GEO -challenge of resources

• Resource

  A stock or supply of something that has a value of purpose
• Resources essential for survival

  • Food
  • Water
  • Energy
• Social well-being


  When basic human needs are met as well as the development of relationships and interactions with other people
• Economic well-being


  When people have present and future financial security
• Clean drinking water

  Reduces the spread of water-borne illnesses, improving health
• Clean water source

  Increases gender equality as women do not have to spend time collecting water
• Girls have more time to get an education

  Increases their potential to join the work force
• Improved health

  Increases productivity in workers, which increases profits and tax-rates
• Water

  Essential in manufacturing, including clothing and plastic
• Meeting calorific intake guides

  Improves health and quality of life
• Sharing meals

  An important part of community
• Restaurants and cafes


  A large part of the tertiary economy in HICs
• Increased gender equality

  Women have electronics which can reduce the amount of time they spend on housework
• Reduced cooking time on food


  Students can use the internet and devices to study
• Reduced travel time


  More public transport
• Energy


  Essential in manufacturing, including clothing and plastic
• The consumption of resources varies greatly throughout the world
• Generally, HICs consume more resources than LICs, but as many LICs and NEEs are developing, the demand for resources is growing
• Malnourished

  Over 1 billion people fall below the recommended daily calorie intake level of 2000-2400 calories
• Undernutrition

  2 billion people suffer from a poorly balanced diet lacking in minerals and vitamins
• Water is not only essential for people and animals, but is also vital for crops and food supply
• Water is also important as a source of power for producing energy
• The United Nations (UN) estimates that by 2025, there will be 50 countries facing water scarcity
• LICs and NEEs use a higher proportion of water for agriculture compared to HICs where most water is used for industry
• Energy is required for economic development. It powers factories and machinery and provides fuel for transport
• In the past, many countries could depend on their own energy resources, but today, the situation is much more complex, with energy being traded
• Energy consumption is increasing as the world becomes more developed
• The world's HICs use far more energy than LICs, but as countries become more industrialised, the demand for energy will increase
• 45% of the UK's food is imported

  
• Food miles


  The distance that food has been transported between the farm and the consumer
• Increased food miles

  Larger carbon footprints
• 11% of the UK's CO₂ emissions are caused by the transport of food
• Reasons people choose to eat organic food

  • It uses fewer chemicals so people feel it might be healthier
  • It is better for the environment
  • It does not contribute to water pollution
• Trends in food demand in the UK

  • Increasing demand for high-value exports from LICs
  • Increasing all-year demand for seasonal food
  • Increasing demand for organic food

  
• Ways to reduce imported food in the UK

  • Eat only seasonal produce
  • Only import food that cannot be grown in the UK
  • Label food origins so customers can make more informed choices
  • Eating only local food
  • Avoid importing food via planes

  
• Agribusiness

  Involves large farms that produce huge amounts of crops to sell, often with large amounts of money invested, mechanised farms, large areas of land, and increasing amounts of research and development to improve crop yields
• Many agribusinesses now own processing factories, transport vehicles and shops where the products are sold – this is known as 'farm to fork'
• Factors to consider when comparing agribusiness and sourcing food locally

  • Economic sustainability
  • Social sustainability
  • Environmental sustainability
• There has been a 70% increase in the demand for water in the UK since 1985
• Reasons for increasing water demand in the UK

  • The population has increased to 67 million
  • More houses have been built requiring piped water
  • More domestic appliances use large amounts of water