2. OCR Cambridge Technical in Science Level 2

3. INTRODUCTION TO
UNIT 7:
FOOD PRODUCTION

4. What’s so important about food production?
Learning about how food is produced is important.
With the world’s population rising and land being stretched to breaking point,
…it is more important than ever to think about how we feed ourselves.

5. Different farmers use different methods to produce food.
Farming methods
Some have been around since farming began, some are modern, innovative ways to maximise profit and yield.
Different farmers use different methods to produce food.
hydroponic
rare breeds
intensive
organic

6. This process is called photosynthesis.
Harnessing the Sun
Plants grow by using the Sun’s energy to make food from water and carbon dioxide.
This process is called photosynthesis.
This knowledge of how plants grow enables commercial food growers to manipulate the growing conditions of plants to maximise growth.

7. Harnessing the Sun
Manipulating growing conditions is an application of science within food production and re-capping photosynthesis will enable you to understand how this works.

8. How do plants grow?
Limiting factors are something that, if missing or inadequate can prevent or stall a plant’s growth.
Limiting factors are:
Temperature
Light
Carbon dioxide

9. What affects food production?
The use of commercial fertilisers ensures there is enough food, without them people would starve.

10. What affects food production?
Pesticides prevent crops being lost to insects or diseases.

11. What affects food production?
Both have an environmental cost, but not to use them has a human cost.
Can the two balance?

12. From field to supermarket shelf
You will need to look at how food spoils and how this can be prevented using both traditional and innovative methods of food preservation.
Once your food has been harvested, how is it prepared for sale?
How does it stay edible in the time it takes to get to your plate?

13. Is your food better travelled than you?
Not all food is grown locally. To ensure a year round supply of our favourite foods they are imported from other countries.
You will find out the consequences of this transportation and what it means for consumers, farmers and the environment.

14. Is your food better travelled than you?
Not all food is grown locally. To ensure a year round supply of our favourite foods they are imported from other countries.
Can you give up strawberries for ten months of the year?
How about tomatoes?
Are there ways to make all crops viable in all countries?

15. The role of science in food production
In recent years scientific research into food has been much more urgent with the increasing world population to feed.
Science is no stranger to food production, having been used since agriculture began.
How far can selective breeding go?
What role can microorganisms play in feeding the world?
Are GM crops the future?

16. What will you learn?
How and why different practices are used in commercial farming.
About the role of innovative science in addressing food production.
The key factors that affect crop production.
How food gets from the field to the supermarket.

17. Other OCR resources are available at www.ocr.org.uk
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 Slide 4 Combine harvester: Makaule/Shutterstock.com  Slide 5 Cow: TonyV3112/Shutterstock.com, Hydroponics: Defpicture/Shutterstock.com, Organic farming: Yuris/Shutterstock.com, Intensive farming: federicofoto/Shutterstock.com  Slides 6 and 7 Seedling: Triff/Shutterstock.com  Slide 8 Four seedlings: Teerasak/Shutterstock.com  Slides 9 and 11 Fertiliser: Kletr/Shutterstock.com  Slides 10 and 11 Pesticide: Ra3rn/Shutterstock.com  Slide 12 Mouldy bread: Marilyn Barbone/Shutterstock.com, Jars: Tomas Jasinskis/Shutterstock.com  Slide 13 Apples: Alaettin Yildirim/Shutterstock.com  Slide 14 Strawberries: Ninell/Shutterstock.com  Slide 15 Pig: Panbazil/Shutterstock.com  Slide 16 Man with seedling: CoraMax/Shutterstock.com