INTENSIFICATION OF FOOD PRODUCTION

INTENSIFICATION OF FOOD PRODUCTION

  • increased output per unit area


    increased crop yield


  • decreased input per unit area


    decreased labour and resources

factors

challenges

physical - direct impact, primarily for LDCs heavily dependent on traditional farming systems, not so much applicable to DCs with access to technology to alter farming conditions

economic

political

technological

climate geographical locations affecting optimum conditions for plant growth

greenhouses allows us to control the environmental conditions creating optimum conditions all year round: requires financial resources - DCs

soils and drainage soil fertility affects output, to which farmers increase input to compensate

relief terracing creates suitable land for farming by retaining topsoil at a high altitude, lower temp.

purpose of farming commercial farming takes place on a large scale (availability of arable land) (agribusinesses), with access to machinery (d. input) ; subsistence farming in LDCs

demand and capital demand determines the supply which depends on the disp. income of the consumer

agribusinesses global involvement a fluctuation in one farm's production can be rectified by their other farms around the world with greater financial capacity to absorb losses and research into greater output #

eg. growing only one type of crop standardises the resources across the field, increasing efficiency

diversifying production sites

  • reduces vulnerability to disasters, strengthening their production yield
  • ability to reach out to more consumers and reduce transportation time and cost

government policy food security - stability and accessibility to food supply

agricultural policy - domestic agriculture ; governments decide how to best distribute limited resources, eg. farmer education and increasing efficiency

food policy - food security

stockpiling - ensuring a food supply for the locals in the long-run should there be food shortages or price increases

diversifying food sources - strengthen food supply

regional organisations eg. ASEAN

Green Revolution the rapid increase in productivity of agriculture - primarily in DCs where there is financial capacity to tap into technological advancements

high-yielding varieties developed through cross-breeding of selected varieties, i. output

fertilisers overcomes soil infertility, i. output ; chemical fertilisers surface runoff and negative environmental impacts

pesticides fights high damage to single-crop fields, i. output

irrigation increases arable land, overcomes unfavourable climates, i. output

mechanisation decreased reliance on human labour d. input per unit area

negative effects

extensive irrigation and large-scale deforestation (to clear land for agriculture) causes the soil to be over-saturated and deprived of air and water ;
salinisation occurs when water is not properly drained of and leaves behind salt in the soil


in the long-run the soil is no longer ideal for agriculture

chemicals from pesticides and fertilisers seep into the soil by surface runoff causing eutrophication which harms aquatic life

measures for eutrophication; implementing control measures and raising awareness requires financial resources and cooperation of various stakeholders - agribusinesses who are profit-driven

physical

political

economic

social

climate change glaciers melting off decreases the supply of fresh water for irrigation, smaller harvests - d. output

extreme weather events droughts, tropical cyclones, increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events d. output (long-term) #

pests LDCs inability to afford pesticides

civil strife destructive riots may result in food shortages, to which the people respond to with conflict

poor governance corruption or inability to implement policies, where they prioritise other developmental needs over ensuring food security in lieu of profit

increased demands from emerging economies (BRIC) sustained growth in demand where the rate of increase in demand exceeds the rate of increase in food production, causing food shortage in the long-run

cost of fertilisers and transport directly affects cost of food + cost of fuel for machinery

biofuel a profitable alternative to fossil fuels, drives agribusinesses to prioritise biofuel production instead of for human consumption

inaccessibility uneven distribution of food supply, particularly to remote villages, so LDCs rely subsistence farming, faced with physical challenges, locals turn to their government to increase imports, who usually turn to food aid instead

governments play and important role in ensuring the accessibility of food, esp. in land-locked LDCs, governments turn to food aid instead of developing infrastructure to its remote communities and providing storage facilities

rapid population growth