3.5 Food Resources

And the average resident of an MEDC consumes 3314 calories per day. Yet, the average resident of an LEDC consumes 2666 calories per day. 862 million people on Earth are undernourished or malnourished. Each day, 16,400 children die from hunger related causes. Chew on this! In fact, more food is produced now than ever before in the history of the human race! There is so much food available in the modern world that affluent people are literally eating themselves to death.

In this unit, we will see how this sad, strange state of affairs has come to be. We will discuss both methods of food production and the social and political realities of global food distribution.

Food Production Three systems produce most of our food – Croplands: 77% – Rangelands, pastures, and feedlots: 16% – Aquaculture: 7% The staple crops: wheat, rice, and corn – Provide 47% of the world’s calories and 42% of protein Tremendous increase in global food production in the last several decades

Evaluating food production methods Environmental Impact – Soil erosion – Water pollution – Land consumption – Biodiversity loss – Unsustainable use of renewable resources Sustainability – Reliance on fossil fuels – Net energy yield

Industrialized agriculture Shifting cultivation Plantation agriculture Nomadic herding Intensive traditional agriculture No agriculture Cultivated land by agricultural type

Traditional Agriculture Often Relies on Low-Input Polycultures Traditional subsistence agriculture Traditional intensive agriculture Polyculture – Benefits over monoculture – Slash-and-burn agriculture

Intensive traditional agriculture in developing countries Land Labor Capital Fossil fuel energy Uses large amounts of labor, water, and fertilizer to produce enough food to feed farmers and to sell for income. Farms are most often polycultures In developing countries 45-65% of the labor force work in agriculture. In North America 2.4% of the total labor force work in agriculture

Shifting cultivation in tropical forests in developing countries Land Labor Capital Growing cash crops on large monoculture plantations. A large amount of livestock production is industrialized. Primarily pigs and chicken are raised in densely populated pens and cages and are fed mostly grain from croplands. Commonly known as “slash and burn”, or swidden

Industrialized agriculture in developed countries Land Labor Capital Fossil fuel energy Uses large amounts of fossil fuels energy, water, commercial fertilizer, and pesticides to produce huge quantities of single crops or livestock animals for sale. 25% of croplands in developed countries.

A Closer Look at Industrialized Crop Production Green Revolution: increase crop yields – Monocultures of high-yield key crops E.g., rice, wheat, and corn – Use large amounts of fertilizers, pesticides, and water – Multiple cropping Second Green Revolution - GMOs With these techniques, world grain has tripled in production

Global Outlook: Total Worldwide Grain Production (Wheat, Corn, and Rice)

Industrialized Food Production Requires Huge Inputs of Energy Industrialized food production and consumption have a large net energy loss Net energy ratios for selected agricultural products from industrialized farming – Dairy – 0.38 – Beef – 0.59 – Sheep – 0.25 – Pork – 0.32 – Cereals – 1.9 – White bread – 0.53 – Greenhouse lettuce – (!)

Genetically Modified Crops and Foods

Industrialized Agriculture uses ~17% of All Commercial Energy Used in the U.S.

Rangelands About 40% of the earth’s ice-free land. This land provides forage or vegetation for grazing and browsing animals. Nomadic herdingStock raising on ranges

Nomadic herding in developing countries Land Labor Capital Uses mostly human labor and draft animals to produce only enough crops or livestock for a farm family’s survival. Provide 20% of the world’s food supply. More common in areas with marginal conditions for crops suitable for direct human consumption

Industrialized Rangelands: Animal Feedlots

Meat Production and Consumption Have Grown Steadily Animals for meat raised in – Pastures – Feedlots Meat production increased fourfold between 1961 and 2007 Demand is expected to go higher Globally, demand for meat correlates with income

World Beef Consumption

Fish and Shellfish Production Have Increased Dramatically Seafood is a high quality, low fat source of protein Seafood is a high quality, low fat source of protein Very popular in east Asia Very popular in east Asia Aquaculture, blue revolution Aquaculture, blue revolution – The world’s third major food-producing system – World’s fastest-growing type of food production – Dominated by operations that raise herbivorous species – 55% of the annual commercial catch comes from the ocean

Commercial Fishing Methods Spotter airplane Fish farming in cage Trawler fishing Purse-seine fishing sonar trawl flap trawl lines trawl bag Long line fishing lines with hooks Drift-net fishing Fish caught by gills floatbuoy fish school

World Fish Catch, Including Both Wild Catch and Aquaculture

Trade-Offs: Aquaculture

Terrestrial vs. Aquatic Food Production Terrestrial Food is harvested from low trophic levels. More efficient fixing of solar energy by photosynthesis. Aquatic Food is harvested from higher trophic levels mostly because of human taste. Energy conversions are more efficient along the food chain.

Producing Food Has Major Environmental Impacts Harmful effects of agriculture on – Biodiversity – Soil – Water – Air – Human health

Major Harmful Environmental Effects on Food Production