Resource management

Question 1

Resource management - significance of food

Answer 1

• A well balanced diet is essential in maintaining health and well-being
• In many HICs the intake of calories is higher than people need, leading to obesity
• To work and be productive, people need to have a good diet
• 25% of people suffer moderate to severe food insecurity

Question 2

Resource management - significance of water

Answer 2

• Water is needed in all aspects of life: domestic use, agriculture and industry
• Supplies of water varies across countries dependent on climate
• 25% of the worlds population does not have access to clean water
• Water scarcity affects over 4 billion people globally

Question 3

Resource management - significance of energy

Answer 3

• Humans need energy for light, heat and energy
• HICs consume more energy than LICs
• NEEs are experiencing increased demand for energy due to domestic and industrial demand
• Energy consumption is dominated by fossil fuels, which is unsustainable

Question 4

Changing demand for food in the UK

Answer 4

• Demand for food is increasing
• Types of food eaten are increasingly varied
• Increasing amounts of foods are imported
• Demand of organic produce is increasing
• On average, people are consuming more food than they used to

Question 5

Food imports in the UK

Answer 5

• The UK imports around 46% of the food consumed because:
• Cheaper food is available abroad
• Increased demand for food that is unavailable in the UK due to climate
• Demand for food that is out of season
• Food imports have lead to increased food miles. This increases the carbon footprint of the individuals and the UK as a whole

Question 6

Organic produce in the UK

Answer 6

• The consumption of organic food and drink has steadily increased over the last few years
• Organic farms tend to be smaller scale and use more labour
• Yield on organic farms may also be lower

Question 7

Agribusiness in the UK

Answer 7

• Involves applying business principles to farming
• The main aim is to increase food production via any means, E.G:
• Increasing field size through the removal of hedgerows
• Combining smaller farms to create larger farms
• Increased use of pesticides and artificial fertilisers

Question 8

Changing demand for water in the UK

Answer 8

• Average person in the UK uses 152 litres of water per day, of which less than 5% is used for drinking
• The increase in demand for energy in the UK is due to:
• Population growth
• People showering and washing clothes more frequently
• Farming systems need more water for irrigation
• More use of washing machines, dishwashers, hosepipes

Question 9

Matching supply and demand with water in the UK

Answer 9

• The North and West of the country have a water surplus due to higher levels of precipitation and lower population density
• The South and East of the country have a water deficit due to lower levels of precipitation and higher population density
• To meet the water demand, UK water transfer is used
• Water transfer schemes include: pipelines, using canals and waterways, dams and resevoirs
• A national water grid has been proposed but not completed due to costs, effects on local communities and on ecosystems

Question 10

Water quality and pollution management

Answer 10

• Water quality in the UK is managed by the Environment agency
• Water quality in the UK has improved but only 14% meet the ecological criteria
• Pollution comes from a variety of sources: agriculture (eutrophication), industry, transport, domestic
• There are strict water quality laws which restrict the type and amount of water discharge from industry and domestic systems
• Investments in new pipes and sewage systems
• Water treatment facilites are used to clean water

Question 11

Changing energy mix in the UK

Answer 11

• Energy consumption has fallen by 13% in the last 50 years
• The reduction in energy consumption is due to the decline in the manufacturing industry
• The UKs energy mix has changed over the last 35 years
• In 1990, almost 75% of the UKs energy was from fossil fuels
• Now, around 50% of the UKs energy is from fossil fuels
• Reliance on fossil fuels is being reduced due to oil, gas and coal reserves running out and the fact that fossil fuels contribute to greenhouse gases
• Renewable are increasingly important as they do not emit greenhouse gases and their cost is decreasing

Question 12

Energy security in the UK

Answer 12

• The UK is increasingly dependent on imported energy
• Over 50% of the UKs gas supply is imported
• Over 11% of UKs oil is imported

Question 13

Energy source issues in the UK

Answer 13

• Fossil fuels: non-renewable so will eventually run out, damages the environment and contributes to climate change, issues with optaining source such as oil spills
• Nuclear: building and decommission of of nuclear power stations is expensive, cost of storage, transport and disposal of nuclear waste is high, risk of nuclear accidents
• Renewable energy: high set up costs, visual pollution of wind, solar etc, wind turbines may affect bird migration patterns