1. Safeguarding our Food Supply

2. Natural Phenomena Affecting Food Supply
Climate
Crops require sunlight and moisture
Farmers must rely on Mother Nature. 
Soil
It must have the right amount of nutrients. If the climate does not cooperate, the soil will be too dry or too wet. 
Topography
In hilly regions the farmer must work the soil to prevent erosion.
If unable to grow crops, the farmer must use the land to grow livestock. 

3. Natural Phenomena Affecting Food Supply
4. Natural disasters
Storms: Tornadoes, hurricanes, snow storms; earthquakes and volcanoes.
Pests
Grasshoppers, beetles, and termites.
Sometimes chemicals can reduce the number of pests or effect of the pests.
In other situations biological methods can be used. This means that bacteria or another type of organism that feeds on the particular pest is released.
E.g. Dragon flies released to combat the mosquitoes in Winnipeg in This non-chemical method of combating pests does not always work quickly enough when it comes to crops and so farmers often use chemicals. 

4. Human Actions Affecting Food Supply
Agricultural chemicals are used extensively in crop and livestock production. These chemicals, like other types of modern technology, have both benefits and risks.
Three most common types of chemicals are: Pesticides, Fertilizers, and Animal Health Products.
It also includes herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, etc. 
What are some benefits of chemicals?
What are some risks of chemicals?

5. Human Actions Affecting Food Supply
Benefits
Disadvantages
Increase in food production.
Both animals and plants grow larger, more abundant and quicker with chemicals.
More food for resale.
Increase the quality and appearance of food.
Protect stored food from rotting or being eaten by rodents / other pests. 
If applied incorrectly, damage to crops and livestock.
Non-target species of plants or other pests may be killed.
Wildlife could be poisoned
Residue of the chemicals can stay in the food and environment, thus resulting long-term health problems.

6. Genetically Modified Organisms
Scientists are developing crops to grow in less optimal circumstances:
Shorter growing seasons
Wetter or drier conditions
Different soil conditions
Colder / warmer climates
Domesticated plants and animals have been modified through traditional breeding.
Cross-breeding was the primary method of modification.
E.g: the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse is a mule. Mules are sterile and cannot reproduce.

7. GMOs
Scientists now take desirable genes from one organism and move them into another organism.
Can create an entirely different organism.
Eg: Insect-resistant corn crop created by inserting a bacteria gene into the maize DNA = a new variety of maize that produces an insect-killing toxin, thus reducing the need for pesticides to be used.
Genetically modified crops benefits:
increased yield,
tolerance to herbicides,
increased hardiness,
a more uniform crop
a resistance to insects and diseases.
As a result, more food can be produced at a lower cost in poorer conditions.

8. Climate Change
Climate change can have a huge impact on food production, including:
Decreased accuracy of weather forecasts.
Rising sea levels submerge valuable agricultural lands along coastlines.
Increase in pests and diseases.
Fragile environments could be lost.
Present growing zones could shift both horizontally and vertically.
Increased growing seasons in cooler climates.
Increased amounts of land no longer able to sustain agriculture.