Unit 5 - Managing resources

What is food security?

when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life

How does population growth cause food insecurity?

human population #s are increasing at a faster rate than the rate of food production → food shortages

• Subsistence farming = food insecurity is worse

How does unsustainable production cause food insecurity?

global food supply has increased reliance on the same kinds of crops

• Agriculture is more vulnerable to threats

How does price setting cause food insecurity?

demand increase = price increase

• Harms those in poverty → increase food insecurity

How does land degradation cause food insecurity?

misuse of land → soil exhaustion & low crop yield

• Long term depletion → desertification and soil erosion

How does agricultural disease cause food insecurity?

pests can consume hundreds and thousands of tonnes of food daily

• Fungal disease destroys crops + stored food

How does diverting crops for biofuels cause food insecurity?

increased production of food crops for biofuels

• Land becomes used for energy source crops → decreases amount of food available

How does climate change cause food insecurity?

increased temperatures → increased floods + storm size & natural disasters

How does water shortage cause food insecurity?

lack of water leads to drought → death of crops + livestock

How does poverty cause food insecurity?

people with no money to buy food can become unable to work

• Populations rely on aid for survival

What are some impacts of food insecurity?

• Regional food scarcity

• Nutritional deficiency & malnutrition

• Poverty

• Forced migration

• Conflict — food related unrest

• Famine

• Death

How does subsistence agriculture manage food security?

encouraged in areas where ppl have limited access to food

How does increasing food production manage food security?

using intensification and extensification

• Intensification: higher yields through increased inputs, improved agronomic practices, improved crop varieties

• Extensification: clearing additional land for crop production

How does aquaculture manage food security?

soil free farming that uses waste produced from fish to supply plants w/nutrients

How do hydroponics manage food security?

no soil & grown in water

How does selective breeding + GM crops manage food security?

pest resistant crops + higher yield

How does increasing productivity manage food security?

remove competition from weeds using herbicides, reduce fungal disease by using fungicides

How does reduction in livestock + growing more crops manage food security?

crops could be used to reduce food insecurity & fed to humans rather than livestock

• Moving land for crops, instead of livestock → increase amount grown

How does reducing food waste manage food security?

grocery stores + farmers can donate excess food to livestock farms, education about use by vs. best by dates, plan out meals/proper portions, storing food properly

How does food stockpiling manage food security?

countries prone to natural disasters can stockpile grains/other dry products in case of shortage

How does improving food transportation manage food security?

improve sanitation, prevent + control pests, better food packaging, smart cold chain transport containers + trucks

How does protecting pollinators manage food security?

disappearing due to pesticide misuse + disease

• Reduce pesticide use (e.g. organic farming), planting flowering crops, farming bees as pollinators

How does the World Food Programme + food aid manage food security?

WFP can assist people experiencing food insecurity (services 80+ countries worldwide); food aid = free food to another country in a time of crisis

How does rationing manage food security?

set amount of food per person → ensures fair distribution during scarcity

What is energy security?

reliable availability of energy sources at an affordable price with a consideration of the environmental impacts

What is long-term energy security?

supply of energy that is in line with economic developments and environmental needs

What is short-term energy security?

systems that react promptly to sudden changes in the supply-demand balance

How does inequality in global energy resources cause energy insecurity?

geographical distribution impacts availability of energy resources — some places have to import energy resources

• Middle East has abundant oil reserves

How does population growth cause energy insecurity?

occurring faster than the development of new energy resources

• Puts pressure on strained systems

• Increased use of goods (e.g. cars) has led to increased demand

How does differing energy needs of countries in different income groups cause energy insecurity?

HICs have a higher energy demand than MICs and LICs - HICs are more industrialized + higher living standards

How does climate change cause energy insecurity?

puts pressure on countries to combat levels of CO2 emissions by reducing fossil-fuel consumptions

• Changing energy sources can risk energy security & impact job availability

How does supply disruption cause energy insecurity?

(e.g. natural disasters, piracy, terrorism):

disruption of the supply of fossil fuels or oil can strain energy security

How is increasing prices for energy resources an impact of energy security?

increase in the cost of electricity/gas → energy poverty

How is increasing costs for industry an impact of energy security?

economic instability due to high energy costs

How are job losses + economic recessions an impact of energy security?

industries unable to meet higher costs of energy

How are increased levels of poverty + low standards of living an impact of energy security?

people may use fuels that are harmful to their health (e.g. burning of biomass), energy poverty can harm education

How is reliance onimported sources of ene an impact of energy security?

can lead to int’l debts (hinder a country’s ability to pay for energy + invest in infrastructure); vulnerable to changes in global energy prices

How is civil disruption + conflict an impact of energy security?

groups may compete to control energy-rich mines

• Inequality in energy resources can lead to conflict

How can increasing energy efficiency manage energy security?

reducing energy waste (e.g. insulation in housing)

How can increasing energy production manage energy security?

can be individually (e.g. solar panels), or undertaken by a country

How can investing in renewable resources + carbon neutral fuels manage energy security?

reduce reliance on fossil fuels

• May be hard for countries reliant on fossil fuels

How can investment in local energy projects manage energy security?

gov’t can do this & encourage the development of their own energy supply

How can rationing manage energy security?

can help when supply is limited; can allow the supply system to function under pressure

What are landfill sites?

bury waste in the ground/large mounds — layered with soil to reduce smell + pests

What is incineration?

burning garbage at high temps.

• Waste-to-energy facilities use heat to produce energy

What is storage of waste?

surface impoundments + deep-well injections

What is disposal at sea?

uncontaminated sediments, human remains, fish waste

What is recycling?

collecting materials that can be broken down & reprocessed into new items

What is exporting waste?

global trade in waste from one country to another — LICs need $

How is soil contamination (leading to leaching) + contamination of groundwater an impact of waste disposal methods?

liquid waste (e.g. oils) can be washed deeper into soil → can kill vegetation, loss of habitat, kill aquatic organisms

How are dangerous gases an impact of waste disposal methods?

GHGs, like methane + CO2, are released during degradation of biological waste → possible explosions & global warming

How are visual + noise pollution + unpleasant odor an impact of waste disposal methods?

waste left unmanaged can attract vermin (leads to disease)

How is risk of spreading disease an impact of waste disposal methods?

toxic waste → cancer + lung and skin conditions; septic waste → cholera

How is release of toxic substances an impact of waste disposal methods?

leachate percolated through landfills can contaminate soil + groundwater; incineration of waste can produce toxic substances + cause air pollutions

How are bioaccumulation + biomagnification an impact of waste disposal methods?

bioaccumulation = build-up of toxins in an organism’s body

biomagnification = build-up of toxins in a food chain

• Mercury/heavy metals from mining can enter the food chain and continue to build up — potentially harm humans

How are plastic + microplastics in oceans an impact of waste disposal methods?

oceans break down plastics → microplastics can harm the endocrine system, cause disease, & decrease fertility — potentially harm humans

How can reduce, reuse, recycling reduce the impacts of waste disposal?

waste minimization: source reduction = reducing the amount of waste that needs to be disposed of

• education allows the population to understand how to manage their waste

How can biodegradable plastics reduce the impacts of waste disposal?

made from materials that will break down when exposed to microorganisms

How can food waste for animal feed reduce the impacts of waste disposal?

process food waste to have shelf-life + be free of pathogens — minimizes food waste going into a landfill

How can composting reduce the impacts of waste disposal?

decomposition of organic materials into nutrient-rich product to feed soils

How can fermentation reduce the impacts of waste disposal?

anaerobic process — convert biological waste into sources of energy

How can use of waste to generate energy reduce the impacts of waste disposal?

fermentation can produce biogas w/ energy potential

How can education reduce the impacts of waste disposal?

increases vested interest in waste management if a population understands the benefits of proper waste management

How can financial incentives reduce the impacts of waste disposal?

people earn money by selling their waste

How can legislation reduce the impacts of waste disposal?

various types (e.g. marine or hazardous waste legislation)

• Marine can regulate dumping of harmful materials into oceans

• Hazardous waste can control movement of this waste & restrict its production