Case studies

• Milk caps

  A milk quota was set up after European milk production outstripped consumer demand. It lead to milk lakes and butter mountains - overproduction. From 1984 member states were fined heavily for producing too much milk.
• Green Revolution

  • began in 1943 in Mexico wanting to improve yields and eliminate world hunger
  • used dawf plants which were smaller so wouldn't fall over in wind creating less waste
  • chemicals from pesticides can wash into rivers causing birth defects
  • wheat rice and maize crops were planted
• positive impacts of green rev

  • higher incomes and more jobs
  • reduced poverty where it is used
  • reduced deforestation
  • higher yields
  • reduces green house gas emissions
  • reduction in food prices
  • crops can be grown anywhere
  • encourages crop resistance to pests and disease
  • yields throughout all seasons
• negative impacts of green rev

  • stopped the natural plant resistance process
  • lack of biodiversity
  • crops can by wiped out by one disease
  • non sustainable methods
  • advanced beyond distribution networks
  • reduces quality of soil used for growing crops
  • may not create a profitable outcome
• food security - Somalia

  • Somalia is suffering effects of 2020/23 droughts, conflicts and flash floods
  • 6.6 million people were going to face crisis level food insecurity
  • 1.4 million forced to leave their homes
  • cooked school meals provided to relive hunger and encourge attendance
  • take home rations provided to promote gender equality
  • patients provided monthly food baskets
  • helped vulnerable communities strengthen resilience
• NHS

  • life expectancy increased by 12 years after it was made
  • see 4 billion patients every 24 hours
  • contraceptive pill used by 7.8 million
  • 77,000 hip operations per year
  • 68,00 IVF cycles
  • established in 1948
• John Snow - 1854


  used mapping to prove cholera was a result of drinking contaminated water and when he removed the contaminated pump cases dropped immediately
• Deli's air quality

  • air smells and tastes metallic
  • causes headaches, school closure, eye watering, cuts life expectancy by 6 years and asthma
  • Devali causes high levels of air pollution from fireworks
  • caused by vehicles, stubble burning, fireworks and 15 new coal power plants
• Chernobyl ukraine - 1986


  • explosion of a power plant which didn't have containment to prevent leaks
  • caused high level of infant mortality, still births, leukaemia, cataracts, sheep deaths and contaminated vegetables
• Glasgow - health


  • cold rainy weather caused a lack of sunlight leading to a vitamin D deficiency
  • in poorest areas everyone lives less 500m from vacant or derelict land
  • 15% higher chance of death if poor
  • housed 34,000 in early 70s but now under 13,000
  • life expectancy for man is 68
  • 30% higher risk of dying before 65
  • residents are 30% more likely to die young
  • homicide rates have reduced by 40% since 2007
  • 2x more murders than London
  • mortality rates 15% higher than similar areas
• Great Pacific Garbage Patch

  • 3x the size of Texas
  • runs from Japan to Hawaii
  • sea creatures diets are composed of 74% plastic
  • 70% of marine debris sinks to the ocean floor
  • as it isn't near any coastline no country will take responsibility for the cleanup
• Santorini - soil

  • volcanic eruption means soil has unique texture
  • soil has little organic matter and high levels of minerals so low ph
  • acidic soils helps grapes preserve acidity for wines
  • minerals, lack of clay gives wine a distinct flavour, shield from disease
  • wine was able to withstand month long sea voyages due to sweetness and high alcohol levels
  • grape vines are low so are protected fro wind
  • gapes are naturally watered by anedosa which is fog
  • calcareous soils are pours which retains humidity and releases moisture at night for vines to use
  • sea breeze prevents fungal diseases
• Tiyeni Project - NGO

  • shows farmers how to improve crop yields using a low cost, low technology method
  • typically doubles or triples yields from one harvest to the next
  • train Malawians to use deep bed farming which uses a pickaxe to break up compacted soil so roots and water can penetrate more deeply instead of causing soil erosion through run off
  • uses other methods such as composting, cover crops, mulching, contour planting and crop rotation