Food, Soil, and Pest Management Chapter 12

12-1 What Is Food Security and Why Is It Difficult to Attain? Concept 12-1A Many of the poor suffer health problems from chronic lack of food and poor nutrition, while many people in developed countries have health problems from eating too much food. Concept 12-1B The greatest obstacles to providing enough food for everyone are poverty, political upheaval, corruption, war, and the harmful environmental effects of food production.

Many of the Poor Have Health Problems Because They Do Not Get Enough to Eat Food security – means that every person in a given area has daily access to enough nutritious food to have an active and healthy life. Global food production has stayed ahead of population growth. However : One of six people in developing countries cannot grow or buy the food they need. Food insecurity – living with chronic hunger and poor nutrition.

Key Nutrients for a Healthy Human Life We need large amounts of macronutrients (protein, carbohydrates, and fats) We also need smaller amounts of micronutrients (vitamins such as A,C, and E and various minerals)

Many People Suffer from Chronic Hunger and Malnutrition Some people cannot meet their basic energy needs Chronic undernutrition or hunger Others lack proteins and key nutrient needs Chronic malnutrition The root cause of hunger and malnutrition is poverty. In 2006, 862 million were undernourished worldwide. A 2005 estimate says 6 million children die annually from undernutrition or nonfatal diseases made worse by their poor diet.

Many People Do No Get Enough Vitamins and Minerals One in three people has a deficiency of one or more vitamins and minerals, especially: iron – anemia vitamin A – blindness iodine – goiter or enlarged thyroid gland Can lead to deafness Famine – a shortage of food in an area along with mass starvation, economic and social chaos Usually caused by crop failures from drought, flooding, war, or other catastrophic events

Many People Have Health Problems from Eating Too Much Overnutrition – excess calories and lack of exercise can lead to reduced life quality, poor health, and premature death…same as undernutrition A 2005 Boston University study: 60% of American adults are overweight 33% are obese Americans spend $42 billion a year trying to lose weight. Estimates are that $24 billion per year would eliminate world hunger.

12-2 How Is Food Produced? Concept 12-2A We have sharply increased crop production using a mix of industrialized and traditional agriculture. Concept 12-2B We have used industrialized and traditional methods to greatly increase supplies of meat, fish, and shellfish.

Food Production Has Increased Dramatically Wheat, rice, and corn provide more than half of the world’s consumed calories Fish and shellfish are an important source of food for about 1 billion people mostly in Asia Of all the biodiversity on the planet, only 14 plant and 9 animal species make up 90% of the world’s consumed calories.

Food Production Has Increased Dramatically Three systems produce most of our food: Grain from croplands: 77% Meat from rangelands, pastures, and feedlots: 16% Fish from fisheries/Aquaculture: 7% Dramatic increase in global food production since 1960. Why? Technological advances More sophisticated farming techniques Expanded use of inorganic chemical fertilizers, irrigation, pesticides, high-yield crops Intense farming methods, densely populated feedlots, breeding/growing pens, aquaculture ponds or ocean cages

Two Types of Agriculture Industrial Agriculture (High Input Agriculture) A relatively small group of farmers produce large quantities of a single crop or livestock Mostly in developed countries Traditional Agriculture (Low Input Agriculture) Traditional subsistence agriculture Produces enough crops or livestock to feed family Traditional intensive agriculture Produces enough crops or livestock to feed the farmer’s family and maybe some to sell Mostly in developing countries

Industrialized Crop Production Relies on High-Input Monocultures About 80% of the world’s food supply is produced by industrialized agriculture. Goal is to steadily increase crop yield Uses large amounts of fossil fuel energy, water, commercial fertilizers, and pesticides to produce monocultures. Plantation agriculture primarily in tropical developing countries (bananas, coffee, sugarcane) Cash crops – crops intended for sale, not consumption or animals

Traditional Agriculture Often Relies on Low-Input Polycultures Many farmers in developing countries grow a variety of crops on the same plot of land Polyculture: different plants are grown together Limited technology, limited equipment, limited impact on the environment Slash-and-burn agriculture – burning underbrush to provide nutrients to the soil

A Closer Look at Industrialized Crop Production The Green Revolution represents the 88% increase in food production per unit of area since 1950. Monocultures of high-yield key crops Selectively breed or genetically engineered crops Large inputs of fertilizers, pesticides, water The Second Green Revolution involves fast growing rice/wheat bred for tropical regions. Early in the century, one American farmer could produce food for 2.5 people. By 1999, a single farmer could feed over 130 people.

A Closer Look at Industrialized Crop Production Since 1950, high-input agriculture has produced more crops per unit of land. Grain production has tripled during this timeframe Why has per Capita grain production gone down since the early 1980’s?

Crossbreeding and Genetic Engineering Can Produce New Crop Varieties Gene Revolution – increased crop yields, as a result of mixing organisms’ genes Artificial selection has been used for centuries to develop genetically improved varieties of crops. Genetic engineering develops improved strains at an exponential pace compared to artificial selection. Add beneficial genes Delete negative genes

Crossbreeding and Genetic Engineering Can Produce New Crop Varieties Age of Genetic Engineering developing crops that are resistant to: Heat and cold Herbicides Insect pests Viral diseases Drought Salty or acidic soil Controversy has arisen over the use of genetically modified foods (GMF’s). Critics fear that we know too little about the long-term potential harm to human health and the environment.

Meat Production and Consumption Have Grown Steadily Meat production increased fourfold from 1961–2007 Industrialized livestock production: Densely populated feedlots are common System uses a lot of energy and water and produce huge amounts of animal waste

Industrialized Meat Production Has Harmful Environmental Consequences

Fish and Shellfish Production Have Increased Dramatically Aquaculture – raising large numbers of fish and shellfish in ponds and cages world’s fastest growing type of food production. Fish farming involves cultivating fish in a controlled environment and harvesting them in captivity.

Producing Fish Through Aquaculture Can Harm Aquatic Ecosystems