U3.1 Food supply, plant growth and productivity

Question 1

What is food security?

Answer 1

The ability of human populations to access food of sufficient quality and quantity.

Question 2

What does an increase in human population and concern for food security lead to?

Answer 2

A demand for increased food production.

Question 3

What must food production be?

Answer 3

Sustainable and not degrade the natural resources on which agriculture depends on.

Question 4

What does food production depend on?

Answer 4

Photosynthesis, and factors that control photosynthesis and plant growth.

Question 5

Give 4 examples of plant crops.

Answer 5

Cereals, potato, roots, and legumes.

Question 6

How much area is available for crop production.

Answer 6

Limited.

Question 7

What does increased food production depend on?

Answer 7

Factors that control plant growth including: breeding of higher yielding cultivars, use of fertilisers, protection crops from pests and diseases, competition.

Question 8

Breeders develop crops with…?

Answer 8

Higher nutritional values, resistance to pests and diseases, physical characteristics suited to rearing and harvesting, phenotypes able to thrive in particular environmental conditions.

Question 9

Why is livestock less effective as crop plants?

Answer 9

Livestock produces less food per unit area due to the loss of energy between trophic levels.