Topic 4: Food Resources

Updates on Food Resources - http://olevelgeog.blogspot.sg/search/label/5%20Geography%20of%20Food

KQ1: How and why has food consumption patterns changed since 1960s?

How do food consumption patterns vary between DCs and LDCs over time?

Variation in global food consumption patterns:

• Indicators of food consumption

  • consumption/kg/yr.

  • starchy staples as % of all calories;

  • total calorie intake

• Changing food preferences (e.g. rice, meat and fruits)

Why do food consumption patterns vary between DCs and LDCs?

Reasons for the growth and variations in food consumption:

• Economic

  • disposable income,

  • pricing

• Socio-cultural

  • food preference e.g. organic food and fast food, mitigation

  • population growth

• Political

  • stability of food supply;

  • food safety

What are the consequences of variations in food consumption patterns?

Impact of inadequate food consumption on individuals and countries;

• Health

  • malnutrition,

  • starvation,

• Economic

  • lower productivity,

  • food aid and economic aid can cause long term debts,

  • diversion of financial resources to health care

• Political

  • social unrest

• Social

  • scavenging

Impact of excess food consumption on individuals and countries:

• Health

  • obesity and related illness

• Economic

  • lower productivity

  • diversion of financial resources to health care

• Social issues

  • food wastage

  • dieting

KQ2: What are the trends and challenges in production of food crops?

How has the production of crops changed since 1960s?

What factors affect the intensity of food production and supply?

Food chain (linkages between consumers, producers and distributors)

Trend in production of food crops (rice and wheat) from 1960s

• Increased intensity of production of food crops

Factors affecting the intensity of food production and supply

• Physical

  • relief,

  • soils & drainage

  • climate

• Economic

  • purpose of farming; commercial and subsistence;

  • demand and capital; trade;

  • Agri-business)

• Political

  • government policy,

  • ASEAN

• Technological advances

  • Green Revolution through use of high-yielding varieties, irrigation, mechanisation, fertilisers and pesticides

What are the effects of continuing intensification of food production?

Challenges associated with intensification of production of crops from 1960s

• Effects of use of irrigation and chemicals on water and soil quality (Salinisation, eutrophication),

Why do food shortages occur?

• Physical

  • extreme weather,

  • climate change and

  • pests such as locusts

• Political

  • civil strife,

  • poor governance

• Economic

  • rising demand for meat and dairy products for meat and dairy products from emerging economies like China and India,

  • soaring cost of fertilizers and transport,

  • conversion of farmland to industrial crop production to producebiofuel crops

• Social

  • Lack of accessibility,

  • inadequate logistics of food distribution and storage,

  • rapid population growth

KQ3: How can the problem of food shortage be addressed?

What are the strategies to overcome food shortage?

How effective are technological strategies in alleviating the problem of food shortage?

Strategies to overcome food shortage:

• Technological

  • storage (e.g. refrigeration and transport)

  • Farming technology (e.g. Green Revolution)

  • Biotechnology: Genetically modified food

    • characteristics (e.g. high yield and longer shelf life)

    • positive impacts (e.g. economic and regional development)

    • Negative impacts (e.g. reduction of biodiversity and habitat loss)

• Agricultural

  • multiple cropping and crop rotation

  • water and soil conservation

  • lease of farmland to other countries

• Social

  • support local farmers

  • population control

• Political/economic

  • food programmes and aid assistance (e.g. UNWFP)

  • Agricultural policies (e.g. high-tech farming in Singapore

With reference to a case study (e.g. Punjab, India), consider the following guiding questions with regards to its experience of increasing the supply of staple food (e.g. wheat):

1) How has the supply situation of the staple food varied over the last 40 years?

2) How has the area boosted the supply of the staple food?

3) Why is there still a need to boost the supply of the staple food?

4) Has technology helped to make the supply of staple food more sustainable?