Food (AQA GCSE Geography)
Revision Note
Written by: Bridgette Barrett
Reviewed by: Jenna Quinn
Global Distribution of Food
Food consumption around the world is increasing due to:
Population increase: the world population has now reached 8 billion
Much of this growth has been in LICs and NEEs where people are more likely to suffer food insecurity
As countries develop people have money to buy more food
Transport of food is easier and cheaper than in the past
Sufficient food is produced to feed the world's population
Food security
The distribution of food is uneven and this affects food security
Share of people who are undernourished
Countries where a high percentage of the population are food insecure often have a food deficit
These tend to be LICs as they cannot produce or afford to import enough food to meet the population's needs
Some countries have a food surplus, these tend to be HICs
HICs and some NEEs can also afford to import food when they do not produce sufficient for the demand: the UK imports approximately 46% of the food supply required by the population
Calorie intake
To live a healthy and active life people require about 2,500 calories
In areas like the USA and Europe people consume more calories than needed
In areas such as Pakistan, Venezuela and sub-Saharan Africa people consume fewer calories than needed
Calorie intake per person
Factors affecting food supply
There are many factors which affect food supply either in terms of yields or transport into an area
Table Showing Impacts to Food Supply
Factor | Affect on Food Supply |
|---|---|
Climate |
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Technology | LICs lack money to invest in:
This means their yields are lower than in HICs which are able to invest money in this technology |
Pests and Diseases |
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Water Stress |
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Conflict |
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Poverty | Poverty can mean that people are unable to afford:
Poor diets then mean that people are unable to work due to ill health |
Worked Example
Study Figure 1, a map of South and East Asia showing the percentage of people who were undernourished between 2014 and 2016.
Figure 1
Name one country where less than 5% of the population were undernourished.
[1 Mark]
Answer:
Any of the following countries would receive 1 mark
Brunei [1]
Japan [1]
Malaysia [1]
South Korea [1]
Impacts of Food Insecurity
The impact of food shortages ranges from undernutrition to wasting
Undernutrition: people do not consume enough calories, this is linked to 45% of all child deaths
Malnutrition: people's diet lacks the correct nutrients to keep them healthy
Wasting: when people have low weight in relation to their height: affects 45 million children under the age of 5
Famine
Rising food prices
When there is increased demand and reduced supply the prices increase
Those living in poverty often cannot afford a balanced diet this means people in LICs and NEEs are the most affected
Underdevelopment - loss of productivity
If a country's workforce is suffering from food shortages, they will be less productive, and development will slow or even reverse
Soil erosion and desertification
Farmers may over cultivate and overgraze the land in an attempt to increase the amount of food available
Social unrest
Food shortage may lead people to riot and loot
Migration
People migrate to other countries or to urban areas where the food supply is better. This can impact those areas with the development of illegal settlements
Strategies to Increase Food Supply
There are a number of possible methods to increase food supply
Table of Advantages and Disadvantages to Increase Food Supplies
Method | How it works | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|---|
Irrigation | The artificial watering of crops: the success of this is dependent on the type of irrigation. Surface irrigation or drip irrigation |
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Biotechnology | Also known as genetic modification. When the genetic material of a crop is altered to make them disease/pest resistant, have higher yield or be drought resistant |
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New Green Revolution | Uses techniques such as crop rotation, water harvesting, soil conservation and improvements in seed/livestock. The focus is on sustainability and communities Improvements in rural transport for better food distribution |
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Appropriate technology | Includes methods such as Contour ploughing or intercropping |
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Aeroponics and hydroponics | Use modern scientific methods to grow crops without soil in carefully controlled conditions Aeroponics involves spraying plants with water containing nutrients Hydroponics is where plants are grown in a nutrient enriched water solution |
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Case Study: Almeria, Spain
Background
Located in the south east of Spain
Location of 'Sea of Plastic' in Almeria, Spain
Annual rainfall: 270mm
Average temperatures: 30oC (July) 17oC (January)
Agricultural development
It is the world's largest concentration of plastic greenhouses
The first greenhouse was erected in 1963
In 2021 the greenhouses covered 40,000 hectares: it is now known as the 'sea of plastic'
The area provides Europe with between 40-50% of its fruit and vegetables
During the 1980s there was rapid expansion of agriculture in this area which led to;
Importing of soil from more fertile areas of Spain
Installation of hydroponic systems
The greenhouses are unheated as the climate is warm enough
Table of Advantages and Disadvantages to Agricultural Development in Almeria, Spain
Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
Fruit and vegetables are available throughout the year | Estimated 5,200 tonnes of chemical waste dumped in the area or Mediterranean every year |
Hydroponics recycles waste water reduces water consumption. It also reduces the use of soil | Ill health amongst workers has been linked to pesticide use |
Increases the number of jobs in the area 15,000 family farmers and 40,000 additional jobs | The area produces 45,000 of plastic waste a year |
Provides 40% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the Almeria area | Workers are mainly migrant workers who often live in very poor conditions |
Warm temperatures in the region mean no artificial heating is required | Habitats and ecosystems have been destroyed by construction of the greenhouses |
Use of drip irrigation reduces water waste as water is delivered directly to the roots | Soil contamination due to the leaching of pesticides and fertilisers |
The region has received investment from the Spanish government | Water pollution from plastics and pesticides/fertilisers |
Sustainable Food Supply
Sustainable food supply means producing food in a way which ensures soil quality, water resources and the natural environment are maintained for future generations
Strategies which can be used include:
Table of Advantages and Disadvantages to Sustainable Food Supply
Strategy | What is it? | Advantages | Disadvantages |
Organic Farming | Production of food without the use of artificial pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers |
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Permaculture | Uses natural systems rather than artificial pesticides: such as parasitic wasps to control pests Also uses rainwater harvesting, composting and crop rotation |
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Urban Farming Initiatives | Converts wasteland or unused areas such as rooftops into productive land to grow crops |
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Sustainable Meat and Fish | Sustainable meat involves low intensity systems where vaccinations and antibiotic use is minimised: usually free range for a set period of time Pole and line fishing are examples of sustainable fishing practices. Sustainable fishing ensures that there is no overfishing and protects fish stocks |
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Seasonal Food | Consumption of food which is in season for the local area: in the UK strawberries are a summer fruit |
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Reduced Food Waste | Over 9.5 million tonnes of food is wasted in the UK each year. Food is also wasted due to poor storage, transport issues. Investment in storage and infrastructure, as well as processing of food would decrease waste |
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Worked Example
Explain how different strategies can be used to make food supplies more sustainable.
[6 Marks]
The command word in this question is 'Explain'
You need to outline different strategies of sustainable food supply
It is not enough to say 'organic farming', you need to explain how this makes food supplies more sustainable
This is a levelled answer, so marks are awarded for the answer overall rather than for individual points
In a level 2 and 3 answer you are expected to use geographical terms and include examples of at least two strategies: from organic farming, permaculture, urban farming, sustainable fish and meat, seasonal food and reducing waste
An example of an answer for each level can be seen below
These are just examples and there are many others which can be found in the mark scheme: see topic question 2e
Answer:
Level | Marks | Exemplar Answer |
|---|---|---|
1 (Basic) | 1-2 | Eating seasonal food reduces the amount of food which is flown long distances around the world. Urban farming initiatives involves communities in growing food on waste ground. |
2 (Clear) | 3-4 | A sustainable food supply is achieved by providing people with safe, nutritious food now and in the future. Eating seasonal food can help to achieve this because it means that food is not transported over long distances increasing greenhouse gas emissions. Urban farming initiatives can also be used to increase the amount of food available in an area and involves the community. |
3 (Detailed) | 5-6 | A sustainable food supply means meeting the food needs of people today whilst ensuring that future generations can meet their needs for safe nutritious food. There are a range of ways in which this can be achieved. Eating more seasonal food would reduce food miles because it would reduce the demand for out of season food such as strawberries in December in the UK. It would also reduce greenhouse gas emissions from heating greenhouses, this is sustainable because it reduces the contribution to global warming. It also benefits the local community as more food is bought from local farmers. Another way of making food supplies more sustainable are urban farming initiatives which convert wasteland or unused areas into productive land to grow crops. This involves the community and increases food security whilst also improving biodiversity. These are both long term strategies. |
Example Case Study: Agroforestry in Mali
Background
Approximately 80% of Mali's population work in agriculture
Staple crops include maize, millet and sorghum
Poor soil quality, changing weather patterns and pests reduce yields
Increasing population has led to overgrazing and over cultivation of the land which in turn leads to:
Soil erosion
Desertification
Agroforestry
A land use system which combines agriculture with trees and shrubs
The trees and plants provide shade which reduces evaporation from the soil
Interception is increased which means that soil is not as exposed to rain which would increase soil erosion
The roots of the trees and the shrubs help to stabilise the soil
Trees and shrubs are also used for:
Building infrastructure
Increasing habitats for wildlife
Providing food for livestock
Windbreaks to reduce wind erosion
Fallows are areas of land which are ploughed but not seeded these areas are vulnerable to soil erosion
Improved fallows involves the planting of fast growing herbaceous plants to replenish soil fertility
These plants are chosen for their nitrogen fixing properties and rapid biomass production
Kelka Forest - local project
The forest supports approximately 60,000 people in 15 communities
Average temperatures are 28oC and the rainy season is over 4-5 months
People are reliant on the acacia trees as fuelwood for heating and cooking
Deforestation has increased over the last 20 years
The population s vulnerable to food insecurity
Over the last decade Community Forest Management has been used to introduce agroforestry
Yields of crops grown using agroforestry principles increase on average by 34%
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