© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? 5.5To what extent can technology help technology help increase agricultural increase agricultural production and production and alleviate food alleviate food shortages? shortages? Part A

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? What are the factors affecting food supply? The causes of famine are very complex. It may be a natural or human-induced disaster, or a combination of both. Natural hazards and an unfavourable physical environment may not lead to… Reduce food production Famine

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? What are the factors affecting food supply? ClimateNatural environment Natural hazards Physical factors Farming technologies Economic development Wars & conflict Food supply Affect the ability and necessity to import food Cultural factors Affect local food production

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? Can technology help increase food supply? We have seen that modern farming technology used in southern California has successfully increased farming productivity. Can we apply the same tactics to countries suffering from food shortages?

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? Can technology help increase food supply? What are GM crops? GM crops are crop plants created for human and animal consumption using ______________. biotechnology The four main GM crops grown are soybean, maize, cotton and canola. Genetically-modified maize plant in California (Credit: Lowell Georgia/Corbis)

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? Can technology help increase food supply? What are GM crops? Global area of GM crops in 2007 reached million hectares. Major growers of GM crops in 2007 (Source: International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications) The major GM crop producing countries in 2007 are the ______, __________, _______ and ________. Monsanto is a multinational company producing more than 90% of GM seeds worldwide. USA Argentina Brazil Canada

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? In southern California, modern farming technology has successfully increased farming productivity. However, it may have negative impact on the environment. Before exploring the negative impact, we first learn how the agro-ecosystem functions in Part B.

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? 1Climate Physical factors Rainfall is a major factor affecting the amount of food produced. The Sahel Little rainfall is unfavourable for farming Low agricultural output Other unfavourable factors for farming Low food supply Food shortages

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? Which places have a poor water resource? 1Climate Physical factors The Sahel Southern California Do both the Sahel and southern California experience food shortages? Why?

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? 2Natural environment Physical factors ( Gentle / Rugged ) relief ( Infertile / fertile ) soil Large rivers are ( absent / present ) Which place is more favourable for farming?

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? 3Natural hazards Physical factors Natural disasters like flooding, droughts and hailstorms can result in crop failure. Rainstorm Hailstorm A maize field is submerged in flood water in North Korea in 2007 (Credit: Reuters/OTHK)

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? 3Natural hazards Physical factors In more developed countries, farmers have savings and usually food surpluses and a healthy insurance system to get through crop failure. In less developed countries, when there is crop failure, people do not have the money or resources to help them get through it. Food shortages occur as a result. Source: Natural hazards: Global overview of countries of concern, 2006, World Food Programme The impact of crop failure in more developed countries and less developed countries is different

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? 1Farming technologies and the level of productivity Cultural factors Traditional farming methods in less developed countries often result in low crop yields In less developed countries, farmers usually have a ( lower / higher ) education level and little capital They farm with ( traditional / modern ) methods. The productivity is ( low / high ) (Credit: Reuters/OTHK)

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? 2Economic development Cultural factors An area that cannot produce enough food to meet local food demand can import food from other countries Countries which have a population living below US$1 a day Source: UN Human Development Report 2007/8

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? 2Economic development Cultural factors However, the countries who have the greatest need for imported food are very often the least able to pay for it. They are known as the Low- Income Food-Deficit Countries Countries which have a population living below US$1 a day Source: UN Human Development Report 2007/8

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? 2Economic development Cultural factors Poor hygieneNot able to grow or buy food Poverty Lower productivity Poor healthHunger Low income Famine Prolonged hunger Poverty cycle Poverty and famine are closely linked.

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? 3Social factors Cultural factors Places with distinct social classes may have an unequal distribution of food among various classes. For example, in some places, men are allocated more food than women and children. Hence, the ability to obtain food varies with the social background of the people. Children in Niger experiencing food shortages (Credit: Dominique Derda/France 2/Corbis)

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? 4Wars and conflict Cultural factors Refugees in Chad (Credit: Olav A. Saltbones/ Norwegian Red Cross) Farmers may abandon their fields and flee to a safe place. Troop movement may destroy crops. Irrigation systems and transport are paralysed. Failure in growing crops and in getting aid give rise to famine. A large number of people are displaced from their homes as refugees. It is difficult to distribute food to the hungry people. How do wars and conflict affect the food production?

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? 5Political factors Cultural factors Government and bureaucratic inefficiency can add to food shortage problems. In countries where corruption and bribery are common, it is impossible to ensure that food goes to the needy.