Podcast
Questions and Answers
Which factor poses the most significant challenge to achieving food security in very poor countries?
Which factor poses the most significant challenge to achieving food security in very poor countries?
- Consistent access to advanced farming technology.
- Abundance of fertile land suitable for agriculture.
- Prevalence of political instability and limited resources. (correct)
- Widespread adoption of sustainable farming practices.
How does increasing human population most directly impact food security on a global scale?
How does increasing human population most directly impact food security on a global scale?
- It places greater strain on resources required for food production. (correct)
- It decreases the demand for food, leading to surpluses.
- It reduces the amount of land available for agricultural production.
- It increases the efficiency of food distribution networks.
Based on the provided graph, which country is most likely to face the greatest challenges regarding food security in the next 10 years, assuming current trends continue?
Based on the provided graph, which country is most likely to face the greatest challenges regarding food security in the next 10 years, assuming current trends continue?
- India (correct)
- USA
- Brazil
- UK
How does the shift in food preferences towards more meat and fish consumption influence environmental sustainability?
How does the shift in food preferences towards more meat and fish consumption influence environmental sustainability?
What is the primary environmental concern associated with the increasing global use of fertilizers in agriculture?
What is the primary environmental concern associated with the increasing global use of fertilizers in agriculture?
How might climate change exacerbate the impact of pests and pathogens on food security?
How might climate change exacerbate the impact of pests and pathogens on food security?
What is the main justification for some people supporting the use of biofuels as a substitute for fossil fuels?
What is the main justification for some people supporting the use of biofuels as a substitute for fossil fuels?
Considering the land use implications, what is a key sustainability concern related to the increasing production of biofuels?
Considering the land use implications, what is a key sustainability concern related to the increasing production of biofuels?
How did the Green Revolution primarily contribute to increased food production in developing countries?
How did the Green Revolution primarily contribute to increased food production in developing countries?
Which of the following represents a direct threat to food security?
Which of the following represents a direct threat to food security?
What agricultural input is most closely associated with increasing the 'yield' of crops?
What agricultural input is most closely associated with increasing the 'yield' of crops?
In the context of food security, what does 'sustainability' primarily refer to?
In the context of food security, what does 'sustainability' primarily refer to?
Why are vectors like midges a concern in the context of climate change and animal health?
Why are vectors like midges a concern in the context of climate change and animal health?
What is the main reason why growing elephant grass might be considered advantageous?
What is the main reason why growing elephant grass might be considered advantageous?
Which action would likely improve food security in the UK over the next 50 years?
Which action would likely improve food security in the UK over the next 50 years?
How does increasing animal farming potentially affect food security?
How does increasing animal farming potentially affect food security?
Which of these options contributes to food security?
Which of these options contributes to food security?
What can be inferred from the information about the changes in the supply of the food categories between 1961 and 2011?
What can be inferred from the information about the changes in the supply of the food categories between 1961 and 2011?
Why might the rise of vegetarian and vegan diets promote long-term environmental sustainability?
Why might the rise of vegetarian and vegan diets promote long-term environmental sustainability?
Why the increase in fertilizer usage raises concern about long-term sustainability?
Why the increase in fertilizer usage raises concern about long-term sustainability?
Flashcards
What is food security?
What is food security?
Having access to enough safe and healthy food at all times.
How is food security increased?
How is food security increased?
Improved agricultural methods, like fertilizers, and more productive breeds.
How does conflict affect food security?
How does conflict affect food security?
It makes it more difficult to produce and distribute food effectively.
How does rising population affect food security?
How does rising population affect food security?
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How does changing food preference affect food security?
How does changing food preference affect food security?
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How do fertilizers impact sustainability?
How do fertilizers impact sustainability?
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What is the role of midges as vectors?
What is the role of midges as vectors?
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Bluetongue virus spread
Bluetongue virus spread
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Why are biofuels carbon neutral?
Why are biofuels carbon neutral?
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What is a disadvantage of growing biofuels?
What is a disadvantage of growing biofuels?
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How does climate change affect bluetongue virus?
How does climate change affect bluetongue virus?
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Biofuels land sustainability issues
Biofuels land sustainability issues
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Study Notes
- Food security means having access to enough safe and healthy food at all times.
- Improving agricultural methods, such as using fertilisers and more productive varieties and breeds, has increased food security in many places.
- Food security is still difficult in very poor countries or where there is conflict around the food.
- The issue of food security may also become more difficult due to the rising global human population.
- In 1960 there were just over 3 billion people, but today there are over 7.5 billion.
Food Supply Changes
- As countries become wealthier, people prefer to eat more meat and fish.
- Up to 15 times more protein is produced from soybean than from animals (meat) on the same area of land.
- Changing farming practices, such as eating farmed rather than wild fish, can help food security.
Agricultural Inputs and Sustainability
- Growing foods from crops also causes problems, particularly with agricultural inputs such as fertilisers.
- Fertilisers increase plant growth and crop yield.
- Over the past 50 years, there has been a 700% increase in the amount of fertilisers used globally each year.
- Most fertiliser is made using chemical processes that need energy and release carbon dioxide.
- Sustainability is about the ability to continue a process at the same level without causing harm, such as to the environment or to food security.
Green Revolution
- The Green Revolution involved developing new high-yielding crop varieties through selective breeding and intensive growing methods in the mid-20th century.
- It helped millions of people in India and other developing countries avoid starvation due to rapid increases in food production.
Fertilisers and Climate Change
- Increasing carbon emissions from human activities leads to climate change.
- Climate change can lead to pests and pathogens moving into new areas.
- Midges, which are vectors for the bluetongue virus, are killed by cold temperatures.
- Bluetongue disease was first seen in the UK in a cow in 2007 and has since spread to sheep and other cattle across the country.
Biofuels
- Growing plants for biofuels can replace fossil fuels to reduce carbon emissions.
- The carbon released by burning a biofuel is only the amount removed from the air by the crop as it grew.
- In 2013, 0.8% of land in the UK that could have grown crops was used to grow biofuels, and this proportion is increasing.
- Using land for biofuels raises sustainability issues about whether that land should be used to grow food or fuel.
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