food

• reasons for increases food consumption?

  population increase

  as countries develop, people have more money to buy more food

  transport of food is easier and cheaper
• food insecurity?

  LIC'S often have a food deficit - when the demand is greater than the supply.

  • LIC's cannot produce or afford to import enough food to meet needs
• food security?

  HIC's often have a food surplus - when the supply is greater than demand,

  • can also afford to import when they do not product sufficient
• to live a healthy + active life, people require about 2500 calories.

  • areas like USA and Europe, people consume more calories than needed
  • areas like Pakistan and Venezuela, people consume fewer calories than needed
• how does climate affect food supply?

  extreme temperatures make growing crops challening.

  tropical storms leads to flooding which destroys crops

  changing patterns of rainfall impact on yielf and can lead to droughts/floods.

  drought can lead to desertification and salinisation which affect crop growth
• how does technology affect food supply?

  LIC's lack money to invest in machinery, irrigation systems and transport/storage infrastructure

  • this means their yields are lower than HIC
• how do pests and disease affect food supply?

  crop/livestock vulnerable to pests/disease

  HIC's can afford pesticides + treatments where as LIC's cannot. LIC's are also often in tropical areas where pests such as locusts and disease such as African Swine Flu are more prevalent.
• how does water stress affect food supply?

  affects the ability to irrigate crops due to lack of water

  • LIC's more likely to be effected by water stress due to lack of precipation and poor infrastructure
  • lack of irrigation in drier areas leads to low yields
• how does conflict affect food supply?

  during conflicts, people abandan or are driven of their land leading to large areas of uncultivated farmland.

  conflict can destroy/block transport routes meaning food supplies cannot get there

  also lead to destruction of crops and livestock
• how does poverty affect food supply?

  unable to afford:

  • tech such as machines
  • irrigation
  • quality seeds and livestock

  poor diets then mean people are unable to work due to ill health.
• what is undernutrition?

  people do not consume enough calories
• what is malnurition?

  peoples diet lack the correct nutrients to keep them healthy
• impact of food insecurity: rising prices

  when there is increased demand and reduced supply the prices increase

  those living in poverty often cannot afford a balanced diet so LIC's and NEE's are the most affected
• impact of food insecurity: soil erosion and desertification


  farmers may over cultivate and overgraze the land in an attempt to increase the amount of food available.
• impact of food insecurity: social unrest

  may lead people to riot and loot
• impact of food insecurity: migration

  people may migrate to other countries/urban areas where food supply is better.

  this can impact those areas with the developments of illegal settlements.
• what is irrigation?

  artifical watering of crops.
• advantage of irrigation?

  increases crop production and yields in areas with low rainfall
• disadvantage of irrigation?

  loss of water through evaporation.

  increased salt content of soil which affected crop growth

  increased pressure on water resources
• what is biotechnology?

  also known as genetic modification.

  when genetic material of a crop is altered to make them better e.g. pest/disease resistant, drough resistant etc
• advantages of biotechnology?

  increases yield of crops as they are not susceptible to pests and disease

  may reduce pesticide and herbicide use
• disadvantage of biotechnology?

  concern about impacts of the environment
• what is the New Green Revolution?

  uses techniques such as crop rotation, water harvesting, soil conservation and improvements in seed/livestock.

  • focus is on sustainability and communities
  • improvements in rural transport for better food distribution
• advantages of NGR?

  increased yields, reduced impacts on environment
• what is aeroponics?

  spraying plants with water containing nutrients
• what is hydroponics?

  when plants are growin in a nutrient enriched water solution
• advantages of aeroponics/hydroponics?

  increases yield

  pests/diseases found in soil are avoided
• disadvantages of aeroponics/hydroponics?

  expensive

  requires scientific expertise
• where is almeria?

  south east of spain
• what is almeria?

  worlds largest concentration of plastic greenhouses.

  • covers 40,000 hectares (2021)
  • provides Europe with 40-50% of its fruit/veg
  • unheated greenhouses due to warm climate
• advantages of Almeria, Spain

  1. fruit/veg available all year
  2. hydroponics recycles waste water - reduce water consumption and use of soil
  3. increases jobs in area - 15000 family farmers and 40,000 additional jobs.
  4. provides 40% of the GDP of Almeria.
  5. no artificial heating required
  6. use of drip irrigation reduces water waste as water delivered directly to roots
• disadvantages of Almeria,

  • estimated 5,200 tonnes of chemicalw aste dumped in Mediterranean yearly.
  • ill health amongst workers linked to pesticide use
  • area products 45,000 of plastic waste a year
  • workers live in poor conditions
  • habitats/ecosystems have been destroyed by construction
  • soil contamination due to leaching of pesticides/fertilisers
  • water pollution
• what is sustainable food supply?

  producing food which ensures soil quality, water resources and natural environment are maintained for future generation
• what is organic farming?

  production of food without use of artificial pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers
• advantages of organic farming?

  reduces use of artificial pesticides and herbicides

  reduces eutrophication

  maintains soil fertility
• disadvantages of organic farming?

  more labour intensive

  lower yields

  higher cost to consumer
• what is permaculture?

  use natural systems rather than artifical pesticides.

  e.g. using natural predators to control pests

  also uses rainwater harvesting, composting and crop rotation
• advantages of permaculture?

  reduces use of artificial pesticides/herbicides

  reduces eutrophication

  maintains soil fertility
• disadvantages of permaculture?

  more labour intensive

  lower yields

  higher cost to consumer
• what is urban farming?

  converts wasteland/unused areas such as rooftops into productive land