PAPER 2-human Geography-population + food Flashcards
What is population density and words associated with it
How many people are in one square km of land in a country
Densely populated- contain many people
Sparsely- contain few
What is population distribution, what scales is it considered from and words to describe it
Is the pattern where people live
Considered from all areas local to global, in an area or a country.
Populations may be distributed evenly or unevenly
What is exponential growth
Increase in the number of size at a rapidly growing rate.
What are the key physical elements affecting population density
Climate, soils, water supply, resource distribution
How can climate affect population density
If there is an arid, hot or cold climate this could cause a lack of crop growth so a lack of food so causes not many people to live in that place, decreasing population density.
Climate change can also cause sea levels to rise and flooding which can cause climate migration e.g tuvalu- New Zealand.
How can soils affect population density
More fertile soils can grow more crops which creates more food so more people would be likely to live or move there causing a higher population density e.g mount Etna has very fertile soils (volcanic soils) and people risk to live next to an active volcano because of the good crop growth.
How can water supply affect population density
If a low water supply it would be expensive to import and to therefore buy as well there will be a reduced crop growth and perhaps dehydration so not many people would live in those areas causing a lower population density. People like to live close to the water e.g Egypt where 95% of the pop live on 4% of the land by the river Nile.
How can resource distribution affect population density
The availability of resources e.g coal, ores, metals increase job opportunity so more would live in that area increasing density e.g Rhine in Germany
What is natural change
The change in population brought about by the difference between death rate and birth rate. If BR exceeds death rate then the population will increase (natural increase). If DR exceeds birth rate then the population will decrease (natural decrease)
What is migration change
Migration of people who move in and out of a country will also cause population to change. Moving in- immigrants. Moving out-emigrants. The difference between immigrants entering and emigrants leaving is known as the net migration rate.
What is fertility rate
Average number of children born per woman in a county (if they live above reproductive years)
Why is fertility rate good (give 3 reasons)
More accurate than birth rate because BR doesn’t consider infant mortality rate, this does
-good indicator of future population change- if more born-higher population
-focuses only on those who can give birth
What is replacement fertility rate
Number of children each woman needs to maintain current population levels
If each woman had 2.1 it would stay the same
Over-population rise. Under- population decrease
What is infant mortality rate
Number of children who die before their 1st birthday per 1000 births per year
Why is IMR out of 1000 people
So can compare with bigger countries/populations
What does it indicate if a IMR is high/low
high-bad healthcare, low income
Low-good healthcare, high income
What are the factors that can influence natural population change
Social, economic, political, cultural
How does social factors effect natural population change
Healthcare- poor healthcare will lead to a higher IMR which with lead to an increase in BR+FR and can also limit work and leisure activities for women which also leads to a decrease.
Education- if a low years of schooling for women FR is higher- less education and can’t work and less education about using contraceptives. High schooling- jobs- working
Age/gender structure- aging population FR+BR lower bc out of reproductive years e.g Japan. If younger pop- more BR- reproductive years e.g Niger
How do economic factors effect natural population change
Industrial structure- if primary industries e.g agriculture is dominant- more children BR+FR inc as more time and wanting more help with work(Indonesia). However if tertiary- women won’t have as much time to have children and more expensive- economic burden.
Economic conditions- in recessions BR+FR decrease- no income to support e.g drop in 2008- global financial crisis.
Affluence: HICs taking time off work to take care for children is very costly- may require more education. families have less children but more education e.g UK. Children can take care of parents but not needed in HICS due to developed social security and financial markets.
Political factors that effect natural population change
Political stability- study over past 40 years says that during conflict BR+FR tends to decrease (especially in better job sectors) whilst after one there is a boom due to less time of panic and more stability.
Population policies: china one child policy was discontinued in 2015 but effects continue. Was encouraged more children should be born but it didny change much. Young people are faced with high house proves, labour and expensive so there is also exonomic reasons. It’s an ageing population so pro natal is likely to be considered. W
Cultural factors in natural population change
Religion- Roman Catholics- no contraception, no abortion FR+BR increase. Muslim countries- Indonesia but also tend to be in LICs. 2.29 Us- 1.7
Status of women- if seen as lesser- FR+BR increase- house work. If women are seen as important and have jobs so drpecreases.
Child marriage- 40% in LICS married before 18. Links to political- legal ages of marriage may vary. African countries 16-18 but some as 15 with parental consent. E.g Niger
What happens in stage 1 of the DTM
Birth and death rate are high fluctuating
Population is low
What happens in stage 2 of the DTM
Birth rate is high
Death rate rapidly falling
Population steady rise
What happens in stage 3 of the DTM
Birth rate rapidly decreases
Death rate continues steady decrease
Population increase
What happens in stage 4 of the DTM
Birth and death rate low fluctuating
Population steady increase- starts to level off
What happens in stage 5 of the DTM
Death rate becomes higher than birth rate slightly- natural decrease
Population slowly decrease
Advantages of the DTM
Predict populations
Consider population policies
Based on what has happened in several countries
Can be adjusted in future
Good links between economics and pop
Disadvantages of the DTM
Assumes all counties follow same pattern
Doesn’t offer reasons for changes
No time scales
Doesn’t include influence of migration
What DTM stage is Niger in
Stage 2
A few examples of how Niger’s physical settings links to the DTM
-landlocked- which affects ability to trade leading to a low GNI- worse healthcare and a higher IMR so BR is high.
North of Niger is the Sahel region which is arid and so difficult to grow crops- low pop density in area and high death rate.
Examples of how Niger’s human settings links to the DTM
98% Muslim- higher BR
In north agriculture work is populate an BR high so children can be an asset in farming
What stage of the DTM is Canada in
4
Examples of how Canadas physical setting links to the DTM
West is mountainous which makes it hard to build and live- decreasing pop density
Largest coastline due to climate change so more accessible for trade routes- increasing GNI and working people- less likely to have children but pop still dense
Examples of how canadas human settings links to the DTM
Ageing population increase DR due to natural decrease but controlled migration counteracts this
Cities in southeast border USA- higher population-more births as ideal living conditions
What does the population structure refer to
Age distribution and sex composition of a population at a national scale- depicted by population pyramid
What are young dependents
0-14 years relying on money earnt by economically active
What are economically active
Those at a working age who contribute to the economy, YD and ED 15-64 years
What are elderly dependents
65+ years who depend on the money aren’t by economically active
What is the dependency ratio and formula
Level of dependency
Young dependents+elderly dependents/economically active X100
What does the answer of the dependancy ratio get you
For every 100 people working age there are _ number relying on their earnings
What is Niger’s population pyramid like
Lots of young dependents
Not as many economically active
Even less elderly dependents
What is canadas population pyramid like
Not as many young dependents
More economically active
More of an ageing population
Problems with youthful populations e.g Niger
Economic loss as pressure on education which is hard due to an unproportionate amount of economically active and young dependents and if not educated properly there will be a less skilled workforce
Demands for improving maternal and child healthcare- costs a lot but GNI low
Benefits with youthful population e.g Niger
Can provide a large cheap workforce and a growing market for potential foreign investors
Young people today are the country’s human resource for tomorrow
Problems of an ageing population e.g Canada
Less people working and pension cost increasing
Economic loss and need taking care of and economically active pay higher taxes as welfare and healthcare costs rise
Benefits of an ageing population e.g Canada
Benefits local economy by spending disposable income on leisure activities and tourism
Can help look after young dependents- saves money on healthcare and enables economically active to work.
What is the demographic dividend
Economic boost a country receives when economically active outnumbers its dependents
How does there end up being more economically active people than dependents
-the lag between falling DR and reduced BR may last for 1 or 2 generations before parents adjust to falling IMR by having fewer children
-produces a bulge in population which rises up in economically active sector- tall dependency ratio.
How do a large group of economically active help social and economic growth
- large workforce so more tax paid to invest in education and healthcare and infrastructure
-investment from TNCs- more tex
-more spending power- economic growth
-fewer children as more women in workforce- gender equality
Issues with more economically active people (large demographic dividend)
-extra demand on economy-unemployment
-environmental degradation
-pressure on natural resources
-lead to ageing population- pressure on services
What is migration
Movement of people across a specified boundary in order to establish a new residence
This can take place at a variety of scales(local, national, global)
What are international migrants
People who living in a country other than their birth country.
3.6% of worlds population
281 million
Migration statistics
2/3 migrants living in 20 countries
1/3 from 10 counties
Forced migration increased in past 10 years
Women- 48% of migrants
Governments are seeking to lower immigrants
What is an asylum seeker
A person who has fled their country on the grounds they can’t return to their country of origin and seeking international protection but refugee status not been detirmined
What is a refugee
An asylum seeker who’s claim for asylum has been successful and granted refugee status to live in a country permanently
What is an economic migrant
Person who voluntarily left their country of origin to seek employment in another country
Examples of push factors for migration
Lack of education
Bad healthcare
Lack of high paying jobs
Resource shortsage
- voluntary
Conflict/war
Natural hazard/climate change
Corrup government
Religious prosecution
-forced
Pull factors of migration
Educational opportunities
Good healthcare
Job opportunities
Safety
Freedom/human rights
Resources
Higher QOL
Landscape/weather
What is the average number of migrants each year
5 million
What does the pull push model suggest
If more push factors than pull in countries then they are likely to move out place of origin
What are some intervening obstacles in migration
Border controls
Lack of infrastructure
Cost
Family pressure
Language barrier
Dangerous sea voyage
What is globalisation and how it affects migration
Process which national economies societies and cultures have been increasingly integrated through the global network of trade, communication, transport and immigration
Large scale movement over international boundaries
How can international migrants enable counties to meet a demographic dividend
Working age people migrate for jobs so inc economically active- mainly males e.g Qatar causes gender imbalance and FR low- less young dependents.
Refuges normally younger however bring family-less extent
This is short term-
Spacially- different places may not reach
How may economic migrants not lead a country to a demographic dividend
Remittances- original countries sent money so not staying in host country- no economic boost
Migrants have children which increases FR- cultural difference
In long term as more elderly dependents
What is spacially
Wide range of places
What is temporally
Long period of time
Demographic implications of migration on origin country and host country
Lower BR- people of child bearing age leave- less workforce in future
Population structure-ageing pop. Remain
Loss of economic active
- origin
Balances population structure if prev ageing
Inc BR- reproductive age
Inc in economically active can be men
Social implications of migration on origin and host country
Origin
Reduced pressure on healthcare and education
Loss of culture
Break up communities
Lose qualified worker- doctors teachers
Host
Cultural advantages- food music
Pressure on maternal healthcare
Pressure on schools
Racial tensions
Economic implications of migration on origin and host country
Origin
Reduced pressure on food,energy
Less unemployment
Money sent home
Lose skilled workforce
Decline in services
Host
Overcome skill shortages
Competitive workforce
Pay tax
Inc size of workforce
Political implications of migration on host and origin county
Origin
Pressure to redevelop
Pro-natal policies to retain skilled workers
Host
Pressure to control immigration
Anti-immigration parties
Raciest r porganisations
Environmental implications of migration on origin and host country
Origin
Farmland and villages abandoned
Less management
Host
Pressure on land for development
Increased demand for natural resources
Health implications of migration on origin and host country
Origin
Migrants leave areas of infectious disease
Less pressure in health
Less medically trained staff
Host
Spread of communicable diseases
Pressure on healthcare-disease
What is globalisation
Process by which national economies societies and cultures have been increasingly integrated through the global network of trade communication transport and immigration
This has allowed large scale movement over international boundaries
what is malnutrition
umbrella term for poor nutrition which includes: undernutrition, micro-nutrient related malnutrition and over nutrition
what does the variability of food production from place to place depend on
environment and human capacity
human capacity on food production
population size, level of skills and technology, capital investment in agricultural infrastructure
what is global food production like
by 2015 pop had increased 2.5x since 1960. can produce food to provide every person with 2940 calories but this is not the case as it isnt evenly distributed- 820m suffered with undernutrition in 2018
what has happened to the amount of calories available for each person in continents
calories available has increased, more developed regions such as north america and europe have a higher amount wheras less developed have a reduced increase due to less income for trade and technology amount available risen by 600
why has production of main agricultural products been growing at larger rates in LICs?
faster pop growth- work on farm
increasing wealth
investment is agriculture-main section
less urbanisation
what is food consumption (kcal per capita per day) good for measuring?
changes in global and regional food availability
what food patterns do we see in developing countries
increase in consumption of higher value meat and dairy products
food patterns of developed country’s
lower red meat consumption because of health and environmental concerns
what is agriculture
science or practice of farming including cultivation of soil for the growing of crops and rearing of animals to provide food and other products such as wool and cotton
what are inputs and the different types
physical human and economic factors that determine the type of farming in an area e.g. labour, money, soil type and equipment
types:physical,cultural,economic,farmer
what are outputs
products from the farm e.g. crops milk and meat products
what are processes
activities carried out to turn inputs into outputs e.g ploughng weeding milking
some examples of physical inputs on a farm
soil type, altitude, precipitation, temperature, growing season
some examples of cultural inputs on a farm
local diet gender issues
some examples of economic inputs on a farm
farm size, machinery, inheritance, investment,labour,seeds
some examples of farmer inputs on a farm
age, experience, knowledge and skills, ambition
examples of processes on a farm
ploughing, lambing/calving, sowing seeds, transport, harvesting crops
examples of outputs on a farm
cereal, crops e.g. wheat, rice , vegetable crops, animal products, fodder crops e.g hay
whats a agribuisness
large corprate organisation of farming- farms run for profit maximisation and economies of scale (large amounts to save money) and practice monoculture e.g wheat in canada
what is pastoral farming
only the rearing of livestock e.g cattle ranching in argentina
what is arable farming
involves only the growing of crops e.g slash and burn in latin america
what is agricultural productivity
measured in terms of yield- how many kg of grain per hectare, kg of meat per animal or litres of milk per cow. the most commonly used measurment is total factor productivity (tfp)
what is total factor productivity (TFP)
ratio of agricultural outputs into inputs
why has productivity increased and how much
increased by 2.5-3% each year
-expansion of land (extensification) more land still available in developing LI countries and used for farming
-intensification- additional inputs such as machinery, fertilisers and pesticides have increased productivity
-TFP- better and precise use of inputs based on scientific research and development
how could TFP improve for crops
- higher yielding crops
-disease resistant crops
-drought/flood tolerant crops
-more efficient and timely cultivation and harvesting practices
-using technologies that indicate precisely when and how much water and fertiliser to apply
how could TFP improve for raising livestock
- breeding animals for favourable genetic qualities and behaviour
-using better animal care
-using better disease management practices
-using higher quality animal food
what do farmers use to base on how to use their land
their strengths
cultural factors
economic variables
physical factors (climate, soil)
what are climate and soil known as in farming and why
limiting factors- specific crop types can only survive and be economically productive in certain climatic conditions and soil types
what are climatic factors that could affect crops
temperatures (extreme temp, mild- prevent growth) only 3 month growing season
precipitation- none-drought access-floods
strong winds- damage
what are factors of soil that could effect crop growth
PH levels
structure
nutrients
texture
moisture levels
aeration
depth
what is the distribution of polar climates
above 66 degrees N+s
arctic- greenland, russia, canada ect
antartica
what are characteristics of polar regions
icecaps- layers of ice
permafrost covering ground
arctic- temps below -40 and less than 100mm rain
Antarctica- below -80 and precipitation higher in coastal areas
human activity of polar climate
artificial environment- thaw the ground and mitigate low temps by polytunnels and store yeild in root cellar stores to increase life
north america hunt reindeer- cant arable farm due to cold
what are arid climate distribution
30 degrees N+S of equator e.g sahara dessert in n africa and nambia
temps at higher latitudes are colder but still as arid
characteristics of arid climates
hot desert- Sahara
temperate- gobi
less than 250mm per year
temps above 40
rain is rare and infrequent storms
ranges of temp huge
what is the population of arid climates
low. 2.5 sq km
uneven pop distribution and gathered around water sources
pop of polar climates
13.1m
4 people per sq km
no one in antartica
what is human activity of arid climates
water drawn from oases to irrigate crops.
native people nomadic- prove place to place for sparse vegetation
what are two major climatic types
polar, arid
what is climate change
long term shift in temperatures and weather patterns
what is global warming
long term heating of earths surface observed since the pre industrial period due to human activities e.g. fossil fuel burning
what is anthropogenic climate change
climate change caused by human activity
Climate change impacts on agriculture
Extreme hear reduces surface water which leads to less growth
Drought- crop failures and a loss of arable land
Excessive precipitation- difficulty of planting
New pests and diseases
Which areas of the Asia-pacific region are vulnerable to climate change
Indonesia
Phillipines
Thailand
How much does the agricultural sector account for GHG
1/5-1/4 total greenhouse gasses
What can be used to address challenges related to food security and climate change
Climate smart agriculture
How does climate smart agriculture address challenges related to food security and climate change
Increased productivity (economic) improve nutrition to boost incomes of rural poor who reliant on agriculture for a living
Enhance resilience (social)- reduce vulnerability to drought,pests, disease and improve capacity to adapt to challenges e.g. shortened seasons
Reduces emissions (environmental)- pursue lower emissions for each unit of food produced
Impact of climate smart agriculture on china
/.better water use and efficiency on 44 000 hectares of farmland
New technologies improved soil conditions and production rise by 12%
Reduced GHG by 23 732 tons
Impacts of climate smart agriculture in Niger
Benefits 500 000 farmers
Improved drought tolerant seeds and effective irrigation
Expanded use of forestry for farming
Impacts of climate smart agriculture in Pakistan
Improved productivity of water use in irrigated agriculture
Employment opportunities, increased production, positive environmental outcomes
Half a million families benefitted from 15000 jobs
How much more food needs to be produced by 2050 to feed 9 billion people
70% more food
Why might food production not meet the needs of the growing population
-impacts of Climate change- pests diseases and plants aren’t adapted to survive
Agriculture increases GHG emissions
1/3 food globally is lost to wasted
What classes are soil minerals divided into
Clay
Silt
Sand
What are the different layers in the soil
O-horizon- organic layer
A-horizon- topsoil
E-horizon- eluviation layer
B-horizon- subsoil
C-horizon- parent rock
R-horizon- bedrock
What is the o-horizon (organic layer)
Uppermost layer of the soil, rich in organic matter such as the remains of plants and dead animals. Due to high organic content- black brown/dark brown. Is thin in some soils and thick in others or absent.
What is the A-horizon (topsoil)
Found below o horizon, dark brown colour as it contains maximum organic matter and is also called the humus layer.
It is the region of intense biological activity as most nutrients. And insects bacteria and fungi are found. Humus makes the soil highly porous and can hold air and moisture necessary for germination. Plants stretch roots deep down which holds soil together.
What is the E-horizon (eluviation layer)
Consists of nutrients leached from o and a horizons. Is absent in most soils but present in rainforest soils
What is the B-horizon (subsoil)
Lighter in colour than topsoil due to lower humus content. However comparatively more rigid and compact than the topsoil. Has less organic content but is rich in minerals leached from the topsoil and holds enough water to be a clayey nature.
What is the C-horizon (parent rock)
All upper layers developed from this layer.
Devoid of any organic material and is made up of bedrocks
Plants penetrate thus part
What is the R-horizon (bedroc)
Beneath all layers consists of an unweathered igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rock. High compact, granite, basalt, sandstone, limestone make up the bedrock.
What are zonal soils
Major soil groups often classified as covering a wide geographic region or zone an area mature and well developed soils.
What are the different zonal soils
Latosols- found in tropical rainforests with a high content of iron and aluminium oxides
Podzols- developed in moist climates- coniferous or mixed forested areas
Location of latosols
Tropical regions between the two tropics close to the equator e.g. central Africa, south east Asia
Location of podzols
Northern regions such as Canada, northern Russia
Climate of latosols
High temperatures, high humidity encourages fast chemical weathering of bedrock and are the product of hot , wet climate, thick forest
Climate of podzols
Temperate climates in northern hemisphere- prolonged winters and cool summers
Characteristics of latosols
-thin humus layer- warm climate means litter is broken down quickly
-thick layer of litter due to high biodiversity in the form of leaves/branches
-leeching removes nutrients but the less soluble iron and aluminium are left behind- give soil red colour.
-soil is mixed well and has no distinct layers due to vegetation and living organisms
-topsoil lacks nutrients as the high density vegetation has a rapid uptake of nutrients and others washed away through leaching (leaching occurs because there is more P than ET leading to a soil surplus.
Characteristics of podzols
Humus layer is thick as the cold condition means the decomposition rates are slow
-thin layer of litter as vegetation is of coniferous trees which do not loose leaves only pine needles
-soil lacks nutrients as limited vegetation in the region
-the soil is acidic due to nature of vegetation- results in iron and aluminium oxide leeching through soil as they are able to dissolve. The iron is deposited deeper in the soil which creates a hard pan layer in the soil - results in water logging. Deep soil is red where the iron has been depositing .
Pop density in latosols
High- 500 km2- not all based on soils but climate and development
Pop density in podzols
Low- 50 km2- influenced by climate than soils
human activity in latosols
logging and palm oil industries are common but are more to do with tree coverage and climate than soils
poor fertility in farming means there is more subsistence farming and shifting cultivation is more common and is heavily influenced why soil. slash and burn techniques are used to return nutrients to the soil.
commercial farming becoming more common
mainly pastoral farming as grazing animals can cope better with the crops with nutrient poor soils.
what are different types of soil erosion by water
rill erosion- short lived and well defined streams-rainfall gathered on surface
gully erosion- when rills grow into large gullies
sheet erosion- rain loosens soil and SRO transports soil.
riverbank erosion- soil washed away by unmanaged rivers
types of soil erosion by wind
saltation- small particles lifted by wind and dropped onto ground
abrasion- cause abrasion when they fall back onto the ground
attrition- soil particles hit each other and break up
suspension- remain in the air as dust
creep- rolled along surface
what are the different soil problems
soil erosion- wearing away of topsoil by wind and water
water logging- when the spaces between soil particles fill with water
salinization- build up of salts in the soil
structural deterioration- when the pore spaces in the soil are lost
soil erosion causes (soil problems)
Water: Heavy rainfall and runoff can wash away soil, especially on steep slopes or in areas with poor drainage.
wind
Deforestation: Removing trees weakens soil, making it more prone to erosion- 36 billion tons of topsoil are lost each year.
ploughing- loosens soil making it more vulnerable
Climate: Extreme weather like intense storms or droughts weakens soil, making it more vulnerable to erosion.
water logging causes (soil problems)
Heavy rainfall or flooding that overwhelms the soil’s ability to absorb water.
Irrigation in poorly drained areas, where excess water accumulates.
Compact soil or hardpan layers (podzols) that prevent water from draining properly.
salinization causes (soil problems)
irrigation – Excessive water use leads to rising water tables and salt accumulation.
Evaporation – In arid areas, water evaporates, leaving salts behind.
Deforestation – Reduced vegetation lowers transpiration, causing water tables to rise.
dry climates and low precipitation- salts not flushed
Poor Drainage – Waterlogging prevents salt removal fro
structural deterioration causes (soil problems)
Compaction – Heavy machinery & livestock reduce soil porosity.
removal of trees and soil not held together
salinisation
impacts of soil erosion on agriculture (soil problems)
Lower Crop Yields – Loss of fertile topsoil reduces productivity.
in the last 40 years almost 1/3 of arable land become unproductive
36 b tonnes of topsoil lost
impacts of water logging on agriculture (soil problems)
plant roots can rot due to being surrounded by water
water reduces soil temp, reducing growth
weeds often cope better
land is hard to plough
impacts of salinization on agriculture (soil problems)
affects over 100 countries
10% of all arable land is affected and can rise to 25 where irrigation is used
-chinas northern plain and Indus plain of Pakistan
if more salt in soil then plant root can’t get water from the soil
impacts of structural deterioration on agriculture (soil problems)
vulnerable to soil and water erosion therefore lack of nutrients so no arable farming is able to take place as crops can’t grow neither can grass so no pastoral farming.
management strategies of soil erosion
cover crops- between main harvests
contour ploughing across the slope
windbreaks e.g. hedges or trees
terracing- steps cut into hillsides
mulching- covering soil with plant material
management strategies of water logging
avoid over watering
drain the soil using underground pipes
add sand to clay soils
management strategies of salinization
flush the soil with lots of water however may lead to salinization of rivers and groundwater
e.g. lower Colorado river valley where Mexican farmers could no longer use the river and had to build desalinization plants
use drip irrigation
management strategies of structural deterioration
plant trees- replenish organic matter- agro forestry
use shifting cultivation or rotate crops to allow weakened soils to recover
use tractors over same pathways rather than a wider area
avoid working soil when its wet as compaction is more likely
what is the FAO
food and agriculture organisation
what is the GAFSP
global agriculture and food security program
what is needed to ensure food security
availability- country must be able to import/produce enough food for the population
access- is food able to be accessed dependent on economic, political. social factors
stability- can the availability access and utilisation element be maintained for future generations- permanent and durable access to food
utilisation- needs to be nutritious and stored in hygienic way- adequately metabolised in the body.- food knowledge
how much food needs to be produced by 2050
GAFSP said 56% more food and has allocated 1.7b to projects about hunger and improved food security- improved 45 countries and 13m smallholder farmers
how much of the food produced for human consumption goes uneaten
25% uneaten with lots of waste from field to fork
where is food loss more prevalent in production
developing countries
where is food loss more prevalent in consumption
developed countries
strategies to increase food production (ensure food security)
agricultural expansion
intensive farming
increase fish supplies (aquaculture)
using technology to improve crop breeding- GM crops, hydroponics
what agricultural expansion involves- advantages and disadvantages
This involves clearing new areas of land for agricultural use, typically through deforestation or converting grasslands into croplands.
Advantages:
Increased Food Supply: More land means more crops can be grown, boosting food production.
Economic Growth: Expansion can provide new opportunities for farming and economic development in rural areas.
Disadvantages:
Environmental Damage: Deforestation leads to the destruction of habitats, loss of biodiversity, and contribution to climate change (through CO2 emissions).
Soil Degradation: Land that is cleared and farmed intensively may experience soil erosion,
what intensive farming involves- advantages and disadvantages
This involves increasing the yield from the existing agricultural land through the use of better techniques, higher-quality seeds, improved irrigation, and chemical inputs like fertilizers and pesticides and improved breeding.
Advantages:
Higher Yields: Leads to increased food output without needing to expand farmland.
Efficient Land Use: Reduces the need to clear new land, preserving forests and ecosystems.
Economic Growth: Boosts agricultural productivity, potentially raising farmers’ incomes.
Disadvantages:
Environmental Impact: Overuse of chemicals water pollution, and loss of biodiversity.
Health Risks: Pesticide use and over-fertilization can harm human health. overbreeding- genetic problems with livestock.
what increasing fish supplies involves- advantages and disadvantages
breeding, raising and harvesting fish, shellfish and aquatic plants- farming in water.
advantages: fish has high nutritional value with high protein which people may lack in their diet.
water can be re-circulated- less pressure on water supplies.
disadvantages: competes with agricultural land
demand of freshwater supplies. wild fish need to be caught for farmed fish.
what using technology to improve crop breeding involves- advantages and disadvantages
crops can be genetically modified to produce higher yields or resists pests and diseases. can be grown in a nutrient rich solution- hydroponics.
advantages: becoming cheaper so more people can access, allowa crops to grow in more areas. more crops can be grown-inc production
disadvantages: reduce biodiversity if there is a crop failure which can effect a large area.
strategies to reduce post production losses- ensuring food security
improving post harvest practices
redistributing food e.g. food banks
reducing food waste
what improving post harvest practices involves- advantages and disadvantages
making sure harvesting is done at optimum times and understanding the impact that weather conditions have. drying crops to reduce moisture so less mould.
advantages: increase food available, reduces risk of food poisoning and easy to implement in LICs
disadvantages: small scale and dependent on independent farmers and may have a lack of funds/education.
what redistributing involves- advantages and disadvantages
when food going to waste food is redistributed so it can be used
advantages: reduces food waste, can be used efficiently at a local scale, effective during emergencies
disadvantages: food dumping in LICs and doesnt reduce waste. difficult to organise on a large scale
what reducing food waste involves- advantages and disadvantages
improve labelling, launch consumer awareness campaigns, set food waste reduction targets.
advantages: reduces waste, governments can make change e.g. removing best before dates.
disadvantages: require long term shift in peoples habits and cultural norms which is hard to acheive.
ways to reduce growth in demand for food
shifting to more sustainable diets
encouraging replacement level fertility rates- slow pop growth
what shifting to more sustainable diets involve- advantages and disadvantages
move to plant based diet as it requires less land than meat. this requires advertisement to eat less meat.
advantages: pastoral farming is land intensive so creates more space for arable farming. less meat produces less methane emmissions.
disadvantages: not popular with consumers or farmers who will loose money. not all pastoral farmland is suitable for agriculture.
what encouraging replacement level fertility rates involves- advantages and disadvantages
level of fertility stabilises pop growgh and so reduces demand on supplies, countries like africa with a high FR can introduce measures to lower it e.g. contraception.
advantages: if pop growth can be reduced in areas of rapid growth in sub saharan africa it will reduce demand and improve security.
disadvantages: not short term- takes ages to change. pop policies are unlikely to work and require improvement in economic development.
What is ecology
Stud of the relationship between living organisms including humans and their physical environment
What is biotic potential
The number of births is controlled by the natural reproductive potential of the species which is related to the survival rates of the young species e.g. fish have more offspring as survival rates are low
What is environmental resistance
Limiting factors that prevent survival e.g. climate, soil, geology and topography
The two types of factors are density independent factors and density dependent factors
What are density independent factors (environmental resistance)
Environmental limiting factors which aren’t affected by population size and density. Natural hazards will increase the death rate regardless of population size.
What are density dependent factors (environmental resistance)
Factors such as food supply or disease which will become more prevalent in limiting growth as the population size and density increases
What will happen if there is more biotic potential than environmental resistance
Leas to rapid population growth during logarithmic phase
How have humans overcome natural hazards (density independent factors)
By improving technology allowing to predict when one will take place and tale precautions such as counterweights/resistant buildings and drills.
How have humans overcome food supply limits (limiting factor DDF)
Making disease resistant crops such as GM crops and intensive farming to increase yeilds of crops
Ow have humans overcome the spread of diseases (Density dependent factors)
Increasing research and investment on treating them and making medication to reduce the spread
Why is there rapid growth during the logarithmic phase (1930-2024)
Biotic potential is greater than environmental resistance as we are able to reduce/ prepare for the impact of density independent factors (natural hazards) and density dependent factors (disease, food supply)
What is optimum population
An ideal balance between population and resources
Why does optimum population increase over time
Due to more knowledge and technology to help the acquisition of resources
What will a low dependency ratio do to optimum population
Increase it as more people are working so increases resources
What is overpopulation
Too many people and not enough resources leading to pressure for resources and reduces standard of living
What is underpopulation
Fewer people than the resources we have meaning they can’t be used. An increase in population would mean more effective use and increased standard of living.
What is carrying capacity
The maximum population size that an area or environment can sustain indefinitely. This carrying capacity can be flexible depending on the average lifestyle of the population concerned.
What is ecological footprint
A measure in global hectares of the land/water area needed to produce the resources that humans demand e.g. land needed to sustain a particular population including the waste generated from this production. The earths carrying capacity depends upon each individuals/societies ecological footprint.
What is total productive bio capacity
The total biologically productive area of earths natural systems available to provide the food, water, energy and other resources that we use as humans to absorb our waste.
What is total productive bio capacity
The total biologically productive area of earths natural systems available to provide the food, water, energy and other resources that we use as humans to absorb our waste.
What is gha per person
The average amount of gha (global hectares) available to each person to provide for their consumption and waste.
What is gha per person
The average amount of gha (global hectares) available to each person to provide for their consumption and waste.
What is overshoot
An ecological term referring to a point when the population and its consumption of resources exceed the long term carrying capacity of its environment
