Why Do Food Shortages Still Occur

Question 1

Climate change (PHYSICAL)

Answer 1

• changes in climate may cause existing farmland to become unsuitable for farmers
• lengthen growing seasons in some areas, crops may be farmed in certain areas that were not suitable for farming in the past
• when global warming rise, some countries and regions across the world will see their current food production decrease up to. 50% eg staple food producers such as Brazil
• shrinking of glaciers: seasonal melting of glaciers such as those in the Himalayas provides the river basins of major rivers in INDIA AND CHINA with water irrigated crops during the dry season, reported that glaciers could completely melt by 2035, loss of water during dry seasons, smaller harvests by farmers

Question 2

Pests (PHYSICAL)

Answer 2

• pests includes wild rabbits, moles and insects, damages food crops
• eg in Liberia, northwestern AFRICA, armyworms invaded the country in 2009. They devoured all plants and food crops in their path. About 46 villages in northern Liberia were affected , crop damage posed a major threat to the already serious food security situation in Liberia

Question 3

Civil strife (POLITICAL)

Answer 3

-can lead to conflicts between various stakeholders over the control of resources that are important for crop growth and may result in the destruction of these resources that affect food production eg land and water, desperation and frustration about not being able to obtain food, vicious cycle of food strife and food shortage
- eg during civil war, land mines may be planted in farmlands and threaten the safety of farmers working on farmlands even after the conflict has ended, fewer farmers, food production declines

Question 4

Rising demand for meat and dairy (ECONOMIC)

Answer 4

• rising disposable income in the BRIC have led to a high increase in food demand, particularly for meat and dairy products as they are able to afford it,
• rapidly growing urban middle class in these countries and changing food preferences, sustained growth in demand for food is depleting global food inventories, especially grain, leading to food shortages in poorer countries