1. Key Question 2: What factors promote or hinder food production?

2. Physical Human Physical Human
There are many causes of food shortages….
Soil exhaustion
Disease
Commercial farming and growth of cash crops
Low capital investment/poverty
War and civil conflict
Drought
Floods
Pests
Tropical cyclones
Poor distribution
Transport difficulties
Physical
Human
Physical
Human
Soil exhaustion
Low capital investment/poverty
Drought
Poor distribution
Floods
Transport difficulties
Tropical cyclones
War and civil conflict
Pests
Commercial farming and growth of cash crops
Disease

3. Physical causes of food shortages Human causes of food shortages
Use the links provided in the following table to research the causes and consequences of each of the factors which hinder food supply.
Physical causes of food shortages
Human causes of food shortages
Create a table or mind map to show your findings

4. Key Question 2: What factors promote or hinder food production?
The main factors that promote or hinder food production can be divided into the following:
Physical
Political
Economic
Technological

5. Task: Decide which factor each one of the cells below come under
Temperature
Laws related to GMOs (genetically modified organisms)
Growing season
Market price
Supranational organisations e.g. EU
Irrigation
Conservation
Subsistence or commercial
farming
Mechanisation
Soils
Polytunnels
Retailer power
Self sufficiency
Genetic engineering
Rainfall
Agro-chemicals
Subsidies
Green
houses
World trade conditions
Tariffs

6. Task: Decide which factor each one of the cells below come under
Temperature
Laws related to GMOs (genetically modified organisms)
Growing season
Market price
Supranational organisations e.g. EU
Irrigation
Conservation
Subsistence or commercial
Farming
Mechanisation
Soils
Polytunnels
Retailer power
Self sufficiency
Genetic engineering
Rainfall
Agro-chemicals
Subsidies
Green
Houses
World trade conditions
Tariffs
Technology
Political
Economic
Physical

7. Some areas are naturally rich and fertile and capable of very high output even with fairly low-level inputs. These have become densely populated areas. They may be capable of even greater output with modern methods.
Other areas are capable of more limited output and may be susceptible to output being reduced by low or erratic rainfall, poor or degrading soils or difficulties related to relief.
Some food sources which can normally have very high output can be severely disrupted by natural events, such as the Peruvian fisheries under El Nino conditions.

9. Look at pages 2 – 9 in the booklet
Look at pages 2 – 9 in the booklet. What other factors can promote or hinder food production?
Bullet point your findings.
(10 minutes)

10. Moving food around the World:
Concerns over food miles is growing, why?
What is an Agribusiness?

11. Agriculture conducted on strictly commercial principles.
The group of industries dealing with agricultural produce and services required in farming.

13. Research into one commodity traded internationally.
What factors promote / hinder the production of this product?
Think of them in terms of these 4 areas:
Physical
Political
Economic
Technological
Find a case study example of an agribusiness that is controlling the growth, processing, distribution, marketing and retailing of food.

14. CAP (common agricultural policy):

15. The amount of food produced often depends on the level of technological input available.
Many area still depend on animal or human power whilst others have sophisticated machinery with satellite guidance for application of fertilizers.
Controlled environments under glass are often monitored by computer.

16. Essay Question:
Discuss the reasons for the global imbalance in the availability of food
[10 Marks]

17. Key Question 2: What factors promote or hinder food production?
Decide among you which case study you want to research.
Create presentation that you will present to the class next lesson. Ensure you include facts and figures where possible.
You need to print out a copy of the slides for each member of the class before you present (3 slides per page is fine).

18. Key Question 2: What factors promote or hinder food production?
Case study Presentations