Hut. DCs try to move away as ^ awareness abt harmful on health
Organic food: Food grown without use of artificial inputs like Chem fertilisers. Ppl choose due to perceived health benefits : shift towards organic fruits and veg. 2011 survey USA - 58% prefer organic.
Organic vs non organic 5
Fertilisers : organic eg manure and compost // Chem fertilisers
Crop yield : smaller // larger
Labour: more labour (more workers for weeding as no -cides used) // less labour as controlled by use of chemicals
Cost: more expensive // cheaper
Health: perceived healthier // perceived less healthy
Sociocultural: population growth (Variation in food consumption patters)
Growth rates higher in ldcs than dcs as higher birth rates due to lack of family planning and need for farm labour. Demand for food in ldcs more than dcs. More $ needed, so less affordability.
FAO: world population set to incr from 7 bil in 2012 to 10 bil in 2050
Political: stability of food supply (Variation in food consumption patters)
Stable when safe and nutritious food is available to all ppl at all times. Threats to food supply require Govt to take action.
They do so via incr prod or by incr imports. Food prod: ^tech, ^land allocated for agriculture. Ldcs lower ability to do so than dcs due to lack of tech and finances. Food imports: dcs easier than ldcs as ldcs less able to deal with food price fluctuations.
Ldcs eg Jamaica in the aftermath of a hurricane in 2004 could not import food as too costly. Dcs eg SG may rely on food imports for >90%
Stability affected by:
civil war
In Libya April 2011, UN world food programme reported food stocks being rapidly depleted and not replenished. Food and water shortage while safety concerns prevented going out to find or buy food
natural disasters
Zimbabwe in 2008 shortage after a severe drought. Low rainfall destroyed corn harvest.
Political: food safety (Variation in food consumption patters)
Refers to a system of guidelines that ensure proper handling, prep, transportation and storage of food to prevent diseases. Govt responsible for setting standards and ensuring they are met, also tracking down contaminated foods and removing them.
Tsunami triggered by 2011 earthquake damaged nuclear plants in Fukushima Japan. Radiation contaminated water and farmland. Seafood imports from Japan to sg were restricted to ensure safety.
Health impact: malnutrition
When body does not have sufficient or balanced amt of nutrients to maintain tissues and organ functions. Results in death or long term development problems.
LDCs : Of 148 mil underweight children, 78 mil in South Asia and 36 mil in sub Saharan Africa. Each year, 5 mil children under 5 die in ldcs from it.
DCs : elderly ppl, difficulty digesting. Eating disorders, like anorexia or bulimia, may also develop it.
LDCs more affected. 16% in ldcs r affected. 75% in democratic republic of Congo.
Health impact: Starvation
State of extreme hunger from sever lack of food. Body becomes skeletally thin and organs perma damaged. Eventually death.
More in ldcs cause of more ppl in poverty, lack of resources after natural disasters, unstable political
2010, FAO estimated 98% of ppl facing starvation are in ldcs. More than 60% in Asia.
Economic impact: lower productivity cuz no food
Imbalanced nutrients: get sick more easily, lowers productivity - lower income - inability to work. Children sick - loss of sch - loss of educational opportunities
2012 report by international food policy research institute (IFPRI), studies in ldcs found link betw nutrition and productivity, eg in India, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia
Economic issues: Diversion of finances to healthcare
More ppl sick - increased cost of hc - ldcs higher spending = less on other aspects like education housing transport, slows country’s econ dev and growth
Economic issues: long term debt from financial and food aid
Eg USA contributes about half of all food aid. Most food bought from suppliers and trans on the ships. The Human development report in 2005,2006,2009 found food aid up to 34% more ex than if locally. Ldcs lost em between 5-7 mil usd, incr national debt
Political issues : social unrest
Sit where ppl protest or r violent, usually to Comm unhappiness
Food prices in Mozambique incr by as much as 30% in 2010 due to drought in Russia decr wheat prod, thus incr price. Resulted in violent protests, 400 injured, at least 10 dead
Social impacts: scavenging
Searching thru things ppl throw away to find food to prevent starving
Health risks - may have high lvls of bacteria or chemicals. Could place ppl in dangerous or illegal places
Poorest places of manilla, Philippines. Ppl w/o money for thru rubbish for meals. Large landfield called Smokey mountain, poor families set up makeshift homes nearby, make living by picking thru the rubbish
Health impacts but excess: obesity and related illnesses
Excessive fat accumulation, affects body systems and can lead to high bp, coronary heart disease, diabetes and some cancers. Avg reduces lifespan by 9 years. Other diseases include kidney failure, liver disease.
DCs like USA have a high % adult pop with it compared to Ldcs due to more disposable income and more purchasing power - higher calorie intake. From 1971-2000 obesity rates in USA rose from 14.5% to 30.9%
Econ impact cause too much : lower productivity
More absent due to sick, from work and school - lower income and educational opportunities
Employees of duke university USA those with bmi of over 40 were 2x likely to fall sick or injured during work thus higher compensation claims paid by the uni
Social impact: food wastage
DCs with excess may waste food. Food consumers and producers throw away edible food.
Amt of food wasted per capita is 95-115 kg per capita in dcs and 6-12 kg/capita in ldcs. Food waste is add waste for landfills. Resources used to prod are wasted too.
Social impact: dieting
Ppl may become overweight and thus go on a diet, which is the practice of regulating food consumed and exercise to maintain ideal body weight.
Health benefits and benefits econ: 2012, weight loss industry valued at 20bil usd
Inappropriate dieting may lead to depression and illnesses like iron deficiency anaemia
Calculating productivity of farmland
Ratio of output per unit area of land to input per unit area of land
(Amt of food produced vs amt of resources used)
physical factors affecting food prod
- climate (temp, rain)
- soil and drainage
- relief (slopes/altitude)
physical factor food prod: climate 2
High rainfall, High temperature
More food crops,
Crops that need warmer climates.
Soya bean and tomato need warmer temperatures
Cooler temperatures
Not as conducive for food production
Good for crops that need cooler temps
Strawberries in Cameron highlands
physical factor food prod: Soil and Drainage 2
Floodplains with fertile soils
More food crops as soil has more nutrients to support plant growth
Highly fertile soils, a flat terrain and a large water supply results in a very high production of rice in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam
Soils with different ability to retain or drain off water
Type of crop produced and overall yield depends on suitability of the soil
Oats require more sandy soil that are well-drained.
Rice require soil with more clay and which retain large amount of water.
physical factor food prod: relief
Steep slopes / Altitude
Generally more difficult to grow and thus less food production. Terracing might be necessary.
High altitudes allow crops which require cooler temperatures to grow
On steep slopes, top soil may be washed away more easily and thus the soil may be less fertile, affecting productivity of the area.
At Cameron Highlands, steep slopes allow for the growing of tea as water can slowly drain off from the slope.
High altitudes also allow crops which require cooler temperatures such as strawberries to grow.
economic factors 3
- purpose of farming
- demand and capital
- agribusiness
economic factor food prod: purpose of farming (subsistence and commercial)
Subsistence farming
prod of crops to feed farmer and fam
Land: Small, 1-3 hectares
Labour: Family of farmer
Capital: Simple farming tools, seeds from previous harvests
Low crop yield, due to small land area, simple tools, and seeds from previous harvests.
TA: lower food production as only need to produce for own and family’s consumption.
Widely practiced in Sub-Saharan Africa. Crops grown usually include corn, cassava
Commercial farming
Large scale intended for sale rather than farmer needs
Land: Large, 30-thousands of hectares
Labour: Hired
Capital: Machinery eg tractors and combine harvesters
High crop yield, due to large land area, machinery
Produced as cash crops
TA: Large scale farming with high food production fo sale to earn revenue.
Widely practiced in Europe, North and South America, Australia and Asia
economic factor food prod: demand and capital
Peoples willingness and ability to obtain a particular food crop or product, High demand of food crop and capital to meet demand
High demand - people willing to pay more - farmers motivated to increase supply - tech developed for it reduces cost - farmers further motivated : increased intensity leads to higher production
TA: increased demand leads to prices going up. Farmers thus have increased motivation to increase pdt, and pdt increases. Higher capital also allows for greater investment to increase food production.
As China’s wealth increased, there was an increased demand for meat and this led to the need to import corn for food for livestock.
economic factor food prod: agribusiness
business or industry involved in food production, refers to large scale farming and related businesses eg. Commercial farming, processing, packaging, distributing and retailing
Invest in research and dev of crops
Greater crop yields
Able to withstand impact of changes to environment on crops eg. pest damage and flooding compared to small farmers. Investment in food production -> greater crop yields
TA: agribusiness controls all aspects from farm to salad, and needs to produce a lot to earn revenue. Food production is very high. Lower cost of production - lower cost of product - competitors (smaller businesses) suffer
Dole has worldwide operations from farming, processing to distribution and port facilities.
political factors for food production 3
- agricaultural policies
- food policies
- ASEAN
political factor food prod: agricultural polices
Agricultural policies can encourage or negatively affect production
Agricultural policies include farmer development and education and pricing policies. It can lead to higher or lower production.
In India, the Punjab Agriculture Department started educating wheat farmers about the best available seed varieties, pesticide treatment and irrigation methods in 2012 to ensure greater productivity from its farmland.
political factor food prod: food policies
Food stockpiling, diversification of sources, direct
contracts between local companies and famers.
Increase stability and security of food. Not so much effect on food production.
Singapore NTUC Fairprice Co
operative Ltd purchases vegetables through contracts with Indonesian farmers.
Singapore purchases vegetables from Malaysia, China and USA.
political factor food prod: ASEAN
Collaboration between ASEAN countries
Increase stability of food through agreements between ASEAN countries. ASEAN countries also have agreements to share technological knowledge to help increase production.
ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR) Agreement
tech advances food prod factors 4
- high yielding varieties
- irrigation
- mechanisation
- fertilisers and pesticides
tech advances food prod: high yielding varieties HYVs
Refer to hybrid varieties of a particular crop that have been developed through cross breeding of selected varieties that exhibit favourable characteristics.
The increased resistance to pests and shorter growing seasons lead to a higher production in a set amount of time. However, these need more water and nutrients, thus may be more costly.
The ‘Wonder Rice’ has a growing season of 100 days compared to the growth duration of 120 days for the non-HYVs.
tech advances food prod: irrigation
A method of supplying water to the land other than by natural means.
By supplying water to areas that used to be too dry for farming, it increases the amount of land suitable for farming. (arable land) consistent supply of water. More land for farming leads to higher crop yields and higher production.
The Great Man-made River in Libya is one of the most extensive irrigation projects in the world and has made it possible to grow crops in the Sahara Desert.
tech advances food prod: Mechanisation
Use of machinery to perform tasks that would otherwise be done manually.
Speeds up processes involved in preparing the land, such as tending to crops and harvesting. Faster speed leads to higher production.
Up until recently, the small oily fruit was picked by hand in a painstaking process by many workers. Now, farmers use an olive harvesting machine which shakes the tree, releasing the olives, and collecting them in one centralized location.
tech advances food prod: fertilisers and pesticides
Fertilisers:
Substances added to the soil to provide nutrients for healthy plant growth.
Pesticides: Chemical substances used to kill insects and small animals that destroy crops.
Nutrients in soil would be depleted eventually, especially after continuous use of farmland. Small amt of nutrients - low yield. Fertilisers - bring nutrients back - higher yield.
Less damage to crops lead to more suitable crops leads to higher production. Herbicides kill weed and other undesirable plants that compete with crops for resources.
The use of a pesticide called
malathion was widely used in the 1980s to address a fruit fly problem in fruit orchards in California, USA.
effects of intensification: irrigation 2
- Waterlogging : soil is oversaturated with water. Irrigation causes fields to be flooded, soil filled with water, roots unable to get nutrients, plants can “drown”, reduce prod
- Salinisation :Occurs when water added to soil during irrigation evaporates directly from moist soil, salt left behind. Also when irrigation no proper drainage of excess water. Groundwater may reach upper soil layers bringing up dissolved salts. Saline soils too High conc for plants (pg137)
Seawater used for irrigation, when dries up it leaves salts, soil to salty and unsuitable, reduce prod
effects of intensification: chemical use
- Contamination of groundwater : pesticides and fertilisers seep into groundwater thru the process of percolation (water going downwards thru soil), gw is contaminated and unsuitable for agriculture or drinking, reduce productivity, ppl fall sick
- Water pollution : Chemicals washed into water bodies during surface runoff, pollutes the water, water borne diseases when ppl consume it and death of aquatic plants and animals, affecting ecosystem, farmers affected as less fish to catch
- eutrophication: The presence of excess nutrients in water : Leads to algae blooms which deplete oxygen in water and block sunlight, death of aquatic plants and animals, decomposition leads to further oxygen depletion
measures against eutrophication 2
- measures to manage runoff: control measures aimed at preventing nutrients from reaching water bodies (less effect to treat water after it occurs)
- raising awareness thru public awareness campaigns. managing eutrophication realted to monitoring pollution, req cooperation between govt, orgs, and comm
causes of food shortage: physical 3
- global warming
- extreme weather events
- pests eg wild rabbits and insects
food shortage physical factor: global warming
weather is getting too hot, crops cannot grow well , supply cannot meet demand, food shortage
limits supply
Food production decreased by up to 50% in Brazil, India, Pakistan, Turkey, parts of the USA, most of Southeast Asia and most of Australia.
Glaciers in the Himalayas expected to cause food shortage in the coming decades.
food shortage physical factor: Extreme weather
events like hurricanes and droughts
Crops destroyed during tropical cyclones and floods, supply cannot meet demand, food shortage
limits supply
Cyclone Yasi caused sugar prices to surge as a third of Queensland’s crop lay in the direct path of the cyclone, causing massive damage.
food shortage physical factor: pests eg wild rabbits and insects
Destroy crops by eating them or spreading diseases, productivity drops, supply cannot meet demand, food shortage
limits supply
Caterpillar invasion in Liberia africa 2009. Tens of millions of catapillars invaded the country, devouring all the plants and food in their path. About 46 villages in northern liberia were affected.
causes of food shortage political factors 2
- civil strife
- poor governance
food shortage political factor: civil strife
Fighting cause people to forgo farms; farms destroyed, food prod drops, supply cannot meet demand, food shortage
limit supply. reduced accessibility
The Syrian village of Houla where there was a massacre of over 100 people in May 2012, faced critical food shortage, as there was no harvesting and many cattles had been lost.
