FOOD SECURITY ESSAY Write a mini essay to explain the Growth Pattern of Humans and some challenges and strategies in ensuring Food Security for this growing population Content: 17 marks Synthesis: 3 marks GROWTH OF HUMAN POPULATION The human population is following a geometric growth form The population size is increasing at a very fast pace The time taken for the population to double, is decreasing A very high birth rate in many countries contributes to the increase in the human population size In such countries, a lack of education in terms of the value of limiting family size and the use of contraceptives have led to this. In Developed Countries improvements in medical technology had decreased the incidence of infant mortality as well as increase the life expectancy of people ENSURING FOOD SECURITY “FOOD SECURITY means having access to enough food, on a regular basis, so as to ensure healthy living” The increased population means an increase demand for food As a result of CLIMATE CHANGE, rainfall patterns are expected to change Some areas will receive little rain, thus reducing crop production Other areas will receive a lot of rain leading to flooding causing the washing away of valuable topsoil, this reducing crop production An increase in PEST population due to monoculture may wipe out the crop growth in monoculture The use of PESTCIDES to kill pests sometimes also kills their predators so the pest population grows rapidly still The pesticides may get into the soil The concentration of the pesticide increases as we move up the food chain killing off our food resources higher up the food chain The solution may be planting a variety of crops together, that is, in mixed species culture (intercropping) The mixed species culture and controlled use of chemicals (pesticides) will ensure the survival of the natural enemies of the pest Sometimes the natural enemy may have to be artificially introduced – this is referred to as BIOLOGICAL CONTROL CROP ROTATION allows the soil to recover from one crop before the next type of crop is planted. This is important since different crops use up slightly different minerals from the soil FERTILISERS are often used to replenish the nutrients in the soil for effective crop growth Over use of fertilisers may also have negative effects such as decreasing the oxygen content in the soil which could reduce crop production in future years The increased demand for livestock leads to OVERGRAZING causing SOIL EROSION, thus reducing the usefulness of the land for crop production Alien invasive plant species usually out-compete indigenous species Alien plants use up land that could otherwise be used to crop production Many attempts are being made to remove alien vegetation through mechanical and chemical means. Humans have been able to increase food production though selective breeding and genetic engineering Desirable characteristics are introduced into organisms, such as resistance to drought and pests, increased yield and larger fruit and seeds Food wastage occurs in all stages for the food supple chain, namely, harvesting, production and processing, as well as in retail. It also occurs at the consumption stage, that is, when it is eaten In Developing Countries, most wastage occurs during production. In Developed Countries, most wastage is at the consumption stage – about 100 kilogrammes per person each year. There are TWO ways we can reduce food waste: Firstly, we can discourage consumers form throwing away huge amount of food as waste; Secondly, we can also encourage farmers and other producers from producing more than is required
Posted on: Sun, 17 Nov 2013 11:42:56 +0000
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