Issues in Food Production

Take notes related to these issues and write down at least one example of each: Ethical Treatment of Animals Lands Use Soil erosion and degradation Pollution Climate Change Water usage Loss of genetic diversity Food Security

Unethical Treatment of Animals

Sow Stall Pigs Caged Chickens

Ethical Treatment of Animals Live Export Trade

Land Use

Farmland covers 40% of the World’s land area

Land Use Current World Population – 7 Billion Future – more land for farming or improve productivity

Land Use Land cleared at the expense of native species. E.g. Native forests cleared for palm oil plantation Indonesia

Land use

Soil Degradation

Soil Erosion and Degradation Land can be degraded by overuse It takes 1000s of years for soil to form Once degraded it is no longer useful for food production Can be degraded by compaction, erosion & overuse.

Pollution

Farms are heavy users of Pesticides Fertilizers Other chemicals Many of these may be toxic and enter marine environments and water supplies.

Pollution Eutrophication - is when nutrient dense run off poisons waterways causing algal blooms followed by fish kills

Climate Change

The Food Industry is responsible for one-third of greenhouse gases produced by humans (agriculture, food transport & packaging)

Climate Change Food Miles – The distance a food item is transported during the journey from producer to consumer. Representing the amount of fuel used.

Water Usage

Agriculture consumes about 70% of the planets accessible fresh water. Often through wasteful processes.

Water Usage

Water usage

Loss of Genetic Diversity

The Gene Pool is the total number of genes available within a population. The smaller the gene pool, the less likely a population will adapt to change. Only 30 crops and 14 species of animal make up 90% of food consumed by humans.

Food Security

Food Security - the state of having reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food

Food Security Factors affecting food security: Quality of available land & water Reliable infrastructure & transport Political stability Money Natural disaster War/conflict