1. Food Resources: A Challenge For Agriculture

2. Overview o Food and Nutrition o World Food Problems o Principle Types of Agriculture o Challenges of Producing More Crops and Livestock o Environmental Impact of Agriculture o Solutions to Agricultural Problems o Fisheries of the World

3. Food and Nutrition o Carbohydrates Sugars and starches metabolized by cellular respiration to produce energy Sugars and starches metabolized by cellular respiration to produce energy o Proteins Large, complex molecules composed of amino acids that perform critical roles in body Large, complex molecules composed of amino acids that perform critical roles in body o Lipids Include fats and oils and are metabolized by cellular respiration to produce energy Include fats and oils and are metabolized by cellular respiration to produce energy o Vitamins and Minerals

4. Human Foods

5. World Food Problems o Feeding growing population is difficult o Annual grain production (left) has increased since 1970 o Grain per person has not (right)

6. World Food Problems o Famine Failure of crops caused by drought, flood or catastrophic event Failure of crops caused by drought, flood or catastrophic event Temporary but severe shortage of food Temporary but severe shortage of food o Maintaining World Grain Carryover Stockpiles Amounts of rice, wheat, corn and other grains remaining from previous harvest Amounts of rice, wheat, corn and other grains remaining from previous harvest Provides measure of food security Provides measure of food security Decreased each year since 1987 Decreased each year since 1987 UN feels carryover stock should not fall below 70 days UN feels carryover stock should not fall below 70 days

7. FOOD SECURITY AND NUTRITION o Global food production has stayed ahead of population growth. However: One of six people in developing countries cannot grow or buy the food they need. One of six people in developing countries cannot grow or buy the food they need. Others cannot meet their basic energy needs (undernutrition / hunger) or protein and key nutrients (malnutrition). Others cannot meet their basic energy needs (undernutrition / hunger) or protein and key nutrients (malnutrition).

8. FOOD SECURITY AND NUTRITION o The root cause of hunger and malnutrition is poverty. o Food security means that every person in a given area has daily access to enough nutritious food to have an active and healthy life. Need large amounts of macronutrients (protein, carbohydrates, and fats). Need large amounts of macronutrients (protein, carbohydrates, and fats). Need smaller amounts of micronutrients (vitamins such as A,C, and E). Need smaller amounts of micronutrients (vitamins such as A,C, and E).

9. FOOD SECURITY AND NUTRITION o One in three people has a deficiency of one or more vitamins and minerals, especially vitamin A, iodine (causes goiter - enlargement of thyroid gland), and iron. Figure 13-2

10. Solutions: Reducing Childhood Deaths from Hunger and Malnutrition o There are several ways to reduce childhood deaths from nutrition-related causes: Immunize children. Immunize children. Encourage breast-feeding. Encourage breast-feeding. Prevent dehydration from diarrhea. Prevent dehydration from diarrhea. Prevent blindness from vitamin A deficiency. Prevent blindness from vitamin A deficiency. Provide family planning. Provide family planning. Increase education for women. Increase education for women.

11. World Grain Carryover Stock o Why the decline? Rising temperatures Rising temperatures Falling water tables and droughts Falling water tables and droughts Ethanol production Ethanol production More grain is going towards feeding livestock More grain is going towards feeding livestock

12. Overnutrition: Eating Too Much o Overnutrition and lack of exercise can lead to reduced life quality, poor health, and premature death. o A 2005 Boston University study found that about 60% of American adults are overweight and 33% are obese (totaling 93%). o Americans spend $42 billion per year trying to lose weight. o $24 billion per year is needed to eliminate world hunger.

13. Principle Types of Agriculture Industrialized agriculture Modern agriculture methods that require large capital input, and less land and labor Modern agriculture methods that require large capital input, and less land and labor

14. Industrial Food Production: High Input Monocultures o About 80% of the world’s food supply is produced by industrialized agriculture. Uses large amounts of fossil fuel energy, water, commercial fertilizers, and pesticides to produce monocultures. Uses large amounts of fossil fuel energy, water, commercial fertilizers, and pesticides to produce monocultures. Greenhouses are increasingly being used. Greenhouses are increasingly being used. Plantations are being used in tropics for cash crops such as coffee, sugarcane, bananas. Plantations are being used in tropics for cash crops such as coffee, sugarcane, bananas.

15. Fig. 13-4, p. 275 Plantation agriculture Shifting cultivation Industrialized agriculture No agriculture Intensive traditional. Nomadic herding

16. FOOD PRODUCTION o Satellite images of massive and rapid development of greenhouse food production in Spain from 1974 (left) to 2000 (right). Figure 13-5

17. Industrial Food Production: High Input Monocultures o Livestock production in developed countries is industrialized: Feedlots are used to fatten up cattle before slaughter. Feedlots are used to fatten up cattle before slaughter. Most pigs and chickens live in densely populated pens or cages. Most pigs and chickens live in densely populated pens or cages. Most livestock are fed grain grown on cropland. Most livestock are fed grain grown on cropland. Systems use a lot of energy and water and produce huge amounts of animal waste. Systems use a lot of energy and water and produce huge amounts of animal waste.

18. Case Study: Industrialized Food Production in the United States o The U.S. uses industrialized agriculture to produce about 17% of the world’s grain. Relies on cheap energy to run machinery, process food, produce commercial fertilizer and pesticides. Relies on cheap energy to run machinery, process food, produce commercial fertilizer and pesticides. o About 10 units of nonrenewable fossil fuel energy are needed to put 1 unit of food energy on the table.

19. Case Study: Industrialized Food Production in the United States o Industrialized agriculture uses about 17% of all commercial energy in the U.S. and food travels an average 2,400 kilometers from farm to plate. Figure 13-7

20. SOIL EROSION AND DEGRADATION o Soil erosion is the movement of soil components, especially surface litter and topsoil, by wind or water.  Soil erosion increases through activities such as farming, logging, construction, overgrazing, and off-road vehicles. Figure 13-9

21. Global Outlook: Soil Erosion o Soil is eroding faster than it is forming on more than one-third of the world’s cropland. Figure 13-10

22. Principle Types of Agriculture o Subsistence Agriculture Traditional agricultural methods, which are dependent on labor and large amounts of land Traditional agricultural methods, which are dependent on labor and large amounts of land o Examples: Shifting cultivation Shifting cultivation Slash and burn agriculture Slash and burn agriculture Nomadic herding Nomadic herding Intercropping Intercropping

23. Solutions: Steps Toward More Sustainable Food Production o We can increase food security by slowing populations growth slowing populations growth sharply reducing poverty sharply reducing poverty slowing environmental degradation of the world’s soils and croplands. slowing environmental degradation of the world’s soils and croplands.

24. Challenges of Producing More Crop and Livestock o Domestication and Genetic Diversity Domestication of crops and livestock causes a loss of genetic diversity Domestication of crops and livestock causes a loss of genetic diversity Farmer selects and propagates animals with desirable agricultural characteristics Farmer selects and propagates animals with desirable agricultural characteristics Many high yielding crops are genetically uniform Many high yielding crops are genetically uniform High likelihood that bacteria, fungi, viruses, etc. will attack and destroy entire crop High likelihood that bacteria, fungi, viruses, etc. will attack and destroy entire crop

25. o Increasing Crop Yield Challenges of Producing More Crop and Livestock Food production increased in developed countries (wheat (left) Food production increased in developed countries (wheat (left) Pesticides Pesticides Selective breeding Selective breeding

26. Case-In-Point Green Revolution o High Yielding Rice Varieties

27. Core Case Study: Golden Rice -Grains of Hope or an Illusion? o Golden rice is a new genetically engineered strain of rice containing beta- carotene. o Can inexpensively supply vitamin A to malnourished. Figure 13-1

28. Core Case Study: Golden Rice -Grains of Hope or an Illusion? o Critics contend that there are quicker and cheaper ways to supply vitamin A. o Scientist call for more evidence that the beta-carotene will be converted to vitamin A by the body. Figure 13-1

29. o Increasing Livestock Yields Hormone supplements Hormone supplements US and Canada do this US and Canada do this Europe does not citing human health concerns Europe does not citing human health concerns Antibiotics Antibiotics 40% of antibiotics produced in US are used in livestock operations 40% of antibiotics produced in US are used in livestock operations Problems with increased bacteria resistance Problems with increased bacteria resistance Challenges of Producing More Crop and Livestock

30. Antibiotic Use and Resistance

31. o Manipulation of genes by taking specific gene from a cell of one species and placing it into the cell of an unrelated species Genetic Engineering

32. Issue with Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) o Determined to be safe for human consumption o Concerns about GMO seed or pollen spreading in wild o Backlash against GMOs o GMOs are not currently labeled FDA finds it would be counterproductive and expensive to label FDA finds it would be counterproductive and expensive to label

33. Environmental Impacts of Agriculture o High use of fossil fuels and pesticides Air pollution Air pollution o Untreated animal wastes and agricultural chemicals Water pollution Water pollution Harms fisheries Harms fisheries o Insects, weeds, and disease- causing organisms developing resistance to pesticides Contaminate food supply Contaminate food supply

34. Environmental Impact of Agriculture o Land degradation Decreases future ability of land to support crops or livestock Decreases future ability of land to support crops or livestock o Habitat fragmentation Breakup of large areas of habitat into small, isolated patches Breakup of large areas of habitat into small, isolated patches o Cultivating marginal lands Irrigating dry land Irrigating dry land Cultivating land prone to erosion Cultivating land prone to erosion

35. Solutions to Agricultural Problems- Sustainable Agriculture

36. Sustainable Agriculture o Examples: Natural Predator-prey relationships instead of pesticides Natural Predator-prey relationships instead of pesticides Crop selection Crop selection Crop rotation and conservation tillage Crop rotation and conservation tillage Supplying nitrogen with legumes Supplying nitrogen with legumes Organic agriculture Organic agriculture o Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Limited use of pesticides with sustainable agriculture practices Limited use of pesticides with sustainable agriculture practices

37. Fisheries of the World- Problems o No nation lays claim to open ocean Resource susceptible to overuse and degradation Resource susceptible to overuse and degradation o Overharvesting Many species are at point of severe depletion Many species are at point of severe depletion Cod (right) Cod (right) 62% of world’s fish stock are in need of management action 62% of world’s fish stock are in need of management action

38. Fisheries of the World- Problems o Overharvesting (continued) Sophisticated fishing equipment Sophisticated fishing equipment Bycatch killed off Bycatch killed off Magnuson Fisheries Conservation Act Magnuson Fisheries Conservation Act

39. Fisheries of the World- Problems o Ocean Pollution - dumping ground Oil Oil Heavy metals Heavy metals Deliberate litter dumping Deliberate litter dumping Stormwater runoff from cities and agricultural areas Stormwater runoff from cities and agricultural areas o Aquaculture Growing of aquatic organisms for human consumption Growing of aquatic organisms for human consumption Great potential to supply food Great potential to supply food

40. Fisheries of the World- Problems o Aquaculture (continued) Locations of fisheries may hurt natural habitats Locations of fisheries may hurt natural habitats Produce waste that pollutes adjacent water Produce waste that pollutes adjacent water

41. Aquaculture: Aquatic Feedlots o Raising large numbers of fish and shellfish in ponds and cages is world’s fastest growing type of food production. o Fish farming involves cultivating fish in a controlled environment and harvesting them in captivity. o Fish ranching involves holding anadromous species that live part of their lives in freshwater and part in saltwater. Fish are held for the first few years, released, and then harvested when they return to spawn. Fish are held for the first few years, released, and then harvested when they return to spawn.

42. Fig. 13-24, p. 292 Trade- Offs Aquaculture AdvantagesDisadvantages High efficiency Needs large inputs of land, feed, and water High yield in small volume of water Large waste output Destroys mangrove forests and estuaries Can reduce overharvesting of conventional fisheries Uses grain to feed some species Low fuel use Dense populations vulnerable to disease Tanks too contaminated to use after about 5 years High profits Profits not tied to price of oil

43. Fig. 13-25, p. 293 Solutions More Sustainable Aquaculture Use less fishmeal feed to reduce depletion of other fish Improve management of aquaculture wastes Reduce escape of aquaculture species into the wild Restrict location of fish farms to reduce loss of mangrove forests and estuaries Farm some aquaculture species in deeply submerged cages to protect them from wave action and predators and allow dilution of wastes into the ocean Certify sustainable forms of aquaculture

44. SOLUTIONS: MOVING TOWARD GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY o People in urban areas could save money by growing more of their food. Urban gardens provide about 15% of the world’s food supply. Urban gardens provide about 15% of the world’s food supply. o Up to 90% of the world’s food is wasted. Figure 13-26

45. Government Policies and Food Production o Governments use three main approaches to influence food production: Control prices to keep prices artificially low. Control prices to keep prices artificially low. Provide subsidies to keep farmers in business. Provide subsidies to keep farmers in business. Let the marketplace decide rather that implementing price controls. Let the marketplace decide rather that implementing price controls.

46. Solutions: Steps Toward More Sustainable Food Production o We can increase food security by slowing populations growth slowing populations growth sharply reducing poverty sharply reducing poverty slowing environmental degradation of the world’s soils and croplands. slowing environmental degradation of the world’s soils and croplands.