1. Global Food Trade and Geopolitics

2. To explain why the growth in global agricultural trade has been limited. To describe the pattern of import and export trades. Learning objectives

3. Starter What words are missing in this definition of geopolitics? Geopolitics is the way in which geography, demography, economics and the distribution of __________ interrelate with the politics of nations and the ___________ between nations. Can you think of an example relating to food supply? resources relationships Geopolitics may include wars, sanctions, trading blocs, and trade regulations and laws.

4. Worldwide trade in agricultural products has increased in the last 50 years. However, it has not grown rapidly - only at the rate of global economic output. Global trade There are four key reasons for this…

5. Barriers to trade Read the information source ‘Global Agricultural Trade: Barriers to Growth’. Highlight key terminology. Complete the question sheet. Read the information source ‘Global Agricultural Trade: Barriers to Growth’. Highlight key terminology. Complete the question sheet.

6. Agriculture has grown modestly compared to manufacturing. There has been a relative decline in the importance of agricultural exports. Growth of manufactured goods The share of agricultural exports in total traded merchandise has declined dramatically, from 50% in the early 1960s to 6% by 2000.

7. To explain why the growth in global agricultural trade has been limited. To describe the pattern of import and export trades. Learning objectives

8. Least developed countries’ trade balance for agricultural products. Trade balances Trade surplus: exports exceed imports Trade deficit: imports exceed exports

9. Study Figure 6.7 in the text book (page 206). Global pattern of food trade What patterns can you see? Which regions are the main importers and exporters? Agricultural trade remains an important source of export earnings for some developed countries, e.g. France, Australia, New Zealand and the USA. Some developing countries still rely heavily on agricultural exports for their foreign earnings. Particularly countries in the tropics, South America and Africa. Sugar, coffee and bananas are important crops.

10. Current trade issue Watch this news report.news report What is the issue? What has caused it? Watch this news report.news report What is the issue? What has caused it? In the last two weeks, milk has been a hot topic in the news.

11. Current trade issue: milk Price of milk has dropped significantly. Cheap for consumers, but British farmers are losing income. Why? Limited absorption capacity. Reduced demand from China – it has produced plenty of its own and has a surplus due to over-importing. Chinese dairy farmers are pouring milk onto the ground and slaughtering livestock to save money on feed.

12. Current trade issue: milk Russia has been a big importer of Western dairy products. In August 2014 the country placed a year-long ban on farm products from Europe. A consequence of political tensions between Russia and the West over its support for Ukrainian rebels – the EU put economic sanctions on Russia, it retaliated with an import ban. Our export trade of dairy products has been affected, we have lost a market…

13. Prep 1.Read and makes notes on the geopolitics section in the textbook (page 210) and ‘the geopolitics of food’ on www.coolgeography.co.uk. www.coolgeography.co.uk 2.Answer the exam question. “What is meant by the geopolitics of food?” (4 marks) 1.Read and makes notes on the geopolitics section in the textbook (page 210) and ‘the geopolitics of food’ on www.coolgeography.co.uk. www.coolgeography.co.uk 2.Answer the exam question. “What is meant by the geopolitics of food?” (4 marks) We have indirectly looked at elements of geopolitics this lesson.

14. To explain why the growth in global agricultural trade has been limited. To describe the pattern of import and export trades. Learning objectives