15.1 – Feeding the World

Objectives Identify the major causes of malnutrition. Compare the environmental costs of producing different types of food. Explain how poverty is a major cause of malnutrition. Explain the importance of the green revolution.

Warm Up What are 3 things you Know or think you know about agriculture? What are 3 things you want to Learn about agriculture?

Feeding the World Famine – widespread starvation caused by a shortage of food By 2050, the world’s farmers will need to feed about 9 billion people

Humans and Nutrition Food is needs as a source of energy and as a source of materials for building and maintaining body tissue. Malnutrition – condition that occurs when people do not consume enough Calories or do not eat a sufficient variety of food to fulfill the body’s needs

Sources of Nutrition Diet – type and amount of food one eats A healthy diet maintains a balance of the right amounts of nutrients, minerals, and vitamins. In most parts of the world people eat large amounts of carbohydrates (rice, potatoes, bread, fruits, vegetables)

Diets Around the World People in more developed countries tend to eat more food and larger proportions of proteins and fats. Check Your Understanding: Why do you think people in developing countries eat less protein?

The Ecology of Food Food Efficiency Efficiency of a given type of agriculture is the measure of the quantity of food produced on a given area of land. More energy, water, and land are used to produce a Calorie of food from animals than a Calorie of food from plants.’ This is because there is less energy available as you move higher in the food chain.

Old and New Foods Yield – the amount of food that can be produced in a given area Researchers are looking at organisms that can thrive in many different climates as new sources of food. Example: Glasswort may be used for salads in the future because it can be grown in salty soils.

World Food Problems Poverty Poverty results in malnutrition in many countries. Subsistence Farmers – farmers who grow only enough food for local use; they generally grow enough for their families with hopefully a little left over to sell

World Food Problems continued… More Income and More Food The number of people living in extreme poverty has declined by nearly half a billion since 1980. This is mainly because of the rapid economic development in East Asia (China and India). We will however see problems in the future because of our increasing world population.

The Green Revolution Between 1950 and 1970 Mexico and India dramatically increased their grain production because of new varieties of grain that produced larger yields of food. This reduced the price of food and improved the lives of millions of people.

15.2 – Crops and Soil

Objectives Distinguish between traditional and modern agricultural techniques. Describe fertile soil. Describe the need for soil conservation. Explain the benefits and environmental impacts of pesticide use.. Explain what is involved in integrated pest management. Explain how genetic engineering is used in agriculture.

Agriculture: Traditional and Modern