18 Food Resources
World Food Security Feeding growing population is difficult
852 Mil people lack access to food (needed for healthy lives)
3 Billion people are malnourished Annual grain production has increased from 1961–2008
Due to increasing population, amount of grain per person has not increased
** 2 areas of the world with the greatest food insecurity
South Asia
sub-Saharan Africa
World Food Security Famine
Temporary but severe shortage of food Developing nations most at risk More people die from malnutrition than starvation
associated with famine Malnutrition
condition that results from eating a diet in which certain nutrients are lacking, in excess
Starvation severe deficiency in caloric energy, nutrient, and
vitamin intake (Most extreme form of malnutrition)
World Food Security
Maintaining World Grain Stocks Amounts of 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
15 species of plants provide the bulk of food
Food ProductionThe most common foods eaten in the world today are
Decline in Grain Stock
Rising temps Falling water tables & droughts Ethanol production More grain for feeding livestock Increased meat consumption in
developing countries
World Food Security
Economics and Politics Cost money to store, produce, transport & distribute food Getting food to those who need it is political
Poverty & Food main cause of undernutrition & malnutrition is POVERTY 1.3 billion people cannot afford proper nutrition More common in
Rural areas Infants, children and the elderly
Types of Agriculture
Industrialized agriculture High input of capital Lower inputs of energy high yields Requires less land
Subsistence agriculture Produces enough to feed a family High input of manual energy Low productions yields Types Slash and burn, nomadic, Intercropping
Animals as food
40% of calories consumed in developed countries 5% of calories consumed in developing countries
Mutton - Sheep
Energy Inputs in Industrialized Agriculture
Challenges of Producing More Crops
Challenges of Producing More Crops
Balance of fertilizer Use of pesticides & herbicides Genetic engineering Selective breeding (< variety)
Better features but everyone wants to grow the best
Germplasm Bank any plant or animal that may be used for breeding
Plants (seed & plant tissue) Livestock (egg and sperm)
To preserve diversity Store older more diverse varieties
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
Problems with increased bacteria resistance- some bacteria are resistant to every antibiotic known (TDR-TB & XDR-TB)
Studies have show the overuse use of antibiotics is the direct cause of antibiotic resistance
Genetic Engineering
Manipulation of genes take specific gene from one species and put it into the
genome another species (may be related may be not)
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 (Monsanto) More productive farm animals
Cows that can make milk & silk in there milk
Unmodified VS drought resistant GM corn
Safety in Genetic Engineering
Determined to be safe for human consumption
Concerns about GMO seed or pollen spreading in wild (cross pollination) Currently does not appear to be an issue GMO plants no longer produce pollen or seeds Long term unknown
Backlash against GMOs - especially in Europe Scared that genes could somehow move to weeds (has not been show)
GMOs are not currently labeled FDA found it would be counterproductive & expensive
?? GMO vs. selective breeding ??
Selective breeding Taking 2 of the best of something and breeding it to get
something hopefully better Usually use inbreeding (decreases variance)
Dogs & cats are a good example
Genetic Modification The use of antibiotic resistant genes Use small segments of DNA (that have a function) and
put it into another organism so that it has a new function DNA used are already in common foods
Salmon genes 1 Special Salmon 2 Carotene from carrots Rice (golden rice)
Environmental Impacts of Agriculture
Solutions to Agricultural Problems- Sustainable Agriculture
Agricultural methods that maintain soil productivity & a healthy ecological balance while having minimal long-term impacts Decrease pesticide use, Increase biodiversity, manage wetlands & water, increase
soil health, minimize commercial fertilizers and move away from monoculture farming.
Sustainable Agriculture Examples
Natural Predator-prey relationships instead of pesticides Problem when invasive predators are brought in.
Crop rotation & conservation tillage Supplying nitrogen with legumes Organic agriculture (What does it mean to be “organic”)
One definition - Form of agriculture that relies on techniques such as crop rotation, green manure, compost, and biological pest control (But there are lots of different def.)
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Limited use of pesticides with sustainable agriculture
practices
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 mngt. action Magnuson Fishery Conservation
Act (1977) regulate the U.S. marine fisheries Magnuson-Sevens Fishery Conservation & Mngt. Act
(1996) requires protection of “essential fish habitats”
Fisheries of the World - Problems
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
Finfish, shellfish, seaweeds, oyster, mussels, clams, lobsters Locations of fisheries may hurt natural habitats
Produce waste that pollutes adjacent water
World Seafood Harvest
Sophisticated fishing equipment
Sophisticated fishing equipment