Food security

Question 1

define food security

Answer 1

all people have access to and can afford safe/ nutritious food for an active/ healthy lifestyle

Question 2

Explain 7 factors decreasing food security

Answer 2

1. human exponential growth- environment cannot sustain population
2. climate change- droughts- no water- crops don’t grow- cattle dies
   floods- washes away soil- crops don’t grow- cattle dies
3. poor farming practice- monoculture- single crop cultivated which leaches soil and increases pests
   overgrazing- top soil leached
   pesticides- decrease soil fertility- crops cannot grow- less food
   fertilizer- eutrophication
4. invasive/ alien plants- outcompete for resources
   - cost to eradicate is high- field abandoned
5. loss of wild crop varieties and effect on gene pool - selective breeding of crop for desirable characteristics- no comp- cant adapt to environment
6. GM food- deliberate change of organisms traits by changing DNA
7. wastage- developed- food expire
   food surplus lost
   developing- poor storage
   inefficient harvesting

Question 3

define monoculture

Answer 3

single crop cultivated in an area results in pests and soil leached

Question 4

how do pesticides effect food security

Answer 4

decrease soil fertility- crops cant grow- less cattle- less food

Question 5

food prices in urban areas VS rural areas

Answer 5

rural more expensive- hub/ wholesale near urban- transport expensive
less people- less supply- suppliers can use higher margins

Question 6

Adv vs disadv of GM food

Answer 6

adv- accelerated growth
- environmental resistance
disadv -health risks like allergies
- cost
- cross transfer gene ethics

Question 7

Method to solve poor farming practice?

Answer 7

crop rotation is environmentally friendly

Question 8

Why do alien plants flourish?

Answer 8

outcompete as there are no natural predators so rapid growth and uses up nutrients
not adapted to environment so uses more resources