FOOD CHAPTER 11 (in depth)

climate change

refers to any long-term trends or shifts in climate over many decades

impacts on food security

climate change

• Changing rainfall patterns, more frequent droughts and floods disrupt crop yields

• Rising temperatures reduce agricultural productivity in tropical regions

• Extreme weather events (cyclones, heatwaves) destroy harvests and infrastructure

population growth

An increase in the number of people living in a particular area over a period of time, due to births and immigration exceeding deaths and emigration.

impacts on food security

population growth

↳ loss of farmland due to urbanization

↳there are constant shifts in diet, and trends 

↳seasonality and location can impact food availability

↳ can lead to higher food wastage as well and demand 

innovation and technology to improve access to food security

precision agriculture

is the use of advanced technology, such as GPS, sensors, drones and data analysis, to monitor and manage agricultural land more accurately, ensuring resources are used efficiently and crop production is maximised.

innovation and technology to improve access to food security

vertical farming

Growing crops in vertically stacked layers often indoors using controlled environments to reduce reliance on outdoor land and maxamise food production in minimial spaces

innovation and technology to improve access to food security

lab grown meat

Meat produced by growing animal cells in a controlled laboratory environment rather than raising and slaughtering animals to reduce land use and environmental impacts associated with livestock farming eg soil degedtration

innovation and technology to improve access to food security

drought resistant crop varities

Crops that have been selectively bred or genetically modified to survive with less water and maintain productivity during periods of drought 

innovation and technology to improve access to food security

aqua culture

The farming and harvesting of aquatic organisms, such as fish, shellfish and seaweed, in controlled freshwater or marine environments.

innovation and technology to improve access to food security

biofortification

The process of increasing the nutritional content of food crops through selective breeding or genetic modification 

improved access to food security

reducing food waste

• Improving storage and cold chain infrastructure in developing nations

• Shifting consumer norms around “imperfect” produce

• Repurposing food waste in food processing

• Redistribution networks (food rescue organisations like OzHarvest)

improved access to food security

safe and fair distribution

• Fair trade: Ensuring farmers in developing countries receive equitable prices

• International food aid reform: Shifting from food aid (creates dependency) to food sovereignty support (builds local capacity)

• Reducing trade barriers: Enabling developing nations to compete in global food markets

• Land rights reform: Particularly for smallholder farmers and Indigenous communities