Geopolitics of food. Flashcards
Geopolitics.
The way geography, democracy, economics and the distribution of resources interrelate with the politics of nations and the relationships between nations.
Free trade.
Is that production of each commodity should be concentrated in areas where it has the greatest cost advantages e.g. for crops where the climate and soils are most suitable.
Green revolution.
Package of agricultural improvements that transformed agriculture in many LEDCs, leading to significant increases in agricultural production and increasing Food Security.
Green revolution advantages.
- Globally, food production increases as did security.
- Yield per unit of farmland improved.
- Crop areas under high yield varieties needed water, fertilisers, pesticides and fungicides and other chemicals.
- India transformed itself from a starving nation to a cereals exporter.
- Farming income increased so they can buy land and employ people.
- HYV’s grow quickly.
Green revolution disadvantages.
- There are serious environmental concerns.
- India has failed to extend the concept of HYV.
- Pesticides can spread through water supplies and pollute systems.
- Debt increased for poorer farmers as they had to borrow money for seeds.
- Salinisation has increased due to irrigation.
Genetic modification.
Genetic modification takes some of the DNA from one species and adding it to the DNA of another species. One or more characteristics of the donor species are transferred to the new plant.
GM advantages.
- Could solve food shortage problems.
- Large profits can be gained from farming GM crops.
- Trials of GM have done well in the USA and some has been imported to the UK to use as animal feed.
GM disadvantages.
- Protestors refer to health risks which have occurred from other agricultural innovations.
- The long-term effect is unknown.
- The pollen from GM plants might pollinate other plants.
- The British government is continuing to conduct carefully controlled experiments.
