Challenges of Feeding the Global Population (College Board AP® Human Geography)
Study Guide
Written by: Kristin Tassin
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
Food Insecurity & Food Deserts
Examples of populations’ lack of access to food are:
food insecurity
food deserts
Food insecurity refers to the lack of reliable access to sufficient quantities of affordable, nutritious food
Food insecurity may be the result of:
poverty
war or conflict
economic inequality
Food deserts refer to locations where large grocery stores are scarce or missing, and residents have limited access to fresh, nutritious foods
Instead, residents of these areas generally only have access to fast food or convenience stores
Food deserts are typically found in urban, low-income neighborhoods
Worked Example
A. Define food desert.
Answer
A food desert is an area in which it is difficult to reliably access affordable, nutritious, fresh food.
B. Explain TWO reasons why food deserts might be found in urban areas in more developed countries.
Answer
Because these neighborhoods tend to be poor, grocery stores may not want to invest in them. Lack of automobiles or reliable public transportation may mean that people cannot access grocery stores. Low-income residents may not be able to afford nutritious food, even if it is physically available.
C. Explain ONE impact of living in a food desert.
Answer
Residents may have poor health outcomes due to bad nutrition, including high blood pressure, heart conditions, or diabetes. Food insecurity may affect educational levels. Only convenience stores or fast-food restaurants may be available, and they tend to offer more processed and less nutritionally-dense foods.
D. Describe ONE movement attempting to address food deserts.
Answer
Urban farming, community gardens, and community supported agriculture (CSA) all attempt to provide increased access to fresh, nutritious food, especially fruits and vegetables, to urban communities.
Distribution Issues
Problems affecting food distribution can result in increased food shortages
Poor infrastructure, especially in less developed countries (LDCs), can lead to food spoilage and waste during transport and storage
Political, economic, or environmental instability can disrupt supply chains and cause increases in food insecurity
Adverse Weather
Extreme weather events, including floods, droughts, and severe storms, disrupt agricultural production and may decrease food supplies
Longer-term climate change can permanently shift growing seasons and agricultural production areas
It can lead to increases in severe weather affecting crop growth and food security
Land Loss
Urban sprawl and the creation and growth of suburbs decrease the amount of arable land available for agricultural production
This is known as land loss
The conversion of agricultural land to residential or commercial developments decreases local food production and leads to increased imports of food products
This reduces the number of farming communities and reduces access to locally grown food
Areas experiencing land loss import food, which leads to:
higher food costs
increased carbon emissions from transportation
reduced food security
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