3.5 Food Resources

Food Issues MEDC / LEDC

Food Production and Distribution

Imbalance in food distribution Over 1 billion people are living in poverty and

starving in LEDC countries MEDC Average Caloric Intake = 3314 LEDC Average Caloric Intake = 2666 Causes:

Unequal distribution Lack of access to clean water Poor harvesting / farming practices

(overgrazing/ overfishing)

Undernourishment worldwide

Food Waste

Terrestrial vs. Aquatic Food Production Systems

VS

Aquatic Food Production Aquatic Food Production:

Food is harvested from high tropic levels due to human preference (ex. salmon).

Photosynthesis is less efficient by producers due to light reflection of water

Terrestrial Food Production Terrestrial Food Production:

Most food harvested from low tropic levels (producers / herbivores)

Energy conversions less efficient on land

Food Production affects the Environment

Biodiversity Soil Water Air Human Health

Increasing food production output GMO- Genetically Modified Organisms

Change genetic make up of living things to make them look, feel, and taste different

Pesticides- chemicals used to kill pest organisms Herbicides- chemicals used to kill weeds Fertilizers- chemicals used to grow larger crops Irrigation- canals used to bring in more water Antibiotics/ Growth Hormones- used to grow

healthier and larger animals

Biodiversity Loss Loss of grasslands forests and wetland for

cultivation Loss of genetic diversity (wild crops replaced with

monocrops)

Soil

Erosion Loss of fertility Salinization Desertification Increase soil pH

Water Waste water produced Aquifer depletion from increased irrigation

Air Large fossil fuel use in farming equipment causes

release of greenhouse gases (CO2, N2O, and CH4)

Pesticide sprays

Human Health Nitrates in Drinking water

Blue baby Pesticides Bacterial contamination of meat

(E. coli)

North American Cereal Farming vs. Asian Subsistence Farming

Comparison Pair #1North American Cereal Farming

Inputs: Fertilizers, pesticides, fossil fuels, labor, sunlight, water equipment

Characteristics: Heavy use of fossil fuels, lots of farming technology, monocrops (only one crop)

Socio- Cultural: Fast production, large amounts, lots of waste

Environmental impact: loss biodiversity

Outputs: Air pollution , water pollution, wheat/corn, lots of income ($$)

Asian Subsistence Farming

Inputs: lots of human labor, water, sunlight

Characteristics: grow only enough to eat to feed family & community, low tech

Socio- Cultural: mostly LEDC, poor

Environmental impact: maintains biodiversity, reduces pollution

Outputs: Usually mixed crops; corn, beans and squash (all in same field)

Intensive Beef Production vs. Maasia Tribal Livestock

Comparison Pair # 2MEDC- Intensive Beef Production

Inputs: Hormones, antibiotics, labor, cattle feed (corn), breeding stock of cattle

Characteristics: Many cattle in crowded area

Socio- Cultural: Fast production, large quantities, lots of waste/death

Environmental impact: disease, waste

Outputs: Air pollution, water pollution, beef, lots of income ($$)

LEDC- Maasai Tribal Livestock

Inputs: Labor, Cattle feed/ grazing grass

Characteristics: large herds of cattle, used as only food source “Nomadic Herding”

Socio- Cultural: Cattle are THE source of life (even used as currency)

Environmental impact: overgrazing, nomadic behavior

Outputs: meat, milk, blood

Salmon Farming in Norway vs. Rice-Fish Farming in Thailand

Comparison Pair # 3Salmon Farming in Norway

Inputs: antibiotics, fish food, cages, labor

Characteristics: fish raised in large quantity

Socio- Cultural: MEDC, employs large number of workers

Environmental impact: growth of algae, water pollution

Outputs: salmon, water pollution

Rice-Fish Farming Thailand

Inputs: labor, seed Characteristics: fish and

rice grown together in same, self sustaining ecosystem (fed by natural food chain)

Socio- Cultural: LEDC countries,

Environmental impact: reduces waste maintains biodiversity

Outputs: rice, fish, income

Slash and Burn/ Shifting Cultivation

Slash and Burn / Shifting Cultivation Input: Labor, plow, oxen, seed Characteristics: Tropical forest set on fire to clear

the land & ash fertilizes soil. After land is used farmers repeat this process

Socio-cultural: Typically harvested food is sold in community, low population density

Environment: Loss of biodiversity, fertility, ecosystem production decreases

Output: Monocrop, air pollution, income

kg grain required to produce1 kg of meat

GMO

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