Increasing Food Security

Question 1

Food security depends on…

Answer 1

. Food availability- a country must produce and/ or import a sufficient amount of food

. Food access- people must be able to regularly obtain food ( buying it or producing it themselves)

. Food quality and use- the food that people consume must be nutritious for a health lifestyle

Question 2

Strategies to improve food security

Answer 2

. Increasing food production
. Increasing food access
. Reducing waste

Question 3

Increasing food production

Answer 3

. Agricultural expansion- more land can be converted to agricultural use ( destroys ecosystems )

. Intensive farming- producing as much food from the land available. May result in artificial chemicals ( e.g.pesticides ) damaging the natural environment

. Technology- crops can be genetically modified to produce higher yields or to resist pests and diseases. Hydroponics ( growing plants in a nutrient solution rather than soil) means crops can be grown in places where there is a lack of fertile soil ( but it’s very expensive)

Question 4

Increasing food access

Answer 4

. Trade- food can be imported to countries that don’t have enough. However prices have to be low enough in order for countries to be able to afford sufficient food. Cheap imports can undercut local farmers, making it hard for them to earn a living

. Improving access to markets- improving transport links makes it easier for farmers to sell produce but some countries can’t afford to invest in the infrastructure needed

Question 5

Reducing waste

Answer 5

. Production- crop loss due to pests and disease can be decreased by educating farmers on prevention and providing them with better resources

. Distribution- many shops discard food that they don’t sell. Improving storage and packing and speeding up the food reaching consumers

Question 6

Long term food security

Answer 6

. To ensure long term food security, strategies must be sustainable