Contemporary Approaches to Food Production (SL IB Geography)

Genetically Modified Organisms

Helps to increase the nutrition provided by crops through nutrient fortification

• Rice with high vitamin A density
• This is useful for LICs with higher levels of undernutrition and nutrition-related diseases

Crops may be drought-resistant

• This supports food growth in countries with arid climates and low water provision

May produce more productive crops and higher yields

• This will lower food prices and support food security

Food lasts longer and won't spoil quickly

Pest resistance limits the use of harmful pesticides

Can improve flavour and the look of food, e.g. apples which don’t brown 

Vertical farming

Doesn’t require soil, which is ideal for places with poor soils 

Can be grown in all sorts of places, from highly urbanised cities to the underground

Much more sustainable, using

• Less land
• Fewer pesticides and fertilisers (and therefore less pollution)
• Less water
• Recycled water
• Less polluting machinery
• Less transport (reducing food miles)

Saves land for other resources

Supporting food security and climate change, as there is less risk of crop damage from flooding or droughts. It is more reliable

Aeroponics reduces the amount of labour needed to grow produce

In Vitro Meat

More sustainable - conventional meat production has negative effects on the environment e.g. high water use, land use, greenhouse gas emissions

Better for animal welfare than conventional farming (animals don’t die)

Is productive, with large outputs 

Better for our health with fortification of nutrients e.g. Omega-3 fatty acids

Reduces the need for things like growth hormones

Reduces the risk of animals contracting diseases and limits the risk of food poisoning pathogens

Genetically Modified Organisms

People are still worried about the safety of GMO foods for consumption e.g. allergic reactions or cancer

May cause superweeds, which are resistant to certain herbicides

• This increases the use of harmful herbicides

Different restrictions across the world add to people’s suspicion

Biotechnology giants control production. 

• Patents limit what farmers have access to and could ultimately affect food security

May cause biodiversity loss and cross-contamination of GMO genes into other natural organisms 

Vertical farming

Needs regular monitoring and knowledge to operate successfully

Low labour inputs may result in fewer jobs and the loss of traditional farming jobs

Heavily technology dependent

• If there is a fault in the system, crop loss will be catastrophic

Land in urban areas is expensive, resulting in higher costs

The systems use a lot of energy

In Vitro Meat

Many question the ethics of production 

Can be costly, with technologies and trained staff

• This results in higher prices for the consumer
• Low-income countries may not be able to adopt this method

Has a different taste from normal meat

Uncertainty around the safety of In Vitro Meat e.g. cancer possibilities 

The culture liquid is sometimes made from animal blood, therefore it isn’t necessarily cruelty-free

Not really a useful alternative for vegetarians and vegans

Could put conventional farmers out of business

Increasing people’s access to meat may result in people eating more, bringing disease with it