The challenge of resource management (box 5) Flashcards
Significance of food
- provides us with energy which is needed to work and enjoy ourselves
- women should aim to consume 2000 calories, men 2500, children aged 5-10 1800, girls 11-14 1850 and boys 11-14 need 2200.
- Too much food can lead cause obesity, leading to health issues such as diabeties, strokes, cancer and heart disease = are more common in high income countries (HICs). To little food can also have a negative impact on health and well-being including stunted growth, eye problems, diabetes and heart disease=common in LICs
Significance of water
-Humans need to drink water to survive. Water is also needed for washing, to dispose of waste, in industry and manufacturing. The average person in the UK uses 150 litres of water a day. Only 4% of this is used for drinking. In the UK 75% of water is used by industry.
Significance of energy
- heats our homes, is used to manufacture goods, process food and power transport
- Nowadays, a higher proportion of energy comes from renewable energy such as solar and wind power
How can the rate of pop growth affect worlds resources
-the supply of resources will become increasingly challenging to meet demand. One of the most significant issues is the unequal distribution and consumption of resources
How has demand in the UK for food changed?
- Before supermarkets, most food eaten in the UK was sourced in the UK and seasonal
- Food was also preserved by being bottled, frozen and pickled.
- Today, we are used to enjoying seasonal fruit and vegetables throughout the year=has to be imported from other countries
- Even seasonal fruits and vegetables are imported from other countries. It can be cheaper for for food to be grown in low income countries and transported to the UK, despite the increased food miles
What % of UKs food was imported in 2013?
-47%
What is organic produce?
- Organic farmers operate without chemical pesticides by using natural predators to consume pests such as ladybirds eating blackfly.
- Crops are rotated to maintain nutrients.,natural fertilisers are used.
- In order to combat weeds, mechanical weeders are used instead of chemicals. Animals are reared without the use of drugs
Why has there been increased demand for organic produce?
-It contains fewer pesticides and chemicals;
It is natural;
It is positive for the environment and results in less water pollution
What % of organic produce is sold as supermarkets today?
-75%
What are food miles?
-The distance that food travels from producer to consumer
How much does food in the UK travel each year?
-over 30 billion kilometres each year by air, ship, train and road
What is carbon footprint?
- the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere as a result of the activities of humans
What % of CO2 emissions in the UK are linked to food?
17%
Alternatives to importing food…(5)
-Consuming seasonal produce from the UK.
- Only allowing imported foods that cannot be grown in the UK and limiting which can be transported by aeroplane.
- Label the origin of food on restaurant menus so customers can make an informed choice as to what they eat. Some supermarkets, such as the Co-operative, only stock British meat, and all supermarkets now use the Red Tractor scheme.
- Consuming food that has been produced locally e.g. from farmers’ markets or farm shops.
- Growing your own food in your garden or on an allotment
What is agribusiness?
- When a farm is run like a large industrial business
- They are large-scale, money-intensive commercial activities
