What are the causes of INEQUALITY in Global Food Security?

Question 1

Physical factor ~ SOIL TYPES

Answer 1

CLAY:
- heavy & acidic
- high levels of nutrients and organic matter
- small particle size
- high water retention can lead to
waterlogging.
PROBLEMS ~ poorly drained , acidity
SOLUTIONS ~ drainage pipes , add lime

SANDY:
- well drained
- light
- less acidic
PROBLEMS ~ prone to drought, leaching
SOLUTIONS~ irrigation, add clay

SILTY:
- poor organic matter and mineral content.
-small pore size means water is retained
PROBLEMS ~ moisture deficiency
SOLUTIONS ~ irrigation

LOAM:
- well aerated
- little erosion
- best for agriculture due to mix of clay, sand and silt.

Question 2

Physical factor ~ SOIL CHARACTERISTICS

Answer 2

TEXTURE:
- The size of mineral particles in the soil.
- Determines the soils ability to store
nutrients and hold moisture.

STRUCTURE:
- The way the soil particles are bound together to form soil aggregates
- Allow water , air and plant roots to penetrate the soil.

NUTRIENT SUPPLY:
- Chemical elements are supplied by the soil for GROWTH.
- nitrogen, phosphorus & potassium
- Partly decomposed matter increases nutrient supply.

Question 3

Physical factor ~ TEMPERATURE & GROWING SEASON

Answer 3

Crops require :
- a minimum threshold temperature
- a growing season of a specific length

Examples int the UK:
- Cereals ~ temperature of 6 degrees
- Cotton ~ 200 day growing season
- Wheat ~ 90 day growing season

Question 4

Physical factor ~ PRECIPITATION & WATER SUPPLY

Answer 4

EFFECTIVENESS & SEASONSAL DISTRIBUTION :

• In some countries there is an UNCERTAIN balance between precipitation and food production.

Example ~ INDIA:
- Depend heavily on the annual monsoon rains.
- If these are late or fail, it severely impacts on food security.

INTENSITY & DURATION:

• Prolonged periods of moderate intensity rainfall can INFILTARTE the soil.
• Heavy down pours promote RAPID RUN-OFF.
• Moisture often fails to reach the root zone of crops.

Question 5

Physical factor ~ ALTITUDE

Answer 5

Shows how climate , soils and growing seasons are all INTERLINKED.

As height INCREASES:

• Temperature DECREASES
• Snow and precipitation INCREASES
• Growing season DECREASES
• Soils take longer to develop
• Nutrient recycling is slower
• Leaching ( wash away of nutrients)
  becomes more frequent.

Question 6

Physical factor ~ ASPECT

Answer 6

• The compass orientation of a slope.
• Determines MICROCLIMATE

In the northern hemisphere, south-facing slopes :
- Receive more SUNLIGHT
- Warmer and have drier soils
- crops can grow at HIGHER ALTITUDES

North-facing slopes have LOWER:
- Temperatures
- Evapotranspiration

Question 7

Physical factor ~ SLOPE ANGLE

Answer 7

Affects:
- Rate of erosion
- Use of machinery
- soil depth

SOIL ON STEEP SLOPES :
- Thin
- Poorly developed
- Excessively drained

SOIL AT THE BASE:
- waterlogged

SOIL ON GENTLER SLOPES:
- less movement of water through soil
- less erosion
- reduced leaching

Question 8

SEP factor ~ Land Ownership

Answer 8

Farmers are either:
- Owner occupiers
- Tenants
- Landless labourers on state-owned farms

RUSSIA:
- 26,000 farms are private
- The vast majority remain under state ownership

BANGLADESH:
- ‘share- cropping’
- Landlord provides inputs for farming
- In exchange for a share of the harvest
- usually 50%+ leaving farmers poor & food insecure.

Question 9

SEP Factor - Technology

Answer 9

• Technological developments such as new strains of seeds and fertilisers & new methods of irrigation can improve production.
• However , it FAVOURS AC’s due to their greater CAPITAL reserves & EXPERTISE.
• Creates a larger divide between the food insecurity of AC’s and LIDC’s .
• LIDCS often used appropriate technology which are often more SMALL-SCALE.

Example ~drip irrigation schemes & simple tools manufactured locally.

Question 10

SEP Factor ~ Capital

Answer 10

AC’s farming is CAPITAL INTENSIVE:
- Investment is supplied by banks , private investors & Governments.

LIDC’s farming is LABOUR INTENSIVE:
- Limits output leading to food insecurity

Question 11

SEP Factor ~ Competition

Answer 11

FOOD MARKETS:
- DECREASE in competition
- Due to the growing dominance of retail chains, agribusiness & TNC’s.
-Caused exploitation of prices paid to farmers for their produce and the prices consumers have to be for food.

SCARCE RESOURCES:
- Greater competition for land, water & energy.
- lad is lost to urbanisation
- Government decision to grow biofuels on good quality agricultural land , decreases food production.

Question 12

SEP factor ~ Land Grabbing

Answer 12

Land grabbing ~ the acquisition of farmland in developing countries by other countries seeking to ensure their own food security.

WHY:
Countries such as China & India :
- shortage of productive land
- water scarcity
- price fluctuations

TWO TYPES OF INVESTORS:
- Countries with land an water constraints but rich in capital e.g The Gulf States

• Countries with a large populations and food security concerns e.g China & India

Question 13

The advantages & disadvantages for target countries ~ Land Grabbing

Answer 13

ADVANTAGES:
- Creation of local employment
- Development of rural infrastructure
- Resourcing and introduction of new agricultural technologies
- Creation of local food surpluses

DISADVANTAGES:
- Local farmers displaced from their own land with no alternative employment

• Creation of unequal power relations between foreign national government and local farmers.