18 Food Resources. Overview of Chapter 18 World Food Security Food Production Challenges of...

18 Food Resources

Overview of Chapter 18

World Food Security Food Production Challenges of Producing More Crops and

Livestock Environmental Impact of Agriculture Solutions to Agricultural Problems Fisheries of the World

© 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.

World Food Security

Feeding growing population is difficult Annual grain production (below) has increased from

1961–2008 Due to increase in population, amount of grain per

person has not increased


FOOD SECURITY AND NUTRITION

The root cause of hunger and malnutrition is poverty. 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 smaller amounts of micronutrients(vitamins such as A,C, and E).


Chronic undernutrition, hunger

Chronic malnutrition (deficiency of protein & nutrients)

•1 in 6 people in less-developed countries is chronically undernourished or malnourished

•Famine •Drought, flooding, war, other catastrophes


FOOD SECURITY AND NUTRITION

World Food Security

Famine Temporary but severe shortage of food Developing nations of Africa, Asia and Latin

America are most at risk Worst African famine was caused by drought

during 1983 to 1985. More people die from starvation than famine


World Food Security

Maintaining Grain Stocks Provides us with one measure of food security.

Amounts of rice, wheat, corn and other grains remaining from previous harvest

Provides measure of food security Decreased each year since mid 1980’s In 2010, UN estimated that carryover stock would

last 72 days


Decline in Grain Stock

Rising temps Falling water tables

and droughts Ethanol production More grain is going

towards feeding livestock

Increased meat consumption in developing countries © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.

World Food Security

Economics and Politics Cost money to store, produce, transport and

distribute food Getting food to those who need it is political

Poverty and Food 1.3 billion people are so poor they cannot afford

proper nutrition More common in

Rural than urban areas Infants, children and the elderly


Leading cause of hunger and famine…. Government Democratic governments are more likely to get

their people feed in difficult times In developing countries one solution is to shift to more local food

production and consumption. Globalization is another solution.


Food Production


Animals as food

Constitute 40% of the calories consumed in developed countries

Only comprise 5% of calories consumed in developing countries


Principle Types of Agriculture

Industrialized agriculture Modern agriculture methods that require large

capital input, and less land and labor Subsistence Agriculture

Traditional agricultural methods, which are dependent on labor and large amounts of land.

Shifting cultivation, Slash and burn agriculture, Nomadic herding, Intercropping


Subsistence Agriculture or akaTraditional Agriculture

Subsistence agriculture: Traditional agricultural methods, which are dependent on labor and a large amount of land to produce enough food to fee oneself and one’s family.

Low Input Polyculture Many farmers in developing countries use low-input agriculture to

grow a variety of crops on each plot of land (interplanting) through: Polyvarietal cultivation: planting several genetic varieties. Intercropping: two or more different crops grown at the same

time in a plot. Agroforestry: crops and trees are grown together. Polyculture: type of intercropping different plants are planted

together.


Sustainable Agriculture (Low-Input)Some of the methods used in sustainable

agriculture:

1. Reduce water waste in irrigation

2. Emphasize biological pest control and integrated pest management

3. Increase use of organic fertilizers

4. Increase use of soil conservation techniques

Forms of subsistence agriculture

Shifting cultivation is a form of subsistence agriculture in which short period of cultivation are followed by periods, during which the land is left uncultivated and revert to forest.

Stash and burn agriculture-Distinct type of shifting cultivation, involves clearing small patch of tropical forest to plant crops. Soil loses productivity.

Nomadic herding livestock is supported by land too arid for crop growth.

Intercropping is a form of intensive subsistence agriculture that involved growing of variety of plants at the same time on the same field.


Subsistence: Low Input:

Research has shown that, on average, low input polyculture produces higher yields than high-input monoculture.

Figure 13-8Figure 13-8

Example of alley cropping

Industrial Food Production: High Input Monocultures

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.

Greenhouses are increasingly being used. Plantations are being used in tropics for cash crops

such as coffee, sugarcane, bananas.

High Input Monoculture

Fig. 13-4, p. 275

Plantation agriculture

Shifting cultivation

Industrialized agriculture

No agriculture

Intensive traditional ag.

Nomadic herding

Limits on Food Production

arable landprecipitationtemperature

Energy Inputs in IndustrializedAgriculture


Challenges of Producing More Crops

Domestication and Genetic Diversity Domestication of crops

and livestock causes a loss of genetic diversity

Farmer selects and propagates animals with desirable agricultural characteristics


Challenges of Producing More Crops

Increasing Crop Yield Food production increased in developed

countries Pesticides Selective

Breeding-more

desireable traits


Food Production Has Increased Dramatically

Three systems produce most of our food Croplands: 77% on 11% world’s land area

Rangelands, pastures, and feedlots: 16% on 29% of world’s land area

Aquaculture: 7% Importance of wheat, rice, and corn 48% calories of the calories people consume

directly 2/3 of world depend on them


Challenges of Producing More Livestock

Increasing Livestock Yields Hormone supplements

US and Canada, not used in Europe Antibiotics

40% of antibiotics produced in US are used in livestock operations

Problems with increased bacteria resistance- some bacteria are resistant to every antibiotic known


Producing More Meat Sustainably

To accomplish this we need to switch from beef and pork to poultry and fish.

Why? Poultry and fish are more grain efficient.

Reducing livestock (cattle) would reduce

damage to rangelands, but would not increase food production as the rangelands are not suitable for growing crops.

Green revolution

An agricultural system that produces more food on less land (increased yields per unit area of cropland). This system has three main components:

1) developing and planting monocultures of genetically engineered, high–yield varieties of crops;

2) growing and protecting crops with large inputs of fertilizer, pesticides, and water;

3) increasing the intensity and frequency of cropping.

Modern agriculture has a greater harmful environmental impact than any human activity


Antibiotic Use and Resistance


Genetic Engineering

Manipulation of genes by taking specific gene from a cell of one species and placing it into the cell of an unrelated species

Used to produce Genetically Modified (GM) food Ex: golden rice - rich in beta carotene (prevent

Vitamin A deficiency in developing countries) Plants that are tolerant to insect pests, heat, cold,

drought, or acidic soils More productive farm animals



Genetically Modified Foods “Frankenfood”


Foods created through genetic engineering.

Genes are spliced from species into the DNA of another species.Allows higher yielding crops, faster growing crops, and disease resistance species to be created.

2/3 of food products in U.S. grocery stores are GMF.Concern from some- uncertainty of the safety of these products.

Unmodified corn (left); drought resistant GM corn (right)


ProjectedDisadvantages

Need less fertilizer

Need less water

More resistant to insects,plant disease, frost, anddrought

Faster growth

Can grow in slightly saltysoils

Less spoilage

Better flavor

Less use of conventionalpesticides

Tolerate higher levels ofpesticide use

Higher yields

ProjectedAdvantages

Trade-OffsGenetically Modified Food and Crops

Irreversible andunpredictable genetic and ecological effects

Harmful toxins in foodFrom possible plant cellMutations

New allergens in food

Lower nutrition

Increased evolution ofPesticide-resistantInsects and plant disease

Creation of herbicide-Resistant weeds

Harm beneficial insects

Lower genetic diversity


Safety in Genetic Engineering

Determined to be safe for human consumption Concerns about GMO seed or pollen

spreading in wild Currently does not appear to be an issue Long term unknown

Backlash against GMOs - especially in Europe GMOs are not currently labeled

FDA finds it would be counterproductive and expensive to label



Environmental Impacts of Agriculture


Solutions to Agricultural Problems- Sustainable Agriculture

Agricultural methods that maintain soil productivity and a healthy ecological balance while having minimal long-term impacts


Sustainable Agriculture

Examples: Natural Predator-prey relationships instead of

pesticides Crop selection Crop rotation and conservation tillage Supplying nitrogen with legumes Organic agriculture

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Limited use of pesticides with sustainable

agriculture practices


Turning to the Oceans

Fisheries and Fish Harvests

11 of the world’s 15 major oceanic fishing areas have been fished at or beyond their estimated maximum sustainable yield for commercially valuable species and are in a state of decline.

Why?

• growing demand for seafood;

• efficient, large–scale industrial fishing fleets;

• degradation and destruction of coastal wetlands;

• pollution of coastal waters.

CATCHING AND RAISING MORE FISH AND SHELLFISH

Government subsidies given to the fishing industry are a major cause of overfishing. Global fishing industry spends about $25 billion per

year more than its catch is worth. Without subsidies many fishing fleets would have to

go out of business. Subsidies allow excess fishing with some keeping

their jobs longer with making less money.

Aquaculture: Aquatic Feedlots

Raising large numbers of fish and shellfish in ponds and cages is world’s fastest growing type of food production.

Fish farming involves cultivating fish in a controlled environment and harvesting them in captivity.

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.

Fisheries of the World - Problems

No nation lays claim to open ocean Resource susceptible to overuse and degradation

Overharvesting


Many species are at point of severe depletion

62% of world’s fish stock are in need of management action


Overharvesting (continued) Sophisticated

fishing equipment Bycatch killed off Magnuson

Fisheries Conservation Act


World Seafood Harvest



Ocean Pollution - dumping ground Oil Heavy metals Deliberate litter dumping Storm water runoff from cities and agricultural

areas Aquaculture

Growing of aquatic organisms for human consumption

Great potential to supply food



Aquaculture (continued) Locations of fisheries may hurt natural habitats Produce waste that pollutes adjacent water


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