Resources Flashcards
What is a resource?
Something that satisfies a need or a want. As a result all resources have a value and a purpose
What is the difference between malnourished and undernourished?
Malnourished means eating the wrong type of food, so your diet is unhealthy
Undernourished means not getting enough calories to sustain a healthy diet
Why and how is demand for food changing?
We are a multicultural society so lots of people eat lots of different foods now
People have more disposable income so they can buy more expensive food
Buying food is more convenient so people demand a wider selection of food
Importing is cheaper from better technology
This means there is a demand for wider types of food
Why does the UK need to import 40% of its food?
UK produced food can be more expensive because of poor harvests
The UK climate can be unsuitable for some food types
Demand for seasonal produce year round
What are food miles?
The distances travelled by foods imported to the UK. Large numbers of food miles adds to our carbon footprint from commercial cultivation and transport by planes and lorries
What is an agribusiness?
An intensive farm aimed at maximising the amount of food produced. Farms are run as commercial businesses. They have high levels of investment and modern technology and chemicals. They can have a very high yield. GMOs and new technology also means different types of crops can be grown.
What are social, economic and environmental impacts of agribusinesses?
Only need a small number of people employed More efficient so makes more money Cheaper food for people High startup costs Alleged health problems Lots of water is needed Chemicals like fertilisers can harm the environment (eutrophication) Pesticides can harm local wildlife Soil erosion Boring landscapes
What are examples of an agribusiness and an organic farm?
Lynford House Farm is an agribusiness
Riverford Organic Farms are organic farms
How is the UK responding to the social and economic issues linked to growing food miles and increasing agribusiness?
Encouraging more people to eat organic foodstuffs
Encouraging seasonal food consumption and local food security
Reducing food loss and waste
Considering import taxes on food
What is the UK’s water demand like?
75% of supply is used in industry
The amount used by the average household has risen by 70% since 1985
The amount used per person is 150 litres per day
What are some reasons for the increased water demand in the UK?
Demand for out of season food Changes in personal hygiene Increased industrial production Increased leisure use More houses being built Increased UK population Increased wealth
How can the UK’s increased water demand by managed?
Use of domestic water meters
Increasing use of grey water
More efficient domestic appliances
Water transfer schemes
What are water transfer schemes?
Transferring water from areas of surplus to areas of deficit using pipes. Supply and demand is matched so everywhere has enough water. No water has to be imported. There are negative environmental and wildlife in source areas and dams disrupt environments. It is very expensive. E.g. water from Kielder Dam in Northumberland being pumped to Newcastle, Sunderland and Middlesborough
What are domestic water meters?
Using a meter to measure how much water your house is using and charging water use based off this, encouraging people to use less water. People save money so have an incentive to use less water but not everyone has a meter and some people with meters do not care about them.
What are water efficient appliances?
Appliances that save water and recycle their grey water and use it again. It is cheaper in the long term for saving water but they can break and are expensive in short term so many people will not buy them.
What is increased use of grey water?
Recycling used water and using it again for things that do not need completely clean water. It can be used in factories and houses but public opinion is not good of it. Very expensive for homes (£1000/home).
What are causes of water pollution?
Chemicals such as pesticides and fertilisers
Untreated water from industries
Rubbish may be dumped
Runoff from roads and motorways
People putting inappropriate items into the water disposal system
Sewage containing bacteria pumped into rivers and the sea
Pollution from boats
What are the the social, economic and environmental impacts of water pollution?
The supply of drinking water can be poisoned
Microbacteria can cause the spread of disease
Fishermen and workers in the tourist industry may suffer
Toxic waste can poison wildlife
What are different water quality management strategies in the UK?
Legislation: laws limiting discharge factories can put in rivers. It is free but people could break them and it can harm the economy
Education campaigns: informing the public about damage from inappropriate items in sewage systems. A lot of the solutions are easy but people do not have to follow them
Waste water treatment: removing suspended solids to produce clean water. Cleans up dirty water but is quite expensive and is a local act
Building better infrastructure: better sewers and water mains can prevent spills and accidents. Spills are often expensive but so are the schemes to prevent them
Pollution traps: putting reed beds next to motorways that are on rivers. Looks nice and prevents pollution at the source, but there is not always room and is not completely effective
Green roofs and walls: new buildings with roofs of grass and trees to filter out pollution in rainwater. Also reduces flooding risk and CO2 in atmosphere, but takes time and can be expensive
What are the four resource types?
Physical - natural materials at or below the Earth’s surface
Energy - resources used specifically for heat and power
Mineral - materials normally quarried or mined from the ground in raw form
Biological - anything living we use from the natural environment or resources grown for human use
