S7 Topic 03 - Case studies

Question 1

A case study of intensive agriculture

1. Name, location, background
2. Causes
3. Effects
4. Evaluation

Evaluate an example of intensive agriculture.
Explain why the factors affecting the location of intensive agriculture.
Comment on the sustainability of intensive agriculture.

Answer 1

Almeria, Spain

1. Name, location, background - Intensive agriculture development began in Almeria, South Spain in the 1960s.
Almeria now has 320 km² of greenhouses, the world’s largest area. The region produces 38% of Spain’s horticultural output. The sector employs tens of thousands of people. Productivity is 30 times the average European farm.
2. Causes
Environmental - Maximized land use boosts food output on less land.
Year-round growing in greenhouses cuts down on habitat loss from seasonal clearing.
Efficient water use in greenhouses is key in dry areas.
Controlled environments reduce pesticide spread to nature.
Socio-Economic - Export demand creates local economic opportunities.
High employment in farming boosts the local economy.
Export focus provides economic stability.
Agricultural growth drives infrastructure development.
Intensive farming encourages technological advances.
3. Effects
Environmental - Almería’s greenhouses create massive plastic waste (33,500 tonnes/year).
Illegal dumping pollutes land and landscapes.
Plastic waste blocks rivers, reaches the sea, and harms wildlife (e.g., whale deaths).
Greenhouse expansion threatens protected natural areas.
Social - Recycling efforts exist near greenhouses.
Collecting waste from small farms is difficult and costly.
Water-intensive crops contrast with traditional farming.
4. Evaluation
Biological pest control and water-saving irrigation are increasing.
Spanish greenhouses are energy-efficient (sunlight).
Desalinated water and rainwater collection aid sustainability.
Reflective greenhouse tops help cool the area and reduce carbon footprints.
Overall, the aim is sustainable food production.The EU (CAP) supports Almería’s greenhouse farming.
This aims for sustainability via funding and rules.
Benefits include economic growth and environmental protection.
Challenges involve subsidy reliance and regulations.
The overall goal is balancing economy and sustainability.

Question 2

A case study of the relocation of the service sector

1. Name, location, background
2. Reasons for growth in services
3. Why Munich
4. Evaluation

Answer 2

Morgan Stanley, Frankfurt moving to Munich

1. Name, location, background - * Bigger German finances are moving to Munich from Frankfurt and other EU cities. There are many reasons, but generally:
* high proportion of DAX companies and tech start-up in Munich
* Aglomeration of similar industreies
* Services play an important role in Germany’s / EU’s GDP

2. Reasons for growth in services
* Rise in demand → increase in disposable income
* Development of new technologies creates new services
* Decrease in primary and secondary sector
* Demographic changes
* Ageing population

3. Why Munich
* Large workforce
* High number of university graduates
* Safe city
* 1700+ Banks already in city
* 530 Insurance branches
* Fintech and sustainable energy present in Munich
* Regulations allow banks to offer services to and in any other EU country
4. Evaluation
Is it good for Munich?
* Growth of GDP
* Creation of new jobs
* Working towards EU Green Deal

Question 3

A case study of a science park

1. Name, location, background
2. Location factors
3. Evaluation of location factors
4. Conclusion

Answer 3

Campeon, Munich

1. Name, location, background -
Campeon Sience park – Neubiberg near Munich on Campus from Infineon

2. Location factors
Causes: The Land is cheaper, and its easy to access for workers,by car and public transport, it is also in the proximity of the Munich suburbs

3. Evaluation of location factors
Advantages
- Cheaper land
- Easy access
- Proximity to the city center
- Unique atmosphere
- Green space
Disadvantages
- Increase demand of housing
- Loss of green space
- Limited possibility for conglomation
- Less skilled workers get payed lass (Gentrification)

4. Conclusion- Successful example of a knowledge economy an development
- Improvement employee moral and productivity due to location
- Potential drawbacks to this development such as gentrification and loss of green space.

Question 4

A case study of mass tourism

1. Name, location, background
2. Impacts
3. Responses
4. Evaluation

Answer 4

Chamonix, France

1. Name, location, background - Mass tourism in the Alps, located in east France and north of Mont Blanc. Borders Switzerland and Italy
Mass Tourism – Movement of large amount of people to a location which is popular for certain reasons like: taking pictures, to take a glance on a popular sights
2. Impacts
Advantages - Snowboarders and skiers in winter and climbers and hikers in summer support the local economy.
Major events like the tour de France attract global visitors, booting tourism revenues
High quality snow attracts advanced skiers and snowboarders
Mountain bike trails, paragliding, rock climbing, and water rafting attract a lot of tourists, making Chamonix a year-round destination
Disadvantages -
- Pollution due to traffic ,waste which threatens alpine ecosystem
- Potential to have 10 times more tourists than residents at a place
- costly saftey measures
- Cost raising for local people due to tourists buying another house
- Seasonal jobs with potential of low payment

High employment in farming boosts the local economy.
Export focus provides economic stability.
Agricultural growth drives infrastructure development.
Intensive farming encourages technological advances.
3. Responses
Environmental - Espace Mont-Blanc is a cross-border initiative (France, Italy, Switzerland) promoting sustainability, biodiversity, and climate adaptation.
Plan Climat Énergie Territorial (PCET) aims to cut emissions and boost renewables in Mont-Blanc.
Quiet Parks Initiative à Limits on helicopter tourism and motorized sports to reduce noise pollution and protect wildlife.
community
- Project to promote sustainable economy by expansion of tourism beyond winter activities and to support local business
- initiative to encourage sustainable tourism/community projects
-
Transport - Léman Express, a cross-border railway, project improving public transport between Geneva and the Alps
Chamonix Bus Network Expansion provides free public transport in the region
Mobility Plan of Grand Genève is promoting car-sharing, bike lanes, and better integration of transport networks
Housing - Encodement des Loyer’s is a rent control policy to limit the impact of short-term rentals on local housing prices.
Le Chamonix Logement est an community-led project to create more affordable housing for seasonal workers and permanent residents

4. Evaluation
- Tourism in the Chamonix Region provides significant economic benefits.
- The local population generally supports less extreme forms of tourism.
- Government and local groups have taken actions to limit tourism’s impact, but the effectiveness of these actions is debatable.
- Tourism is the main source of employment and income in the region.
- Despite the negative aspects of tourism, a complete shift away from it is unlikely.
- Environmental harm from mass tourism is expected to continue.

Question 5

A case study of high tech industry

1. Name, location, background
2. Requirements
3. Advantages of location
4. Evaluation

Answer 5

Airbus, Toulouse

1. Name, location, background - Airbus’ commercial aircraft assembly is spread across Europe with final assembly of its major commercial aircraft in Toulouse, France.
Design and engineering teams are located in several countries, including the UK, Spain, and the Netherlands

2. Requirements
Economic factors - cost of labour and other factors of production varies across Europe
Specialisation in labour force
Educated and highly-skilled labor force

*Political * - promote European integration
Promote competitiveness in the aerospace industry

3. Advantages of location
Transport - Roadways, including the A62 autoroute which connects Toulouse to ports and auroirts
Railways provide access to major European cities (TEN-T corridors)
Garonne river

Education - skilled workforce -> specialized aerospace education at institutes like ENAC
Collaboration with universities such as Université de Toulouse

Agglomoration - cluster of aerospace industries in Toulouse, including ATR, Liebherr aerospace, and Safran

4. Evaluation
Positive impacts - economic growth
Technological advancement
Boost education and skills

Negative impacts - environmental concerns, pollution and greenhouse gas emissions
Pressure on infrastructure

Question 6

A case study of extensive agriculture

1. Name, location, background
2. Inputs
3. Current situation and challenges
4. A sustainable future
5. Evaluation

Evaluate an example of extensive agriculture.
Explain why the factors affecting the location of extensive agriculture.
Comment on the sustainability of extensive agriculture.

Answer 6

Killary Sheep Farm, Ireland

1. Name, location, background - Located in the west of Ireland, close to the coast.
There is flat land, several bodies of water and some mountains.
2. Inputs
Physical
Relief: Upland with steep slopes
Soil: Thin, rocky, acid (infertile)
Climate: Short growing seasons, >2000 mm annual rainfall, extreme temperatures
Human
Market: Small due to difficult accessibility
Labour: Little availability due to location (sparsely populated uplands)
Politics: Support through EU subsidies – enable minimum standard of living for farmers
Machinery: Use of Quadbikes
Capital: Killary Farm doesn’t make much profit
3. Current situation and challenges
Current situation
Animals: 200 Blackface Mountain ewes (f) and some rams (m).
Vegetable plot: potatoes, carrots, onions ect.
Land: 20ha of improved grassland and rough grazing, 200ha of upland commonage.
System is self-sufficient: A hill pastoral sheep farm.
The sheep are on commonage or November to March, they are housed until lambing in April.
Problems
There are challenges with Agri-Environmental Schemes, (the destocking of commonages), they could be Subjekt to policy decisions that may Not Alien with economic needs.
Loss of self-sufficiency and traditional farming practices, which was once strong, with families producing their own food.
Fish is disappearing from the area.
Restoring self-sufficiency is difficult due to a loss of skill.
4. A sustainable future
Agri-environmental schemes
Financial support for farmers to maintain biodiversity and cultural heritage
Required in every EU member state as part of Rural Development Programs
Flexible and result-oriented rather than enforcing strict rules
Tailored to different farming systems and habitats.
Farmer involvement in scheme design is essential
Marketing
Conservation-grade branding to make the environmental quality benefits clear to consumers.
Improved communication between local farmers and state bodies
Formation of Producer groups to ensure consistent supply of quality produce
Local butchers to support local food processing
Tourism
Killary Sheep farm encourages types of tourism that support the farmland.
Farmers can profit directly from Tourisms on their farm.
5. Evaluation
Extensive Farming on Killary Sheep farm can support biodiversity, using more traditional methods
->Faces challenges like lower soil fertility, difficulties due to harsh climate conditions
CAP policies help sustain farming in area, promotes self sufficiency
-> Might cause issue in future e.g. with mandatory destocking in order to minimize risks on environment
Farm might benefit from agriculture and tourism
-> problems could arise in the future due to policy changes or economic viability