Resource Management Flashcards
how is water impactful on social and economic well-being
- retrieving it takes time so women can’t be educated/work
- disease spread from drinking unclean water and not being able to wash
- lower life expectancy
how is energy impactful on social and economic well-being
- heating
- transport/machinery
- tech advances make life more efficient
- making bricks for houses
how is food impactful on social and economic well-being
- enough calories to be able to work and be productive
- for animals which we then eat
what is the global distribution of food
countries such as Europe, Asia, north and south America have a food surplus helped by moderate climates, fertile soils and advanced technology
countries like Africa are in a food deficit. due to:
- hostile physical conditions
- political instability
- low levels of technology
what is the global distribution of water
- countries such as Africa and the Middle East are prone to water shortages and drought
People have to spend a significant time seeking water which has significant impacts on their well being - india - monsoon season
what is the global distribution of energy
- the availability of coal in Europe had a huge influence over early economic development
- in theory, renewable energy such as wind and solar is more evenly distributed however many countries are too poor to build the infrastructure to harness it
give an overview of food resources in relation to the UK
moderate climate, fertile soils, mild temperatures, plenty of rainfall, gentle relief, advanced technologies = UK is one of the worlds most efficient producers of food
give an overview of water resources in relation to the UK
despite an imbalance of supply and demand, water supply is rarely an issue
(surplus: north and west, deficit: south and east
give an overview of energy resources in relation to the UK
UK has large resources of fossil fuels such as oil and gas, several nuclear power plants, and the potential for a range of renewable energies such as wind, solar, tidal, and hydro-electric power
how do LICs benefit from exporting their food to the UK
- wages for locals working in farming, packaging and transport
- taxes raised which funds facilities such as schools and hospitals
what are the disadvantages of LICs exporting their foods to the UK
- less land for the locals to grow their own food
- increased pressure on water supplies
- farmers are exposed to pesticides without protective clothing
why is there still demand for high value food imports in the UK
it can still be cheaper for food to be grown in low income countries and transported to the UK, despite the increased food miles
why is organic produce more expensive
because yields tend to be lower
In what ways is organic food grown without the use of chemicals
- natural predators to control pests (ladybirds eat blackfly)
- natural fertilizers(compost)
- crops are rotated to maintain soil fertility
- animals are not fed drugs (hormones to increase growth)
what percentage of the UKs food was imported in 2013
47%
why is importing our food sometimes better for our UK carbon footprint
because some foods such as tomatoes require heated greenhouses in the cold months so it has less of an impact on the climate if they are flown in from warner climates
in what way does food contribute to the UKs carbon footprint (statistics)
- at least 17% UKs carbon footprint is due to food of which 11% is because of its transport
65% of the carbon footprint created by food is due to its transport
in what four ways can we reduce carbon emissions using local sourcing
- we then only have to import foods not able to be grown in the UK
- eat seasonal UK produce
- eating locally produced food from local farmers’ markets or farm shops
- home-growing food
what is agribusiness
Treating farming like a large industrial business to increase food production. they increase the size of their farms by removing hedgerows, using machines and chemicals.
what are some advantages of agribusiness
crop production is quicker and they are higher quality so less is thrown away
advantages of organic produce
- less food miles
- supposedly healthier
- biodiversity
- sustainability
disadvantages of organic produce
- expensive
- lower yields
- more waste when they aren’t high quality
how is the demand for water changing in the UK
the amount of water used by the average household in the UK has risen by 70% since 1985
why is there a growing demand for water in the UK
increase in:
- UK population
- wealth
- hygiene
- industrial production (including using more water-intensive products like washing machines)
- leisure use (golf courses)
- demand for out of season food (requiring watering in greenhouses)
