Food production Flashcards
Why is there an increasing demand for food?
Due to the increasing human population.
Food security definition
The ability of human populations to access food of sufficient quality insufficient quantity.
Environmental degradation is caused by
High use of fertilisers, pesticides and intensive farming methods.
Challenges involving food security
Rate of growing population is greater than the growth of food production.
Currently 2 billion people lack food security.
Global warming has altered environments meaning some food may grow less well.
How do we get a sustainable food supply?
Since more food needs to be produced in the same are of land - plant productivity must increase.
As all food production is dependent on the rate of photosynthesis, agricultural production depends on the factors that control photosynthesis and plant growth.
These factors are CO2 concentration, light intensity and colour and temperature.
Factors affecting food production
Competition from weeds or plants growing too densely- slows growth.
Diseases, decrease yield.
Soil nutrients
Pests
How can we improve yields?
Reduce competition by adding nutrients to soil - fertilisers.
Protecting crops from pests- pesticides.
Developing pest resistant crop plants.
How is energy lost in food chains.
Undigested matter, movement and heat.
Energy is lost between tropic levels.
How much energy is passed into next tropic level?
10%
What food chains lose the least energy?
Shorter food chains, since energy is lost between trophic levels.
Why should some land be used for livestock rather than crops?
Not all land provides a suitable habitat for crop growth.
