Food Production (Edexcel GCSE Biology)

Food security is having enough food to feed a population.

Changing human population size affects food security because more people require more food. Population size is increasing in many countries due to high birth rates, increasing the global demand for food.

Changing human diets affects food security because humans are consuming more meat and fish. These foods require more land and resources, meaning that there is less land available for producing other types of food.

The changing environment is threatening food security because low rainfall and drought, as well as high rainfall and flooding, can cause reduced crop yields and famine.

Pests and pathogens threaten food security because they destroy crops and can kill livestock, reducing food availability.

Costs of farming are threatening food security because costs of irrigation, machinery and livestock can make farming too expensive for many farmers. This reduces the number of farmers that are producing food.

Global conflicts are threatening food security because they affect the availability of food and water. They can reduce land, people, and resources available for farming, as well as reducing food distribution.

Sustainable food production involves making enough food for the current population while ensuring that resources are not used faster than they can be renewed, so that future populations also have enough food.

False.

Biofuel production can take up valuable land that could otherwise be used for food production.