5.5 To what extent can technology help increase agricultural

1. 5.5 To what extent can technology help increase agricultural production and alleviate food shortages? Part A

2. What are the factors affecting food supply? The causes of famine are very complex. It may be a natural or human-induced disaster, or a combination of both. Natural hazards and an unfavourable physical environment may not lead to… Reduce food production Famine

3. Affect local food production Affect the ability and necessity to import food What are the factors affecting food supply? Physical factors Cultural factors Climate Natural environment Natural hazards Farming technologies Economic development Wars & conflict Food supply

4. Can technology help increase food supply? We have seen that modern farming technology used in southern California has successfully increased farming productivity. Can we apply the same tactics to countries suffering from food shortages?

5. Genetically-modified maize plant in California (Credit: Lowell Georgia/Corbis) Can technology help increase food supply? What are GM crops? GM crops are crop plants created for human and animal consumption using ______________. biotechnology The four main GM crops grown are soybean, maize, cotton and canola.

6. Can technology help increase food supply? What are GM crops? Global area of GM crops in 2007 reached 114.3 million hectares. The major GM crop producing countries in 2007 are the ______, __________, _______ and ________. USA Argentina Brazil Canada Monsanto is a multinational company producing more than 90% of GM seeds worldwide. Major growers of GM crops in 2007 (Source: International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications)

7. In southern California, modern farming technology has successfully increased farming productivity. However, it may have negative impact on the environment. Before exploring the negative impact, we first learn how the agro-ecosystem functions in Part B.

8. Physical factors 1 Climate Rainfall is a major factor affecting the amount of food produced. Little rainfall is unfavourable for farming Other unfavourable factors for farming Low agricultural output Low food supply Food shortages The Sahel

9. Physical factors Do both the Sahel and southern California experience food shortages? Why? Which places have a poor water resource? 1 Climate Southern California The Sahel

10. Physical factors 2 Natural environment • ( Gentle / Rugged ) relief • ( Infertile / fertile ) soil • Large rivers are ( absent / present ) Which place is more favourable for farming?

11. (Credit: Reuters/OTHK) Hailstorm Rainstorm A maize field is submerged in flood water in North Korea in 2007 Physical factors 3 Natural hazards Natural disasters like flooding, droughts and hailstorms can result in crop failure.

12. Physical factors The impact of crop failure in more developed countries and less developed countries is different 3 Natural hazards Source: Natural hazards: Global overview of countries of concern, 2006, World Food Programme In more developed countries, farmers have savings and usually food surpluses and a healthy insurance system to get through crop failure. In less developed countries, when there is crop failure, people do not have the money or resources to help them get through it. Food shortages occur as a result.

13. Cultural factors 1 Farming technologies and the level of productivity In less developed countries, farmers usually have a ( lower / higher ) education level and little capital (Credit: Reuters/OTHK) They farm with ( traditional / modern ) methods. The productivity is ( low / high ) Traditional farming methods in less developed countries often result in low crop yields

14. Cultural factors 2 Economic development An area that cannot produce enough food to meet local food demand can import food from other countries Countries which have a population living below US$1 a day Source: UN Human Development Report 2007/8

15. Cultural factors 2 Economic development However, the countries who have the greatest need for imported food are very often the least able to pay for it. They are known as the Low-Income Food-Deficit Countries Countries which have a population living below US$1 a day Source: UN Human Development Report 2007/8

16. Cultural factors Poverty and famine are closely linked. 2 Economic development Poverty Prolonged hunger Poor hygiene Not able to grow or buy food Famine Poor health Hunger Lower productivity Low income Poverty cycle

17. Children in Niger experiencing food shortages (Credit: Dominique Derda/France 2/Corbis) Cultural factors 3 Social factors Places with distinct social classes may have an unequal distribution of food among various classes. For example, in some places, men are allocated more food than women and children. Hence, the ability to obtain food varies with the social background of the people.

18. Cultural factors 4 Wars and conflict How do wars and conflict affect the food production? Farmers may abandon their fields and flee to a safe place. A large number of people are displaced from their homes as refugees. Troop movement may destroy crops. Refugees in Chad It is difficult to distribute food to the hungry people. (Credit: Olav A. Saltbones/ Norwegian Red Cross) Irrigation systems and transport are paralysed. Failure in growing crops and in getting aid give rise to famine.

19. Cultural factors 5 Political factors Government and bureaucratic inefficiency can add to food shortage problems. In countries where corruption and bribery are common, it is impossible to ensure that food goes to the needy.