1. Farming Part 1

2. Starter We can buy a range of herbicides and pesticides from a garden centre. Why do we use them?

3. Farming Learning objectives Success criteria  Explain how pesticides may accumulate in food chains.  Describes how plants can be grown without soil.  Describe how intensive farming methods can increase productivity but raise ethical dilemmas. Students should be able to:  Describe how pesticides accumulate in the food chain Explain the advantages and disadvantages of hydroponics List the arguments for and against intensive farming

4. Why is maximizing yields important? Many farmers use intensive farming methods to maximize their yields. Why do they do this? In what ways can farmers maximize their yields? Increased energy efficiency. Lower costs for farmers. Cheaper food for consumers. More food produced in the same amount of space. Greenhouses, battery hens, fish farms, hydroponics

5. How can losses be reduced? Not all of a crop planted will be harvested. What happens to the rest? What chemicals are used to cut competition? Herbicides are used to kill weeds, and pesticides are used to kill pests, such as insects (insecticides) and fungi (fungicides). 58% harvested 13% lost to disease 13% lost to pests 16% lost to weeds

6. Pesticides What problem may occur when we use pesticides? Pesticides may enter and accumulate in food chains.

7. corn is sprayed with a pesticide snails on the corn are covered with the pesticide shrews eat the snails owls eat the shrews Pesticide accumulation the accumulated pesticide in the owl results in weak eggs that break easily How do pesticides accumulate along food chains?

8. Task Complete worksheet B4f1 - Polar bears and DDT phytoplankton  herbivorous zooplankton  arctic cod  habour seal  polar bear phytoplankton  herbivorous zooplankton  arctic char  capelin  harbour seal  polar bear phytoplankton  herbivorous zooplankton  arctic cod  polar bear DDT will accumulate in organisms; polar bears depend on hundreds of fish and seals; fish and seals move and migrate

9. What is hydroponics? Many salad crops, including tomatoes, lettuces and cucumbers, are grown in this way. Hydroponics is a technique used to grow plants without soil. The plants gain all their nutrients and minerals from specially-treated water circulating around their roots. Other conditions, such as the levels of light and carbon dioxide, are also closely controlled.

10. Why use hydroponics? There are many advantages of using hydroponics. These include: Lower risk of crops becoming diseased from soil- based pathogens and pests. Fewer weeds. A reduced need for pesticides and herbicides. Crops can be grown in places with poor soil or little water for irrigation. However, hydroponics requires expensive equipment and technical knowledge and so will not be suitable for all situations.

11. How can livestock be farmed efficiently? The efficiency of meat production increases if animals are kept at a constant temperature and their movement is restricted. Is efficiency always the most important consideration? They can also be fed concentrates – food that leaves very little waste – and given antibiotics to combat infections. Chickens and pigs lose energy through movement and thermoregulation. How could a farmer increase the yield of meat from livestock?

12. What are the problems of livestock farming? To help prevent these problems, farmers must comply with EU regulations, but some people do not think these regulations are strict enough. If animals are kept in extremely cramped conditions, they may start to develop abnormal behaviour. Animals are also more likely to catch diseases if they are living in a cramped, enclosed environment. For example, chickens may pluck out each other’s feathers.

13. The MeatrixThe Meatrix - animation Task - Create a table and list the reasons for and against intensive farming

14. Citizens’ panel Plenary

15. Farming Learning objectives Success criteria  Explain how pesticides may accumulate in food chains.  Describes how plants can be grown without soil.  Describe how intensive farming methods can increase productivity but raise ethical dilemmas. Students should be able to:  Describe how pesticides accumulate in the food chain Explain the advantages and disadvantages of hydroponics List the arguments for and against intensive farming