HASS Geography - Food Security & Interconnections

Comprehensive vocabulary list from HASS Geography notes covering agriculture, food security, biome modification, and global interconnections.

Staple food

A food eaten regularly in large amounts that provides most daily energy (e.g. rice, wheat, maize).

Traditional agriculture

Small-scale, subsistence farming using simple methods and low technology; it is often labour-intensive.

Commercial agriculture

Large-scale, profit-based farming using machinery and technology; it is capital-intensive and often focuses on monoculture.

Vegetation clearance

The removal of natural plants for farming, which can lead to habitat loss as seen in SW WA and Indonesia for palm oil.

Terracing

Farming on stepped slopes to reduce erosion.

Irrigation

The artificial supply of water to crops.

Soil degradation

The decline in soil quality caused by overuse, including erosion, salinity, and nutrient loss.

Food security

Exists when all people have reliable access to enough safe and nutritious food at all times.

Availability (food)

Refers to the total amount of food present in a region through production, imports, and storage.

Accessibility (food)

The ability of people to afford and physically obtain food through available resources, income, and transport systems.

Utilisation (food)

How well the body uses food nutrients.

Stability (food)

Having consistent and reliable access to food over time.

Malthusian Trap

A theory suggesting that population grows faster than food supply, leading to famine, disease, and conflict.

Sustainable farming

Farming that protects resources like soil and water for future generations.

Place

A part of the Earth’s surface that has been given meaning or value by people.

Perception

The way people interpret or understand a place based on their experiences and values.

Interconnection

The linking of people and places through movement, trade, and communication.

Globalisation

The increasing connection and interaction of people and countries around the world.

ICT (Information Communication Technology)

Technology used to communicate and share information, such as the internet and phones.

Time-space compression

The reduction in time taken to travel or communicate over distance due to technology, making the world feel smaller.

Functional distance

The time it takes to travel between two places, which is reduced by better transport.

Anthrome

A biome that has been significantly altered by human activities such as farming, settlements, or urban development.

Biome modification

The process where humans change natural environments through activities like farming, clearing land, or irrigation.

Climate change

The long-term change in temperature and weather patterns caused by human activity, affecting food production.

Cultivation

The preparation and use of land to grow crops through planting, ploughing, and harvesting.

Deforestation

The large-scale clearing of forests for agriculture or development, causing environmental damage.

Developed (MEDC)

High-income countries with advanced industry and strong infrastructure.

Developing (LEDC)

Lower-income countries with less development and more poverty.

Genetic modification

Altering the DNA of organisms to improve traits like yield and resistance.

Pastoralism

Farming focused on raising livestock like cattle and sheep.

Yield

The amount of crop produced per area of land.

Infrastructure

The basic systems and structures (roads, transport, communication) needed for a society to function.

Sustainable tourism

Tourism that protects the environment and respects local communities while meeting current needs.