UK food, water, energy

Question 1

why is demand for food increasing

Answer 1

as population grows, there are more mouths to feed- demand for more food

as wealth increases, there’s a higher demand for a range of ingredients and high quality produce

increased demand from LIC’s as imports from LIC’s are cheaper- cheaper cost of production

Question 2

positives of importing food from LICs

Answer 2

-cheaper cost due to lower labour wages and cheaper cost of production

-can get unseasonal produce- range of ingredients

-job creation- multiplier effect

Question 3

negatives of importing food from LIC’s

Answer 3

-increased food miles- increased carbon footprint, more CO2 emissions

-workers have less land and water to grow own food

-poor working conditions, low wages- no protection against pesticides, causes health issues e.g cancer

Question 4

how much of UK’s fruit is imported and why

Answer 4

89%
UK climate does not promote exotic crop growth

little sun, lack of humid climate

Question 5

what are food miles

Answer 5

the distance food is transported from producer to consumer

Question 6

what is a carbon footprint

Answer 6

a measure of the carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere due to the activities of an individual or community.

Question 7

how does increasing demand for imports affect food miles/ carbon footprint

Answer 7

as demand increases, imports increase
more planes import products
:) planes are quick
:) can transport large amount of produce

:( planes release CO2- increases CO2 in atmosphere, increased carbon footprint= enhanced greenhouse, global warming

Question 8

how can you locally source food to reduce food miles

Answer 8

grow own food- veg and fruit patches in gardens

farmers markets- reduces imports from abroad, supports local farmers

buy seasonal produce- e.g only buy strawberries in summer where yield is greatest

Question 9

positives of organic produce

Answer 9

no pesticides- does not affect other animals, no health issues, no pollution of rivers

natural fertilisers E.g compost- has minerals which promotes crop growth, no synthetic chemicals

natural predators E.g ladybugs

Question 10

negatives of organic produce

Answer 10

natural predators don’t kill the whole population of pests- more pests means smaller yield

natural fertilisers take longer- slower crop growth

Question 11

what is agribusiness

Answer 11

turning farms into businesses
application of business skills to agriculture

Question 12

positives of agribusiness

Answer 12

food security- larger crop yield

cheaper food prices due to a larger crop yield

expand farms- more land- more crops

advanced technology

fertilisers- promote plant growth

Question 13

negatives of agribusiness

Answer 13

forces small-scale farmers out

pesticides- pollute rivers, chemicals affect animal species

fertilisers- runoff- eutrophication

Question 14

how has demand for water increased in UK

Answer 14

Increased by 70% since 1985
As wealth increases, demand increases:

-more showers/baths
-water intensive machines E.g dishwashers
-water in greenhouses to grow unseasonal produce

Question 15

what is water deficit

Answer 15

low supply of water
E.g south east UK, london

little precipitation, high population- demand for water is greater than supply

Question 16

what is water surplus

Answer 16

high supply of water
E.g West Wales

high precipitation, low population- supply is greater than demand

Question 17

define water stress

Answer 17

when water availability does not meet the needs of people or is of low quality

Question 18

what is a water transfer scheme

Answer 18

transferring water using pipes from an area of water surplus to an area of water deficit
E.g west wales to London

Question 19

positives of water transfer scheme

Answer 19

less restrictions in water scarce areas

construction of dams creates jobs- multiplier effect

dams- recreational activities, tourists increase, increased income

reservoirs- new aquatic habitats

Question 20

negatives of water transfer scheme

Answer 20

dams flood natural habitats

disrupts fish migration

expensive to build

dams displace locals

Question 21

causes of water pollution

Answer 21

oil leaks
runoff from pesticides and fertilisers
sewage

Question 22

how do pesticides cause water pollution

Answer 22

poisons rivers

harms aquatic life, fish- people become sick due to eating poisoned fish

less fish- less income to fishermen

Question 23

how do fertilisers cause water pollution

Answer 23

heavy rainfall causes runoff
fertilisers contain nitrates- promotes plant growth, soluble in water

eutrophication- algal bloom, plants die as there is no sun reaching them,
decomposers respire and lower oxygen content- fish die

Question 24

management strategies to prevent water pollution

Answer 24

education campaigns- encourage people to conserve water, not throw rubbish into rivers

eco-friendly features on machines- saves water

pollution traps- catch waste

limit use of pesticides and fertilisers- reduces runoff

Question 25

how has demand for energy increased in UK

Answer 25

as wealth increases, demand increases
higher demand for fuel for cars, electricity for homes,

as population increases, demand increases- more people need more energy

Question 26

positives of fossil fuels

Answer 26

:) relatively cheap
:) job creation in power plants
:) produces lots of energy

Question 27

negatives of fossil fuels

Answer 27

:( release CO2- increased carbon emissions- global warming
:( non-renewable
:( release sulfur dioxides- react with water to form acid rain

Question 28

positives of nuclear energy

Answer 28

:) no fossil fuels
:) no CO2 emissions
:) job creation
:) reliable

Question 29

negatives of nuclear energy

Answer 29

:( radioactive waste- hard, expensive to clean, damages ecosystems
:( expensive

Question 30

positives of renewables (wind)

Answer 30

:) no carbon emissions
:) renewable, sustainable
:) no fossil fuels

Question 31

negatives of renewables

Answer 31

expensive
solar- unreliable, only works with light
wind- danger to birds, noise pollution, ruins views, decline in tourism

Question 32

management strategies to conserve energy

Answer 32

encourage renewables

raise energy prices so people use less (some people cannot afford)

put a fee on heavy polluting vehicles

low energy features on machines

Question 33

what is fracking

Answer 33

extracting natural gas, oil, geothermal energy from the earth

Question 34

positives of fracking

Answer 34

:) low energy prices
:) less carbon emissions
:) no fossil fuels
:) domestic source- reduces imports

Question 35

negatives of fracking

Answer 35

:( earthquakes
:( releases methane- enhanced greenhouse effect
:( pollutes groundwater

Question 36

coal imports

Answer 36

coal is imported to UK
it is deep in mines underground- hard to access

increased coal imports- increased carbon footprint- enhanced greenhouse effect