Land Use & Agricultural Systems (HL IB Environmental Systems & Societies (ESS))

Land Use

Land as a finite resource

• Land is limited and cannot be expanded (i.e. it is a finite resource)

• Efficient land use is crucial to meeting growing food requirements

• About 70% of ice-free land is used for agriculture and forestry

  • Agricultural land is used to grow crops (arable) and raise livestock

• As the human population grows, the demand for food increases

  • This puts pressure on available land for food production

• Urbanisation leads to the conversion of agricultural land into urban areas

  • This further reduces the availability of land for food production per capita

Agricultural land use

• Not all land is suitable for crop production

  • land must be fertile, flat, and have adequate water supply

• Unsuitable land for crops:

  • Steep slopes:

    • Risk of erosion

    • It is difficult to use machinery

  • Nutrient-poor soils:

    • Cannot support crop growth without significant fertilisation

• These lands are often used for livestock production instead

  • For example, in the UK, hilly areas like Eryri (Snowdonia, Wales) and the Scottish Highlands are used for sheep grazing due to unsuitable conditions for arable farming

Vulnerability of marginalised groups

• Marginalised groups:

  • These include:

    • Indigenous peoples

    • Low socio-economic status groups

    • Women farmers

    • People in low-income countries

  • Often have limited access to land and resources

• Impact of land-use decisions:

  • Land-use policies can increase inequalities

  • Marginalised groups are more vulnerable to changes and restrictions

  • For example, in India, many Dalits (members of a lower caste) face significant barriers to land ownership and agricultural resources

    • This is limiting their ability to improve their economic status and sustain their livelihoods

• Indigenous peoples:

  • Indigenous groups often depend on land for their livelihoods

  • Indigenous land rights are often ignored in favour of large-scale agricultural projects

  • For example, the Maasai in Kenya and Tanzania have faced land encroachment

    • This is due to expanding agriculture and tourism projects

    • This is threatening their traditional way of life

Other examples of land-use impacts on marginalised groups

• Deforestation in the Amazon:

  • Driven by agricultural expansion

  • It affects Indigenous tribes like the Yanomami

  • Leads to loss of biodiversity and traditional lands

• Land grabs in Africa:

  • Foreign investors acquire large areas of land for industrial-scale agriculture

  • Displaces local farmers and communities

  • Impacts their food security

• Urban sprawl in China:

  • Rapid urbanisation consumes agricultural land

  • Affects rural communities' access to arable land

Agricultural Systems

Variability in agricultural systems

• Global variation:

  • Agriculture systems vary globally due to differences in soil and climate

  • Soils in different biomes support different crop types and productivity levels

• Soil and climate influence:

  • Tropical soils may be nutrient-poor, affecting crop choices

    • This limits the types of crops that can be grown successfully without heavy fertilisation

    • For example, in Brazil, nutrient-poor tropical soils require heavy fertilisation for crops like soybeans

  • Temperate climates with fertile soils can support diverse crops

    • For example, in the UK, temperate climates support a variety of crops like wheat and barley

Classification of agricultural systems

• Agricultural systems can be classified in a number of ways, including:

• Outputs from the farm system:

  • Arable farming: growing crops (e.g., wheat, rice)

  • Pastoral/livestock farming: raising animals (e.g., cattle, sheep)

  • Mixed farming: combining crops and livestock

  • Monoculture: growing a single type of crop

  • Diverse farming: growing multiple types of crops

• Reasons for farming:

  • Commercial farming: producing food for sale

  • Subsistence farming: producing food for the farmer's own use

  • Sedentary farming: farmers stay in one place

  • Nomadic farming: farmers move with their livestock

• Types of inputs required:

  • Intensive farming:

    • High inputs of labour, capital and technology

    • E.g. dairy farming in the Netherlands

  • Extensive farming:

    • Low input per unit area

    • E.g. sheep farming in Australia

  • Irrigated farming:

    • Requires artificial water supply

    • E.g. Central Valley, California: large-scale irrigation systems support the cultivation of crops such as almonds, grapes and tomatoes in this semi-arid region

  • Rain-fed farming:

    • Relies on natural rainfall

    • E.g. wheat farming in Canada

  • Soil-based farming:

    • Traditional farming in soil

    • E.g. vegetable farms in the UK

  • Hydroponic farming:

    • Growing plants without soil, using nutrient solutions

    • E.g. hydroponic lettuce farms or vertical farms in urban areas

  • Organic farming:

    • Avoids synthetic chemicals

    • E.g. organic tea plantations in India: many use natural fertilisers, compost and biological pest control methods to maintain soil fertility and produce high-quality tea without synthetic pesticides or herbicides

  • Inorganic farming:

    • Uses synthetic chemicals and fertilisers

    • E.g. large-scale corn farms in the US

Implications of agricultural systems

• Economic sustainability:

  • Varies with farming type and market access

  • Monoculture can be profitable but risky due to crop failure, e.g. due to disease

  • Diversified farming reduces risk and can be more economically sustainable

• Social sustainability:

  • Agricultural systems affect community stability and employment in different ways

  • Subsistence farming supports local communities but can limit economic growth

  • Commercial farming can create jobs but may displace small farmers

• Environmental sustainability:

  • Intensive farming can lead to soil degradation and pollution

  • Organic farming promotes biodiversity and soil health

  • Extensive farming generally has a lower environmental impact