FOod security

Food security

A state where all people at all times have access to enough safe, nutritious food to sustain a healthy life.

Four components of food security

Food availability, food accessibility, food knowledge and resources, food stability.

Food availability

Having enough food of appropriate quality available on a consistent basis.

Food accessibility

Physical and economic access to food.

Appropriate use of food

Using food safely and applying knowledge about nutrients, clean water, and sanitation when preparing food.

Food stability

A reliable supply of food over time.

Poverty and food security

Poverty leads to struggles in meeting basic food needs and vulnerability to changes in food availability and accessibility.

Natural disasters and food security

Disasters like droughts or floods can damage or destroy local agriculture, affecting food sources.

Human activities and food security

Armed conflicts and land repurposing can interrupt food supply lines and reduce local food supplies.

Aboriginal fire use for food security

Aboriginal Australians used fire for hunting and land management to improve food security.

Benefits of fresh plant growth after fires

Attracted herbivores and provided food and stored water in plant roots.

Impact of controlled fires on the landscape

Created a mosaic of grasses and plants, attracting various bird and animal species.

Benefit of ash from fires

Contains minerals that help plants grow, increasing land productivity.

Controlled fires and disaster prevention

Removing dry fuel from landscapes reduces the threat of disaster fires.

Population growth concern and food security

Some researchers believe population growth outpaces food production, leading to food insecurity, starvation, and famine.

Food production and population growth

New technologies, the Green Revolution, human adaptability, and genetic modification have kept pace with population growth.

Green Revolution

Changes in farming regions including new grain varieties, fertilizers, pesticides, and mechanical vehicles.

Soil erosion

Soil broken apart by machinery can be washed or blown away.

Soil salinity

Natural salt occurrence in soil that can be problematic for plant roots.

Soil acidification

Decrease in soil pH over time due to fertilizers and plant material removal.

Desertification

Land turning into dry areas, reducing productivity.

Economic factors and water demand

Industrial development and more households lead to higher water consumption.

Environmental factors and water for food

Climate change affects rainfall patterns and glacier melt, impacting water supply.

Glacier shrinkage impact

Reduces water flow available for crop growth.

Climate change and extreme weather

Warmer atmosphere leads to more evaporation and rainfall, causing droughts and floods.

Climate change and water scarcity

Warmer temperatures lead to less snow, reducing river water levels.

Rising temperatures and plant distributions

Pests move into cooler areas, increasing plant diseases.

Climate change impact on oceans

Oceans warm and become more acidic, affecting marine life and food security.

Effects of rising sea levels

Kills crops, affects fish farming, and results in saline intrusion.

Land competition threat to food security

Farmland conversion for housing, mines, golf courses, and factories driven by population growth and profit motives.

Genetic modification and food production

Changing genes of plants and animals for desirable traits like pest resistance and drought tolerance.

Benefits of GM food production

Pest resistance, disease resistance, improved nutrition, cold tolerance, and drought resistance.

Opposition to GM foods

Concerns about long-term effects, impacts on other organisms, and environmental risks.

Australian food productivity increase

Adoption of new technologies like efficient irrigation systems and new crop varieties.

Threats to food production in Australia

Changes in rainfall patterns and ancient, nutrient-poor soils.

Australian farmers' response to challenges

Adoption of new technologies and focus on repairing environmental damage.

Effective landscape management

Looking after areas of the farm not planted with crops or pastures.

Benefits of crop rotation and diversity

Improve soil health and assist with pest control.

Agroforestry

Growing trees on the farm for shade, water control, and erosion prevention.

Integrated pest management benefits

Controls pests by encouraging natural predators instead of pesticides.

Importance of soil cover with organic material

Improves soil health and reduces the need for weed spraying.

Advantage of not disturbing soil by tilling

Prevents erosion and maintains microorganism health.

Fracking

Creating fractures in rocks to extract more oil and gas.