Food

What is the average calorie consumption in the UK comapred to Somalia?

The UK is 3,200 calories per person whereas Somalia is 1,580 calories per person.

What is malnurishment compared to undernourishment?

Malnourishment is not having the right balance of nutrients, for example iron deficiency which can cause extreme tiredness.

Undernourishment is not getting enough food.

How has the demand for food in the UK changed?

Before supermarkets were a commonplace, the majority of food eaten in the UK was seasonal and sourced in the UK.

These days, we are used to eating fruit and vegetables all year round that are often imported and grown cheaply elsewhere.

In 2013, what percentage of the UK’s food supply was imported?

47%

What challenges does importing seasonal food cause for farmers in the UK?

They generate less profit

They aren't able to sell as much produce to supermarkets

Theyll have to raise prices to generate profit, which in turn may cause less people to buy from them

Produce may be wasted due to the appeal of easonal foods

How has the increase in demand for non-seasonal products negatively impacted LICs (Kenya)?

Less land is available for locals to grow foods to eat

Often these crops need huge amounts of water in areas where the water supply is unreliable or poor

Sometimes the people who grow the crops are exposed to chemicals such as pesticides without protective clothing

How has the increase in demand for non-seasonal products positively impacted LICs (Kenya)?

Jobs are created, for example in farming, packaging and transport, supplying wages for the locals.

From the wages, taxes are payed to the government, which can then fund facilities for the country such as a schools and hospitals.

Why is organic produce more expensive than non-organic produce?

It is expensive because yields from organic farming tend to be lower, but many people claim organic food tastes better.

They are prepared to pay extra for this and the reduced impact on the environment.

What are the challenges of organic farming?

Drugs are regularly used to increase animal growth which could harm the animals and uses drugs that may be needed elsewhere

Yields from organic farming tend to be lower so prices are raised

Not using pesticides and fertilisers can be more expensive and more time consuming (mechanically removing weeds rather than chemically, sourcing predators to control pests etc.)

What are the opportunities of organic farming?

Fewer chemicals and pesticides are used, so less damage on the environment making it healthier - also healthier for people.

New opportunities for work such as the vegetable box scheme.

More awareness on the harm chemicals bring to the environment - could lead to a healthier climate long term

What are food miles?

The distance food travels from producer to consumer.

What is carbon footprint?

The amount of CO2 and other greenhouse gases released in the atmosphere due to human activities.

Name statistics that are related to the transportation of food into the UK each year.

The UK adds 19 million tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere every year, adding to the UKs carbon footprint.

Food contributes at least 17% of the total CO2 emissions, but only 11% of this is actually related to transport.

Name some alternatives to importing foods.

Eating seasonal produce grown in the UK

Limiting imported foods to those we cannot grow in the UK

Eating locally produced food

Growing food at home or an allotment - over 1/3 of people now grow their own fruit and vegetables.

What are the advantages of buying locally sourced produce?

Supports UK farm worker

Strict food quality regulations

Doesn't spend long in transit so fresher and riper

Supporting local farmers supports things like the NHS and sschools

What are the disadvantages of buying locally sourced produce?

Less variety in food due to UK’s seasonal weather

The UK has one of the highest pesticides per hectare of cropland rates in the world.

In some cases, imported produce have a lower total carbon footprint than local produce

Higher prices

What's an agri-buisness?

The term ‘agribuisness’ encompases the economic sectors for farming and farming-related commerce.

It involves all the steps for getting agricultural goods to the market, including production, processing, and distribution.

What is fracking?

The process of drilling down into the earth before a high-pressure water mixture is directed at the rock to release the gas inside.

What are some advantages of fracking?

Allows drilling firms to reach hard to access resources of oil and gas

Can boost domestic oil production and lower gas prices

Fracking is stimated to have offered gas security to the US and Canada for the next 100 years

What are some disadvantages of fracking?

Prompts environmental concerns

Can cause minor earthquakes

Uses huge amounts of water that need to be transported - huge costs

Why is population growth increasing the demand for food?

Our population grows by 8,400 people per hour - however, this is a problem as population growth is uneven

The population in Africa grows by 2.51% per year whereas Europe grows by 0.1%

There is a correlation between areas which have highest levels of undernourishment, lowest calorie intake and greatest population growth

Why is economic development increasing the demand for food?

People in NEEs eg. India and chine have become richer, and their diets change → they begin eating more meat than grains such as rice.

Grain is fed to animals to produce meat for people, meaning more food resources are needed.

As wealth grows, so does the demand for highly processed and convenience food, which also increases calorie intake.

How many refugees are there worldwide according to the UN?

20 million

How can pests and diseases lead to food deficit and surplus?

LICs often suffer from a wider variety of pests and diseases than HICs due to the climate and lack of investment.

Cattle diseases such as Rift Valley Fever are prevalent along with insects such as locusts which can decimate a grain crop.

How can a lack of education be linked to food insecurity?

Many people don't know what they should be growing for food to provide a good quality of life for them.

How can the climate lead to food deficit and surplus?

Drought and floods can lead to food shortages as it can cause huge losses of crops and livestock.

Climate change is altering normal weather patterns - droughts are becoming longer and floods and hurricanes are greater and more frequent.

How can conflict lead to food deficit and surplus?

Conflicts and wars can disrupt farming and food production. Fighting forces millions of people to flee their homes leading to hunger as they find themselves without enough food to survive.

In conflict food can also be a weapon. Food supplies can be seized by soldiers or destroyed. Wells and water supplies can be deliberately polluted.

How can technology lead to food deficit and surplus?

Many LICs lack the money to invest in agricultural infrastructure such as roads to transport their produce and machinery that could increase the crops or land under cultivation. This can educe yields and therefore food supplies.

How can poverty lead to food deficit and surplus?

They cannot afford to buy nutritious food for themselves and their families.

This makes them weak and unable work on the land or earn money to support themselves.

Poor farmers often cannot afford to buy seeds, tools, or fertilisers. This can limit the amount of crops they produce, as well as reducing the quality of the crops.

Strategies to increase Global Food Supply: What is irrigation?

The supply of water to land or crops to help growth, typically using pipes and channels.

Strategies to increase Global Food Supply: Who tends to use irrigation?

Countries with arid or semi-arid climates, including parts of Europe and North America.

Irrigation is use to supply extra water to farming areas to increase or maintain production when the water supply is unreliable or low.

Name 2 advantages and 2 disadvantages of irrigation schemes.

Advantages:

Can increase crop yields as well as income which reduces poverty.

Increases and maintains production.

Disadvantages:

They're expensive to set up.

Large scale schemes push people off of land

Salinisation: build up of salts/minerals in soils.

What are aeroponics?

The process of using air rather than soil to grow plants.

Plants are usually grown suspended in the air, in a closed environment, eg. a greenhouse.

Nutrients and water are sprayed on.

What are 3 advantages of aeroponics?

Plants tend to grow faster as the roots are exposed to more oxygen.

Easier to make sure plants have all the nutrients they need.

They require less space as they can be stacked and are easy to move.

What are 3 disadvantages of aeroponics?

Relies on a nutrient misting system, if this breaks down, plants could die.

Specialists are needed for the tech behind this and to make specific nutrient mixes.

Expensive.

What are hydroponics?

When plants are grown in water that is nutrient rich.

What are 3 advantages of aeroponics?

Plants receive more nutrients which allows them to grow faster.

Can be shipped in water increasing freshness.

They use less water than plants grown conventionally.

What are 2 disadvantages of aeroponics?

They require technical expertise.

They're an expensive system.

What was the green revolution?

Occured in the 1960s when scientists developed new strains of seeds which produced higher yields of crops known as high yielding varieties - HYV

In 5 years, the yields of rice, maize and wheat rose by 40% in Asia.

This meant the agricultural industry was able to produce larger quantities of cheaper food.

What is biotechnology?

When plants, animals and fish are generically modified (GM).

For crops, this means injecting them with genes to give them new characteristics.

The most common GM is plants resistant to pests, diseases or herbicides.

Give 3 advantages of biotechnology.

Increases vitamins in crops such as rice and potatoes.

Increases the shelf life of foods.

Developed drought and salt resistant crops which can grow in poor conditions.

Give 2 disadvantages of biotechnology.

There are concerns on the affect on the environment

Concerns for the affect on human health.

What is appropriate technology? Does it work?

Using technology that is appropriate - some communities cannot use certain appliances such as tractors etc. technology is therefore given to people that they are able to use and will help them.

Impacts of food insecurity: Describe the affects of famine and undernutrition.

Famine can cause death and undernutrition, which weakens immunity making people more vulnerable to diseases.

Can also hinder the physical and cognitive development of children.

May also lead to deficiency diseases such as beriberi or anemia.

Impacts of food insecurity: Describe the affects of rising prices.

When there isn't enough food, the demand for the little there is increases heavily, causing prices to increase as well. This can lead to famine or undernutrition if people cant afford the new prices of foods.

An example of Sustainable Food Production - describe briefly the Two Farmers Crisps in Herefordshire.

They are sustainable farmers who have a carefully designed manufacturing process to make sure each step in the crip making process is as sustainable as possible.

For example, where possible they use renewable energy sources when using machinery.

Each step in the making process is completed on the farm so they have very low road miles.

Sustainable food strategies: what is permaculture?

A way of working with, rather than against nature. Permaculture is a design-based process used to make agriculture more sustainable, restore soil, conserve water and redirect waste streams.

Sustainable food strategies: What are 2 costs and 2 benefits of permaculture?

Benefits:

Lower costs - permaculture systemscan potentially reduce 50% of input costs by relying on natural fertilisers and not buying commercially.

Permaculture can help lessen soil pollution by minimizing water usage and improving water retention techniques like mulching. It also reduces reliance on pesticides and fertilisers.

Costs:

Can be expensive to implement as you must adjust agricultural procosses and infrastructure.

Unwanted pests and bacteria may spread since the concept of permaculture forbids the use of pesticides - often leading to lower crop yeilds

Sustainable food strategies: What is urban farming?

The practice of growing plants and raising animals for human consumption within cities and suburbs.

Sustainable food strategies: What is seasonal food consumption?

Eating food that is in season and produced locally.

Sustainable food strategies: What are the benefits of seasonal food consumption?

Money spent on local food contributes to the local economy by supporting local farmers.

By sourcing food locally, consumers help sustain agricultural jobs often getting better prices and fresher products in the process.

Eating seasonal foods can significantly reduce the carbon footprint associated with food transport.

Sustainable food strategies: What are the costs of seasonal food consumption?

There is a lack of avaliaility of many products that can only be produced seasonally for short periods of time.

Relying solely on seasonal produce may lead to nutritional deficits and unbalanced diets.

While seasonal produce can be cheaper, there are instances where certain produce might be more expensive due to scarcity during off-seasons, unpredictability of weather etc.