chapter 4 - food tech

unit 1

What are fertilisers?

Chemical compounds applied to soil to promote plant growth.

What is globalisation?

The process by which the world has become interconnected due to increased trade and cultural exchange.

What was the Green Revolution?

A large increase in crop production in developing countries during the 1960s, achieved by using artificial fertilisers, pesticides, irrigation, and high-yield crop varieties.

Define industrialisation in relation to agriculture.

The process where a country or society transforms from primarily agricultural to one based on manufacturing goods and services, often involving mechanisation.

What is irrigation?

The artificial application of water to land to help agricultural crops grow.

What are multinational corporations?

Companies that operate and do business in more than one country.

What is nitrogen fixing?

The use of bacteria in certain plants to convert nitrogen gas from the atmosphere into solid nitrogen usable by plants.

How did industrialisation affect manual labour in agriculture?

It replaced manual labour with mass production using automated machinery and assembly-line processes.

Name three historical agricultural innovations.

The invention of the plough, development of irrigation techniques, and use of agricultural chemicals.

What was the Agricultural Revolution?

A period starting in the early 18th century in the UK that introduced new farming techniques and machinery, greatly increasing food production.

Describe the earliest irrigation tool known as the shadoof.

A lever-like device with a bucket on one end and a counterweight on the other, used to draw water from rivers for crops.

What is a qanat?

A tunnel system in Persia that brought underground water from hills to farmland without needing to lift water.

How does a sakia (Persian water wheel) work?

It uses buckets attached to a water wheel, initially powered by animals, to lift and divert water to crops.

What impact did the plough have on farming?

It allowed soil to be cut and loosened efficiently, increasing the quality and quantity of crops and reducing labour.

What was Jethro Tull’s seed drill?

A machine invented in 1701 that planted seeds in neat rows and covered them, reducing seed loss and improving crop growth.

What is crop rotation and why was it important?

A farming method of alternating crops to maintain soil fertility, which increased yields and prevented soil depletion.

Why is nitrogen important in agriculture?

Nitrogen is a vital nutrient for plant growth, especially for protein production in grains.

What is the significance of nitrogen-fixing bacteria in legumes?

These bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, enriching soil fertility naturally.

What breakthrough occurred in 1909 related to fertilisers?

The development of ammonia manufacturing, enabling large-scale production of artificial fertilisers.

What are some negative effects of the Green Revolution?

Environmental damage (like soil acidification), dependency on expensive seeds and chemicals, and loss of traditional farming practices.

How has mechanisation impacted food production?

It allowed farmers to cultivate larger areas with fewer workers, increasing efficiency and output.

How did milling technology evolve?

From hand grinding with stones to water-powered mills, then to roller mills using spinning rollers and sieves for refined flour.

What technological advances helped the dairy industry?

Milking machines, milk pipeline systems, refrigeration, pasteurization, robotic milking systems, and improved storage techniques.

What is pasteurization?

A process invented by Louis Pasteur where milk is heated to 72ºC and rapidly cooled to kill harmful microbes.

How is cheese made?

By curdling milk using rennet, separating curds from whey, and pressing curds to form cheese.

What is the impact of globalisation on food availability?

It has increased food diversity and availability worldwide due to improved transport, cold-chain storage, and packaging technologies.

What role do multinational corporations play in food production?

They control large portions of the global food supply and operate businesses across many countries.

What are some health impacts of industrialisation and globalisation on food?

Positive: increased food availability and nutrition, leading to longer life expectancy.
Negative: increased chemical use in farming and rise of fast food consumption linked to obesity and chronic diseases.

How did early civilisations use trade in food commodities to connect with other cultures?

Trade routes enabled early civilisations to share seeds, spices, animals, and farming techniques. This fostered communication and cultural exchange between different religious and cultural groups.

What role did trade play in the exchange of ideas among early societies?

Food trade spread agricultural knowledge, cooking methods, religious customs, and irrigation technologies, helping societies learn from one another.

How did the establishment of trade routes impact agriculture?

Trade routes allowed for the movement of seeds, livestock, and spices, introducing new crops and increasing agricultural diversity.

What were some examples of early irrigation and farming technologies?

Examples include Mesopotamian canals, Persian qanats, the sakia water wheel, and later aqueducts and storage dams for flood irrigation.

What is industrialisation in the context of food production?

Industrialisation is the transformation from manual and small-scale food production to mechanised, mass production using automated machinery and assembly lines.

How did industrialisation affect food systems?

It increased productivity, reduced labour needs, expanded food manufacturing, and allowed food to be produced at a scale never seen before.

What were some key farming inventions during industrialisation?

The plough, seed drill (by Jethro Tull), and mechanical reaper (by Cyrus McCormack) improved efficiency in soil cultivation, planting, and harvesting.

How did food processing technologies improve during industrialisation?

Technologies like canning and pasteurisation extended shelf life and allowed food to be preserved, transported, and consumed out of season.

What is the Green Revolution?

A major increase in crop production in the 1960s using fertilisers, pesticides, high-yield seed varieties, and irrigation—especially in developing countries.

How did fertilisers and nitrogen fixing change agriculture?

They enriched depleted soils, leading to increased crop yields and enabling large-scale farming.

What is globalisation in terms of food systems?

The integration of global food markets, allowing international trade, shared technologies, and increased cultural exchange in diets and food production.

How did transportation technologies contribute to globalisation?

Refrigerated containers, cold-chain logistics, and improved air and sea transport allowed fresh and perishable foods to be moved globally year-round.

How have multinational corporations impacted the food industry?

Companies like Nestlé, McDonald’s, and Coca-Cola distribute food globally, influencing diets and food availability worldwide.

What are the positive health impacts of industrialisation and globalisation?

Increased food supply, reduced malnutrition, better access to diverse and nutritious foods, and longer life expectancy in many regions.

What are the negative health impacts of industrialisation and globalisation?

Rise in processed and fast food consumption, higher rates of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, especially due to high-fat, salt, and sugar diets.