Links Between Social Systems & Food Production Systems (DP IB Environmental Systems & Societies (ESS))

Factors Influencing Food Production Systems

Factors Influencing Choice of Food Production Systems

• There are many different factors that influence the choice of food production systems

  • These factors interact and vary across regions and countries, leading to diverse food production systems

Food Display - Wikimedia

Food production reflects a combination of socioeconomic, cultural, ecological, political, and economic influences

Socioeconomic Factors

• Higher-income countries tend to have a higher demand for meat and processed foods due to increased purchasing power

  • Urbanisation and the associated lifestyle changes impact the demand for convenience foods and processed products

• Lower-income countries may rely more on traditional subsistence farming methods due to limited resources and access to technology

Cultural Factors

• Cultural preferences for specific crops or livestock can influence the selection of food production systems
  

  • For example, in predominantly vegetarian cultures, such as India, the choice of food production systems may prioritise plant-based agriculture

  • Religious or ethical beliefs may influence preferences for organic, vegetarian, or sustainable food production methods

Ecological Factors

• Natural resources, such as land availability, climate conditions, and water availability, determine the suitability of specific food production systems

  • For example, in areas with limited water resources, such as arid regions, food production systems may focus on drought-resistant crops and efficient irrigation techniques

  • Regions with rich biodiversity may prioritise sustainable farming methods to protect ecosystems and preserve native species

Political Factors

• Government policies promoting organic farming or providing subsidies for certain crops can influence the choice of food production systems

  • For example, the European Union's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) includes financial support for farmers who adopt organic farming practices

  • This policy encourages farmers to choose organic food production systems by providing incentives and subsidies

• Import and export regulations and trade agreements can affect the availability and affordability of specific food products

  • For example, the United States has import restrictions on certain agricultural products to protect domestic farmers

  • Restrictions on imported sugar can affect the availability and affordability of specific food products, influencing the choice of production systems within the country

• Food security and self-sufficiency goals may drive policies favouring certain production systems

  • For example, in Japan, the government has implemented policies to promote self-sufficiency in rice production

  • This includes subsidies and support for rice farmers, as rice is considered a staple food and maintaining domestic production is seen as crucial for food security

  • These policies therefore favour rice production systems in Japan

Stephen Morrison/Africa Practice, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A Malawian woman husks corn in her village on the outskirts of Lilongwe, Malawi. MEDCs use their expertise and experience to help improve food security in African countries

Economic Factors

• Cost-effectiveness, profitability, and market demand influence the choice of food production systems

• Global trade dynamics and market forces can shape the competitiveness of different production methods

  • For example, countries with a strong agricultural sector may prioritise large-scale industrial farming for export purposes

  • On the other hand, small-scale sustainable farming may be more economically viable in regions with limited resources

Availability of Land

• As the human population grows, the demand for food increases, putting pressure on available land for food production

• Urbanisation leads to the conversion of agricultural land into urban areas, further reducing the availability of land for food production per capita

• Soil degradation, caused by factors like erosion, nutrient depletion, and pollution, reduces the fertility and productivity of agricultural land, limiting its capacity to support food production

Historical and predicted arable land per capita

Efficiency of Terrestrial Food Production

• Increasing the yield of food per unit area is crucial to meet the growing food demand

• Plant-based food production, such as grains, vegetables, and fruits, often yields greater quantities of food per unit area compared to animal-based food production.

  • In general, lower trophic levels, such as plant-based food production, generally have higher yields compared to higher trophic levels like meat production

• Energy efficiency is greater in a plant-based diet compared to a meat-eating diet due to several factors:

   Trophic Levels

• Energy is lost at each trophic level moving up the food chain

• When we consume plant-based foods directly, we bypass the energy loss associated with raising animals for meat

• By consuming plants (the primary producers) directly, we utilise energy more efficiently

   Feed Conversion Efficiency

• Animals raised for meat require significant amounts of feed to grow and develop

• However, a large portion of the energy from the feed is used for the animals' own bodily functions and metabolic processes, rather than being converted into edible biomass

• This inefficiency in feed conversion results in higher energy losses when obtaining nutrition from meat

   Land Use Efficiency

• Producing meat requires vast amounts of land for grazing or growing animal feed crops

• This land could otherwise be used more efficiently to cultivate plant-based foods directly for human consumption

• By consuming plant-based foods, we optimise land use and reduce the energy required for livestock farming

• By focusing on lower trophic level food production, such as promoting plant-based diets and sustainable farming practices, it is possible to maximise food production per unit area, at the same time mitigating the pressure on land resources

Efficiency of meat-based vs plant-based terrestrial food production systems