Resources management - Food inc. optional element Flashcards
Why is there an increasing demand for food in the UK?
UK population growth
(Despite a productive farming industry, we important 40% of our food)
Demand for seasonal products all year round
Wider food tastes- growing demand for high value food imports such as avocados and spices
Why does the UK import food?
Demand for greater choice and more exotic foods
UK food production can be expensive
Cheaper food from abroad
UK climate is unsuitable for some food production
Demand for seasonal produce all year round
What are the advantages of large food miles?
Helps transform people’s standard of living in LICs
Greater variety of food
Farming in LICs doesn’t contribute to global warming as it is more labour intensive rather than relying on machinery
Growing food in the UK in greenhouses is very expensive and energy intensive
What are the disadvantages of large food miles?
Carbon footprint (carbon emissions and climate change)
Food needs lots of chemicals like preservatives to stay fresh (bad for health)
Doesn’t support UK farmers
What is agribusiness?
Intensive farming aimed at maximising amount of UK food production
Farms are run as commercial business
High levels of investment and use modern tech and chemicals
What is organic farming?
Food grown without chemicals
Increasing demand for organic produce
Local and seasonal produce
What are some advantages of agribusiness?
Produces large amounts of food quickly and cheaply
Satisfies demand from UK population
Profitable (small amount of workers due to mostly machinery)
What are some advantages for organic farming?
Health benefits
Better for environment (no chemicals)
Encourages wildlife with more hedges and wild field margins (supports biodiversirty)
Better flavour
What are some disadvantages of agribusiness?
Chemicals get into the food supply and water supply
Hedgerows removed
What are some disadvantages of organic farming?
Can’t mass produce
Expensive
Definition of food security
Having access to enough safe, affordable, nutritious food to maintain a healthy, active life
Definition of food insecurity
Being without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food
Why is the global demand for food increasing?
Population growth
Economic development
Why is the global demand for food growing? 6 marker
The world’s population is predicted to grow from 6.1 billon in 2000 to 9.2 billion in 2050. This means that there are more mouths to feed. However, it will grow much faster in poor areas such as Africa where population is growing at 2.51% per year and slower in rich continents such as Europe where population is growing at 0.1%
There is a clear correlation between the areas with greatest population growth and the areas with the highest levels of undernourishment
As countries develop and become NEEs such as India and China people become rich and their diets change. They eat more meat and less rice.
The grain is fed to animals to produce the meat people eat rather than being eaten by people. The grain is fed to animals to produce the meat people eat rather than being eaten by people.
This means more resources are needed to feed the people of the country. People also eat more convenience food which increases calorie intake
How many hectares is the Lynford House Farm in East Anglia?
570 hectares
What foods does Lynford House Farm grow?
Wheat, sugar beet and potatoes
What are some features of of Lynford House Farm?
Flat fertile land which is intensively farmed to maximise productivity and profitability
Machinery costs are high but make the farm efficient as they only employ a small amount of workers
What does the Riverford Organic Farm in Devon do?
Delivers boxes of vegetables around the UK
What are some of the features of Riverford Organic Farm?
Reduce food miles
Supports local farmers
Provides local employment
Builds strong link between grower and consumer
What is irrigation?
Applying water to land in order to supply crops and other plants with necessary water
There are various types of irrigation that can be used such as drip irrigation (water dripped from holes in pipes directly onto the soil)
How can irrigation increase food supply?
Irrigation can increase crop yields when water supply is low or unreliable.
This is especially important in arid climates
The problem is that irrigation can cause further water stress in a region
What are aeroponics?
Growing plants are suspended in a mist environment without the use of soil
What are hydroponics?
A method of growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions in water, without the use of soil. Plant roots are dangled into the solution
How do aeroponics and hydroponics increase food supply?
These methods use less water than traditional soil-growing methods
Conditions can be optimized for plant growth
Plants can also be stacked on top of one another
The problem is that these methods are expensive and require expert knowledge
What is the new Green revolution?
A combination of modern technology and traditional farming to boost food production is poorer countries
How does the new Green Revolution increase food supply?
It aims to improve crop yields in LICs in a more sustainable way by educating people about
- Drought-resistant plants
- Pest-resistant plants
- Pest and disease control
- Appropriate farming methods
- Crop rotation
What is Biotechnology?
Genetically modified crops have been manipulated for a variety of benefits including:
- Improved nutritional value of crops (eg rice with added vitamins )
- Improved shelf life
- Improved resistance to drought, pests and diseases
How does Biotechnology increase food supply?
Genetic engineering is used to improve food supply
May not lead to an increase in food supply
There are also ethical and environmental concerns
What is appropriate technology?
Technology that is simple and cheap for the communities in which they will be used
It is a low-tech solution suited to the needs, skills, knowledge and wealth of the people
Eg: Human-powered pumps (easy to maintain) and a simple drop irrigation system made from local materials
How does appropriate technology increase food supply?
This strategy is aimed for poorer communities. It is one that they can use for generations to come
What is an example of large-scale agricultural development?
Almeria, Spain
Why is it hard to grow crops in Almeria?
It is hot and dry
Difficult to grow plants with water
How many hectares of greenhouse does Almeria have?
40,000
What is a social advantage of Almeria?
Plants can be grown outside of their normal growing season, increasing the variety of diet for people throughout the year
What are two social disadvantages of Almeria?
The greenhouses often use pesticides to protect the crops from pests.
These increase health risks for people working there and have been proven to cause some cancers
Some of the immigrants are from North Africa and work illegally in Spain, this raises tensions in the region
What are two economic advantages of Almeria?
The scheme brings in over $1.5 billion per year in income
Many agribusinesses have located in the area providing high quality R&D jobs. Especially in the Almeria Agribusiness cluster
What are two environmental disadvantages of Almeria?
The plastic used has badly damaged local ecosystems and the environment
Waste plastic is often burnt and this is toxic and hazardous to human health
Local riverbeds have been blocked up and so there are fears that these could break and cause catastrophic flooding during intense rainstorms in this part of Spain
What are two environmental advantages of Almeria?
Hydroponics mean that the plants only get the nutrients they need via the drip hoses, there is less waste
Strict EU rules on quality have helped cut chemical use and raise the standards of production
What is the meaning of sustainable food supply
Food that is produced in ways that does not damage the environment and provides social benefits such as good quality food and safe and healthy products
It should also contribute to local economies
What is organic farming?
Production of food without the use of chemicals such as pesticides and artificial fertilisers
What are the benefits for the environment? (organic farming)
Food is produced in harmony with the environment and reduces the harmful effects of chemicals
Protects biodiversity
What are the benefits for the people? (organic farming)
Organic food brings health benefits
Organic farmers tend to sell their produce close by, reducing food miles
What are the disadvantages? (organic farming)
Labour intensive
Lower yield compared to intensive farming
Makes organic produce more expensive
What is permaculture?
Similar to organic farming
Promotes farming in harmony with the natural environment
Rainwater harvesting, crop rotation, mixed cropping
What are the benefits for the environment? (permaculture)
Soil remains healthy
What are the benefits for the people? (permaculture)
Mixed cropping provides a varied diet
What are the disadvantages? (permaculture)
Not really adopted in LICs and NEEs yet
What are urban farming initiatives?
Conversion of water or derelict land into productive farmland or vegetable gardens. This can also happen on rooftops
What is the Michigan Urban Farming Initiative?
Urban communities are encouraged to work together to turn wasteland into productive farmland
-Provides jobs and easier access to healthy food
Over 150 raised garden beds have been created on waste ground for use by local communities
What are the benefits for the environment? (UFI)
Improves green space in the city
Improves biodiversity
What are the benefits for the people? (UFI)
Promotes healthier diets and lifestyle in urban areas
Often community initiatives which promote social cohesion
What are the disadvantages? (UFI)
Land is often in demand and there is pressure to develop this land for other more profitable uses
What are the environmental benefits of obtaining fish and meat from sustainable sources?
Sustainable fishing using lines and poles rather than nets conserves fishing stocks
Sustainable livestock rearing commonly involves pasture fed free range animals with minimal use of chemicals/vaccinations
What are the benefits for the people? (fish and meat)
Benefits the environment and higher standards of animal welfare
Good feeling-ethical consumerism
What are the disadvantages? (fish and meat)
Lower productivity so the sustainably sourced products tend to be more expensive in order for them to be more profitable
What is seasonal food consumption?
Only buy food when it is in season
eg strawberries in June/July only
What are the environmental benefits (seasonal food consumption)
Reduces food miles and therefore carbon emissions
What are the benefits for the people? (seasonal food consumption)
Fresh produce more available at local farmers markets-health benefits
What are the disadvantages? (seasonal food consumption)
Only eating seasonal foods may be limiting and our diets will be less varied
What are the benefits for the environment (reduced waste and losses)?
Composting of food waste which can be used as a natural fertilisers
Less food waste going to landfill
Rotting food produced methane which is a greenhouse gas
What are the benefits for the people? (reduced waste and losses)
Food waste can generate methane which be used to generate energy
Using up food helps families save money
Food preservations makes food last longer which is more convenient
What are the disadvantages? (reduced waste and losses)
Still considerable wastage of food
What is an example of sustainable farming in a LIC or NEE?
Jamalpur, Bangladesh
Where is Jamalpur?
A very poor area in the north of the capital city Dhaka and is a very agricultural area
What is rice fish farming?
It is when small, indigenous fish that can live in flooded paddy fields are introduced to flooded paddy fields whilst the rice is growing
How is rice fish farming good for the fish
They are safely hidden away from birds
The fish can thrive in the dense rice plants
How is rice fish farming good for the rice
Fish dropping act as a source of fertiliser
Fish eat insect pests
They help keep oxygen circulating around the fish field
Can increase rice yields by up to 10%
How is rice fish farming good for the farmers?
A diet of fish is an excellent source of protein and so improves people’s health
Extra rice yields not only put meals on tables but also enable families to sell surplus food at market
Why is the rice farming scheme in Bangladesh good overall?
It is sustainable
Involves using local people and expertise
Improves diet
Relatively easy to establish
Good example of appropriate technology
What factors affect global food supply?
Climate
Technology
Pests and diseases
Water Stress
Conflict
Poverty
