The UK

Question 1

How has the demand for food in the UK changed?

Answer 1

The demand for non-seasonal food, food not native to the UK and organic food has increased

Question 2

Where is the UK’s imported food grown and why?

Answer 2

In LICs because it’s cheaper

Question 3

What percentage of the UKs food was imported in 2019?

Answer 3

45%

Question 4

What is the benefit of LICs growing food to be imported to the UK?

Answer 4

It creates jobs for local people for farming, transport and packaging. This income can be taxed and reinvested, leading to the multiplier effect

Question 5

Name challenges of LICs growing food to be imported to the UK.

Answer 5

Land previously owned by locals now used for growing produce for the UK, large amounts of water needed and LICs often struggle with water scarcity and people working on farms are exposed to chemicals, such as pesticides.

Question 6

What is organic food?

Answer 6

Food grown without chemicals, such as fertilisers and pesticides

Question 7

What is often used when growing organic food?

Answer 7

Natural predators, such as ladybirds, natural fertilisers, mechanical weeders to combat weeds and animals are reared without drugs, such as hormones, to promote growth

Question 8

What are reasons why organic food has growing in popularity in the UK since 1990?

Answer 8

Less pesticides and chemicals, it’s natural, it’s positive for the environment and results in less water pollution and is believed to taste better

Question 9

Why is organic food expensive?

Answer 9

Yields are lower than farms that use chemicals

Question 10

Where is organic food sold in the UK?

Answer 10

75% of it is sold in supermarkets and the remaining 25% is sold at farmer’s markets and vegetable box schemes (where organic vegetables are delivered to a customer’s door)

Question 11

What is the definition of food miles?

Answer 11

The distance that food travels from producer to consumer

Question 12

How far does UK food travel annually?

Answer 12

30 billion kilometres annually by air, ship, train and road

Question 13

What is the definition of carbon footprint?

Answer 13

The amount of CO2 and other greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere due to human activities

Question 14

How much CO2 is released by the UK by transport used to import food?

Answer 14

19 million tonnes annually

Question 15

How is food miles and carbon footprint linked?

Answer 15

The higher the food miles, the higher the carbon footprint

Question 16

What percentage of the UK’s carbon dioxide emissions are related to food?

Answer 16

17%

Question 17

What percentage of the UK’s carbon dioxide emissions are related to transport?

Answer 17

11%

Question 18

What mode of transport generates the most emissions?

Answer 18

Aeroplanes, generating 100x more emissions than other modes of transport

Question 19

How can the UK reduce emissions related to food?

Answer 19

By reducing the volume of products flown into the UK

Question 20

What are the alternatives to importing food in the UK, to reduce emissions?

Answer 20

Only allowing imported foods that cannot be grown in the UK and limiting food transported by aeroplanes.

Question 21

What can locals do in the UK to reduce emissions related to food?

Answer 21

Consuming seasonal produce from the UK, consuming food produced locally (e.g. at farmers’ markets) and growing their own food in gardens or allotments