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The Challenge of resource Management – Food OptionFood Security

Key idea: Demand for food resources is rising globally but supply can be insecure, which may lead to conflict.

What is food security?

When people at all times have access to sufficient, safe, nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life.

What is food insecurity?

Being without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food. More than 800 million people live every day with hunger or food insecurity.

Reasons for increasing food consumption:

1. Economic development:

As countries develop, people have more money available to spend on food so their consumption increases. There is also a trend towards an increasing demand for meat as more people can afford to eat it.

2. Population growth:

More people means more food is required.

The Challenge of resource Management – Food OptionFactors Affecting Food Supply


Factors affecting food supply:

Climate:

Places experiencing extreme temperatures or rainfall struggle to produce enough food. An example is in extremely dry areas such as the Sahel.

Poverty:

This means people cannot afford enough or good quality food especially if prices rise. Framers in LICS often cannot afford irrigation systems or technology which affects the amount of food produced.

Technology:

Improvements in transportation and storage have increased the year round availability of food. In addition, wealthier countries can process food which increases supply. In poorer parts of the world, a lack of technology can reduce the amount of food. An example is where poor use of irrigation can lead to waterlogging. We are now using food crops to power cars (biofuels) which means there is less land to grow food on and prices may increase making food less accessible.




Pests and Diseases:

LICS often suffer from a wider variety of these than HICs due to the climate (they tend to thrive in warm places) and lack of investment. Examples are Rift valley fever (a disease) that affects cattle and locusts (a pest) which can decimate a grain crop. The availability of pesticides in HICs allows richer parts of the world to grow more crops. (The USA spends $4.1 billion on them a year) whereas LICs cannot afford them.

Water Stress:

A lack of water makes food production more challenging because crops wont grow. Causes of this can be a dry climate, flooding contaminating fresh water supplies. By 2013 half of the world’s population will be living in areas experiencing water stress. HICs have the money and technology to manage water stress but LICs often don’t.




Conflict:

This can lead to the direct destruction of crops and livestock, also to farmers leaving the land to fight and therefore they stop growing food. Food can become a weapon as one side may destroy/contaminate food supplies in order to starve their enemies. Wells and water supplies may also be contaminated. An example is in Sudan where there is a conflict between the government and armed rebels. Millions of people have been faorced to leave farmland and food aid workers have been kidnapped.

The Challenge of resource Management – Food OptionImpacts of food insecurity:


Impacts of food insecurity:

1. Famine. What is this?

A widespread, serious, shortage of food. In the worst cases it can lead to starvation and even death.

Give an example:

Famine in Somalia in 2011

The UN estimates that 258,000 people died.

The causes of the famine were 2 years of low rainfall, poor harvests and the death of livestock.

It was made worse by the militant group in control of the area blocking aid.


2. Undernutrition: What is this?

This occurs when people do not eat enough nutrients to cover their needs for energy and growth, or to maintain a healthy immune system.

The UN estimates that 1 in 9 people in the world between 2012 and 2014 were seriously under nourished.

Almost all of the people suffering lived in LICs.

3. Soil Erosion: what is this?

The removal of soil (and nutrients) by wind and water.

Causes of this are the same as the causes of desertification – overgrazing, overcultivation and deforestation which all remove vegetation and leave the soil exposed to wind and rain and surface runoff.

4. Rising prices:

This happens as prices of fertilisers, animal feed and transportation increase. It also happens due to food shortages which may occur due to global events such as poor grain harvests in countries such as Russia and Australia in 2010. As there was less food available, prices went up. This hits LICs hardest as they cannot afford to pay the higher prices.


5. Social Unrest: what is this?

This is when there are riots in communities because of the lack of food.

This has happened in North Africa and the Middle East. In 2011 there were 5 days of rioting in Algeria when flour and cooking oil prices doubled.

The Challenge of resource Management – Food OptionStrategies to increase food supply:

Key idea: Different Strategies can be used to increase food supply.

Strategies to increase food supply.

1. Irrigation: what is this?

Applying water to land in order to supply crops and other plants with necessary water.

Water is either taken from rivers or underground.

The scale of the projects ranges from large – see notes on the Indus Basin Irrigation System. (IBIS)

To small e.g. in Makueni County in Kenya, drip irrigation is used along a 35km pipeline. This has increased the food security of the area.

For problems see notes on IBIS.


2. Aeroponics and Hydroponics: What is this?

Aeroponics:

Growing plants in an air or mist environment without the use of soil.

Hydroponics:

A method of growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions, in water, without soil.

Pros:

Speeds up plant growth, allows produce to be grown all year and reduces the use of chemicals.

Can grow more food in the space available as plants can be stacked vertically on top of each other.

Cons:

Very expensive, uses large amounts of energy, equipment must be cleaned regularly to stop contamination


3. The new green revolution – what is this?

This is what AQA says:

A combination of modern technology, traditional knowledge and an emphasis on farming, social and agro-ecological systems as well as yields, especially in poorer countries. At the same time, it emphasizes alternative approaches and improved farm management and information systems in order to minimise environmental damage from external inputs and benefit poor farmers and marginal areas bypassed by the original green revolution.

This is basically improving farming techniques by focussing on sustainability and community and is centred on Africa. A big part of this is biotechnology.

• Examples of what has been focused on:

• Breeding plants that can withstand drought

• Using natural methods of pest and disease control.

• Blending traditional farming methods with up to date knowledge

• Aims to increase food production in the poorest parts of the world to combat pressure on food resources caused by population growth.


4. Biotechnology – what is this?

The manipulation (through genetic engineering) of living organisms to produce useful commercial products (such as pest resistant crops and new bacterial strains).

Foods are known as genetically modified.

Examples –

• Half the world’s soya beans are GM

• In the Philippines GM maize is grown with 24% increase in yields.

• Rare in the UK and Europe – must be clearly labelled.

Advantages –

• Increase yields = more income for farmers.

• Foods can be grown in areas with less water or nutrients available.

• Could be really helpful in LICS to reduce food insecurity.

Disadvantages:

• Very controversial as effects on human health and the environment are unknown.


5. Appropriate Technology – what is this?

(This is also a strategy that can reduce the development gap.)

(Also called Intermediate technology) Technology that is suited to the needs, skills, knowledge and wealth of local people inthe environment in which they live. It usually combines simple ideas with cheap and readily available materials, especially for use in poorer countries, and is environmentally friendly.

Farmers in LICs must be able to maintain the technology themselves.

We have seen many examples on the course:

• drip irrigation system used in Kenya mentioned earlier.

• Stonelines in Burkino Faso

• Nets and equipment in rice and fish farming in Indonesia.

The Challenge of resource Management – Food OptionAn example of a large scale agricultural development to show how it has advantages and disadvantages – The Indus Basin Irrigation Scheme

The Indus River Basin covers 1million km² and covers much of Pakistan.

The IBIS is the largest continuous irrigation scheme in the world and consists of 3 large dams and 100 smaller dams. There are 64,000km of smaller canals across the countryside.

Advantages:

• Improves food security for Pakistan.

• 40% more land can now be farmed.

• Crop yields have increased (e.g. wheat by 36%)

• Diets in Pakistan have improved.

• Fish are farmed in reservoirs

• HEP is generated by the dams.

The Challenge of resource Management – Food OptionAn example of a large scale agricultural development to show how it has advantages and disadvantages – The Indus Basin Irrigation Scheme

Disadvantages:

• Some farmers take too much water so there is less for others.

• High temperatures = high water loss through evaporation.

• Poor irrigation techniques mean water is wasted.

• High maintenance costs

• High water levels have led to waterlogging.

Overall the advantages outweigh the disadvantages especially with the increase in food security however, as population growth continues this will remain a huge challenge into the future.

The Challenge of resource Management – Food OptionMoving towards sustainable food supplies

Make sure you don’t get mixed up between strategies to increase food supplies and sustainable food supplies. For example, irrigation and aeroponics/hydroponics are not really sustainable because they use up water and energy resources.!

What is a sustainable food supply?

Food that is produced in ways that avoid damaging natural resources, provide social benefits such as good quality food and safe and healthy products, and contribute to local economies.

(Remember that sustainability is not just about looking after the environment for future generations, it also includes looking after the economy and people for future generations as well!)

1. Organic Farming

• Growing crops or rearing animals without the use of chemicals. This looks after soil ecosystems and keeps soil healthy. Some organic methods are:

• Using wildlife to control pests

• Crop rotation is used to keep soil fertile and control pests and diseases.

• Clover is grown to add nitrogen to the soil.


1. Organic Farming

Advantages:

Looks after ecosystems by not using chemicals.

Disadvantages:

Organically grown food is expensive so not everyone can afford it.

2. Permaculture – what is this?

Permanent agriculture!

A system of food production that follows the patterns and features of natural ecosystems. More a philosophy of living than a system of farming. Permaculture practices include…

• Organic farming

• Crop rotation

• Harvesting rainwater

• Composting

• Including variety of plants and trees to encourage wildlife.


3. Urban farming:

This is a great one to write about if asked about increasing sustainable food supplies as it ticks all the boxes for being economically, socially and environmentally sustainable into the future.

What is it?

• The growing of fruits, herbs, and vegetables and raising animals in towns and cities, a process that is accompanied by many other activities such as processing and distributing food, collecting and reusing food waste.

Watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PUVlx0jqsI

Example: Brooklyn Grange Urban Farm in New York – built on rooftops which grows crops and keeps chickens.

Advantages:

• A profit making business growing food in the city of NY providing jobs.

• Used as an educational facility for local schools helping children to learn about farming, food supply and sustainability.

• Encourages healthy eating and outdoor activity in children helping them to lead healthy lives into the future.

• Grows food in the city therefore cuts down on food miles and the carbon footprint of food.

• Green roofs help control flooding in cities by absorbing water.

Disadvantages:

• The lack of space available in cities for urban farming initiatives like these.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PUVlx0jqsI


4. Fish and meat from sustainable sources. (farmed in such a way as to not reduce supplies for future generations.)

How is eating fish unsustainable?

• Nearly 90% of the world’s fisheries are over exploited – too many fish are being taken for the population to sustain itself.

• There are many unsustainable ways of fishing such as trawlers dragging nets over the sea floor for shellfish but which catches other fish and sea animals as well as those wanted. This also destroys the entire ecosystem on the sea bed.

• Some fish farms are badly managed and use chemicals and release waste into the oceans.

What is meant by fish from sustainable sources?

• When fish are farmed or caught in a way so that the species can maintain its population and without impacting on the rest of the ecosystem by taking away a source of food for other animals.

• The environment should also not be damaged.

• Fishing can be made more sustainable by:

• Setting quotas for how much of each fish can be caught. The EU does this.

• Monitoring fish populations.

• Raising awareness about how to know if the fish you are buying is sustainable. E.g. by making sure people look for the logo


4. Fish and meat from sustainable sources. (farmed in such a way as to not reduce supplies for future generations.)

How is eating meat unsustainable?

• Large amounts of energy are used for indoor rearing of animals.

• Chemicals are used to maximise production.

• Hormones are given to animals to make them grow faster.

• Produces large volumes of waste.

• High concentrations of animals can degrade the soil and lead to soil erosion and desertification.

How can we make sure we buy meat from sustainable sources?

• Use small scale livestock farms using free range or organic methods.

• Meat quality and animal welfare high

• Labelling systems so consumers can make sustainable choices.


5. Seasonal food consumption: what is this?

Only eating foods when in season in your local area. This means less food miles and a lower carbon footprint of food as foodcan be sourced locally.

It also means less energy and water is used growing food in greenhouses.

It also supports the local economy.

6. Reducing food waste and losses.

32% of all food produced is wasted or lost each year, mostly in richer countries, half of which is fruit and veg. The average family in the UK throws away around £700 of food a year.

If we could reduce this, food insecurity could be reduced around the world.

Food waste can be reduced by…

• Planning meals in advance, buying odd shaped/sized veg, store food correctly, use leftovers, prederving food and composting.

Food loss is when a crop is destroyed by pests or diseases or poor storage and marketing leading to the crop never being sold.

This can be reduced by investment in infrastructure and education on storage and marketing.

The Challenge of resource Management – Food OptionAn example of a local scheme in an NEE/LIC to increase sustainable supplies of food –Rice fish farming in Indonesia.

Before being taught about rice fish farming, poor rice farmers in Indonesia struggled to make ends meet and feed their families.

The Fisheries Agency provided small loans (e.g. of a microfinance loan – strategy to reduce the development gap) for equipment such as nets and fish food as well as education on how to farm rice and fish at the same time.

The technique has benefits for both rice (fish eat the pests) and fish – they have food.

• Impacts of the technique:

• Income has increased from $112 per 1 sq km to $370 which has allowed the farmers to earn a more comfortable living and improve their quality of life. They can afford to send their children to school which improves their quality of life into the future as they can get better jobs. (economic and social sustainability)

• Farmers employ workers which provides economic opportunities for others who can then improve their quality of life so the whole community benefits. (economic and social sustainability)

• People have more varied diets so they are more healthy into the future. (socially sustainable)

• The environment is protected as this is organic and self sustaining method of farming. Pests are controlled naturally (by the fish) (environmentally sustainable.)

• This is an example of intermediate technology where simple tools such as nets are provided and can be easily repaired so they will last a long time into the future.

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The Challenge of resource Management Food …fluencycontent2-schoolwebsite.netdna-ssl.com/FileCluster/...• HEP is generated by the dams. The Challenge of resource Management –Food