5.2 Agriculture & Food (DP IB Environmental Systems & Societies (ESS): HL): Flashcards

In Kenya and Tanzania, the Maasai have faced land encroachment due to expanding agriculture and tourism, which threatens their traditional way of life.

Deforestation in the Amazon affects Indigenous tribes like the Yanomami and leads to loss of biodiversity.

Soil and climate determine what crops can be grown and their productivity; for example, nutrient-poor tropical soils limit crops, while fertile temperate soils support diverse crops.

Subsistence farming is the production of food primarily for the farmer's own use, rather than for sale.

Intensive farming relies on high inputs of labour, capital and technology per unit area.

The Green Revolution was a series of research, development and technology initiatives from the 1950s–1960s that aimed to increase agricultural production and food security globally.

The main goal of the Green Revolution was to increase agricultural production and improve global food security.

A key initiative of the Green Revolution was the breeding of crops like wheat, rice, and maize to produce higher yields.

IR8 rice, also known as ‘Miracle Rice’, was an example of a high-yielding variety developed during the Green Revolution in the Philippines.

The production of synthetic fertilisers during the Green Revolution is dependent on nitrogen fixation and relies on fossil fuels.

One negative environmental impact was soil degradation and water pollution caused by the overuse of chemical fertilisers and pesticides.

True.

The Green Revolution led to significant increases in crop yields and food availability, helping to alleviate hunger and food shortages in many areas.

Nomadic pastoralism relies on moving livestock to different pastures in a seasonal cycle.

Slash-and-burn agriculture is a method where forests are cut down and burned so crops can be grown on the cleared land for a few years until the soil is depleted of nutrients.

A key characteristic of nomadic pastoralism is the movement of livestock according to seasonal changes, with minimal permanent settlements.

False.

Traditional methods like slash-and-burn are only sustainable with low population density. Increased population can make them unsustainable.

Synthetic fertilisers supply crops with essential nutrients required for plant growth.

Organic fertiliser is made from manure or human waste and is used to improve soil structure and fertility in sustainable agriculture.

One disadvantage is that synthetic fertilisers can cause soil degradation and water pollution over time.

Agroforestry integrates trees and shrubs into farmland, improving soil health, reducing erosion, and providing additional sources of income.

Continuous cover forestry helps prevent soil erosion by maintaining a canopy of trees.

A soil conservation technique is a method used to maintain the health and productivity of soils.

The two main goals of soil conservation techniques are to maintain soil health and preserve soil productivity.

When soil fertility declines, processes like erosion and desertification can occur, causing environmental and agricultural challenges.

Three challenges that result from declining soil fertility are soil erosion, salinisation, and desertification.

Techniques that reduce soil erosion help protect fertile soils from being lost.

Strip cultivation is a method of planting crops in alternating strips with natural vegetation between, which helps reduce water erosion and increases biodiversity.

Terracing reduces soil erosion by slowing water movement and increasing infiltration, especially on steep slopes.

Contour ploughing minimises soil erosion by reducing the speed and length of water flow downhill.

Windbreaks reduce wind erosion by providing a barrier to wind and protecting topsoil and crops.

Adding lime to soil can improve pH, reduce acidity, and promote beneficial microbial activity.

Green manure involves growing plants specifically to be ploughed into the soil, which increases organic matter and fertility.

Agroforestry is the practice of integrating trees and shrubs into farming systems, which enhances soil structure and provides wind protection.

Avoiding the use of heavy machinery on fields helps prevent soil compaction and maintains soil structure.

Mixed cropping improves soil health by increasing biodiversity and reducing pest and disease incidence, which helps conserve soils.

True.

Crop rotation maintains soil nutrients and reduces disease and pest buildup.

Using compost as a soil conditioner enriches soil with nutrients and increases water-holding capacity.

An omnivore is an organism that eats both plant-based and animal-based foods.

Diets that include more foods from lower trophic levels are generally more sustainable.

Plant-based diets are more sustainable because they have a lower environmental impact by reducing resource use and greenhouse gas emissions compared to animal-based diets.

Energy is lost at each trophic level as it moves up the food chain.

False.

Crop farming produces more food per unit of land area than livestock farming.

Feed conversion efficiency is the measure of how much animal feed is converted into edible animal biomass, with higher efficiency meaning less feed is wasted.

Increasing plant-based foods in diets optimises land use because less land is needed compared to producing animal products.

Energy efficiency is greater in plant-based diets because energy is lost at each trophic level and feed conversion by animals is inefficient.

True.

Eating plants (primary producers) reduces energy loss compared to eating animals, because less energy is lost between trophic levels.

One strategy is to encourage plant-based diets, which reduces demand for resource-intensive animal products.

The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 aims to reduce global food waste by 50% per capita at the retail and consumer levels by 2030.

One method is to periodically drain and re-flood rice fields, which lowers methane emissions.

Food security is when all individuals, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.

The four key components of food security are availability, access, use and stability.

Ensuring food is produced and supplied to meet the population's needs is called availability.

Climate change can reduce food production and availability through increased natural disasters and resource depletion, making it harder to achieve food security.

Food availability means ensuring enough food is produced and supplied to meet the needs of the population.

False.

Developed regions usually have higher levels of food security due to better infrastructure, economic stability, and social safety nets.

Government policies, conflict and social inequality are social and political factors that affect food security.

A soil type refers to the classification of soil based on its physical and chemical properties, such as fertility, structure, and water-holding capacity, which affect its suitability for different agricultural practices.

The two main environmental factors that influence agriculture are soil type and climate.

The agricultural methods that are most productive and sustainable in a region depend on the properties of the soil and the local temperature and rainfall patterns.

Farmers adopt different agricultural practices to suit the soil and climate conditions of each biome, leading to contrasting choices in farming methods.

A biome is a large geographic region characterised by a specific climate, soil type, and distinctive plant and animal communities.

False.

Agricultural practices must be adapted to the local soil type and climate of each biome to be productive and sustainable.

Mollisols are fertile, dark, organic-rich soils found in grasslands such as prairies and steppes, ideal for supporting cereal crops and grazing.

Cereal farming is most common in steppe and prairie regions with mollisol soils and enough rainfall, supporting crops like wheat, maize, and barley.

In the drier areas of the steppe biome, ranching is more common because water is less available for crop growth.

Oxisols are acidic, heavily weathered tropical soils that are low in nutrients due to rapid decomposition and leaching, typically found in rainforest regions.

Successful soya bean farming in tropical regions with oxisol soils requires fertilisation and the addition of lime to adjust soil pH and nutrient content.

In desert biomes with aridisol soils, irrigated crop farming is only possible where there is access to water.

Alternative farming approaches are methods in agriculture that aim to address environmental, economic, and sustainability issues by conserving resources, improving soil health, and creating sustainable food systems.

Soil regeneration is the process of improving soil health by restoring its structure, nutrients, and biodiversity, often through techniques that increase organic matter and reduce disturbance.

Rewilding is an approach where land is allowed to return to a natural state to support biodiversity and restore ecosystem health by reducing human activity and encouraging native species.

Permaculture is a farming design that mimics natural ecosystems to create self-sustaining agricultural systems that can be used continuously with minimal artificial inputs.

Zero tillage is a farming method where seeds are planted directly into unploughed soil, which helps prevent soil erosion, conserve moisture, and maintain soil structure.

A key environmental benefit of soil regeneration is the increase in soil carbon storage, which helps reduce greenhouse gases and mitigate climate change.

The main aim of permaculture is to create self-sustaining agricultural systems that mimic natural ecosystems and can be used continuously.

True.

Zero tillage plants seeds in unploughed soil, which prevents erosion and retains soil moisture.

Non-commercial cropping supports sustainability by reducing the need for long-distance transport, lowering the carbon footprint, and supporting local food security.

Permaculture aims to create agricultural systems that are self-sustaining and can be used continuously.

Soil regeneration typically reduces or eliminates synthetic fertilisers.

Rewilding contributes to climate change mitigation by increasing carbon storage in plants and soil.

Zero tillage reduces the need for heavy machinery and fuel, lowering the environmental impact of farming.

A regenerative farming system is an approach to agriculture that aims to restore soil health, biodiversity, and productivity by using natural processes for long-term sustainability.

Regenerative farming systems often use mixed farming techniques, which combine plants and animals for improved productivity.

Permaculture is a farming approach that focuses on mimicking natural ecosystems to create sustainable and productive agricultural systems.

False.

Regenerative farming systems involve both plants and animals to create balanced, sustainable, and productive farms.

Biodiversity is the variety of living organisms present in an ecosystem, including plants, animals, and microorganisms.

Animals such as pigs and chickens help clear vegetation, aerate the soil, and add manure as a natural fertiliser in regenerative farming systems.

Animal movement in regenerative farming can disturb the soil enough to help with seed growth and reduce soil compaction.

Mob grazing involves moving animals in concentrated groups for short periods, letting plants recover between grazings. Unlike continuous grazing, mob grazing is more controlled and mimics natural herding patterns.

Mob grazing encourages biodiversity in both plant life and soil microorganisms by allowing recovery periods between grazings.

True.

Mob grazing requires careful management to prevent problems such as soil compaction and overgrazing.

Diverse cropping systems help build resilient soil structure by adding organic matter and reducing pest issues, while also meeting food demands through growing a variety of crops.

A high-tech greenhouse is a controlled environment structure designed to maintain ideal growing conditions for crops, including the regulation of temperature, humidity, light and CO₂ levels.

The main advantage of vertical farming in urban areas is the efficient use of space by growing crops in stacked layers, allowing food production in densely populated locations.

High-tech greenhouses often use hydroponic systems, where plants grow in a nutrient-rich water solution instead of soil.

True.

Hydroponic systems recycle water within the system, greatly reducing overall water use compared to traditional farming methods.

A vertical farm is an indoor facility where crops are grown in stacked layers, maximising the use of space and enabling urban food production.

LED lighting in vertical farms provides optimal light conditions for photosynthesis and ensures consistent crop growth year-round.

In vertical farming, crops can be grown using hydroponics or aeroponics, both of which do not require soil.

Aeroponics is a method of growing plants where roots are suspended in the air and misted with a nutrient-rich solution, rather than being grown in soil or water.

A major sustainability challenge is the high energy consumption required for artificial climate control and lighting, much of which comes from burning fossil fuels.

Vertical farms help improve food security in urban environments by providing fresh produce locally.

By producing food close to where it is consumed, high-tech greenhouses and vertical farms reduce transportation distance, lowering food miles and associated emissions.

Hydroponics is a method of growing plants without soil, using a nutrient-rich water solution to deliver essential minerals directly to the roots.

A supply chain is the series of steps and processes involved in moving food from the place it is produced to the final consumer.

Shortening the supply chain reduces fuel use and carbon emissions by decreasing the distance food travels from farm to plate.

Foods imported from distant countries require transportation by plane, ship, or truck, increasing greenhouse gas emissions.

True.

Local foods have fewer food miles and require less transportation, reducing fuel use and carbon emissions.

A longer supply chain often means more environmental impact due to increased handling, storage, and transportation.

Food miles refer to the distance food travels from where it is produced to where it is consumed.

Out-of-season fruits are often imported from distant countries, increasing food miles and carbon emissions due to long-distance transportation.

Consumers’ desire for a year-round supply of foods, such as fresh fruit all year, increases food miles.

False.

Meat production usually requires more land, water, and energy and produces more greenhouse gases than plant-based foods.

A flexitarian diet is a mostly plant-based diet that occasionally includes meat and animal products to reduce environmental impact.

Plant-based diets help reduce land and water use, greenhouse gas emissions, and support biodiversity.

The main goal of the Planetary Health Diet is to balance human health with the need to conserve natural resources and reduce environmental damage.

Biodiversity is the variety of living organisms in an area, important for ecosystem health and sustainability.

Sustainable harvesting is the use of traditional or low-impact methods to gather wild species without depleting resources, maintaining ecosystem balance and biodiversity.

Traditional methods are often sustainable because they use knowledge passed down through generations about when, where, and how much to harvest without over-extracting resources.

Harvesting wild species can help maintain ecosystem balance and biodiversity.

Traditional harvesters use knowledge of when, where, and how much to harvest to avoid over-extracting resources.

Brazil nut harvesting relies on keeping forests intact, which supports local economies and encourages preservation of the rainforest.

Bamboo is considered sustainable because it grows very quickly and can be harvested without harming the plant.

Forest honey production depends on undisturbed habitats for bees, which promotes conservation of forests and supports biodiversity.

Bushmeat is wild animals hunted for food in tropical regions, which can threaten species and disrupt ecosystems if overhunted.

True.

Harvesting edible insects is a sustainable protein source that requires minimal resources and produces fewer greenhouse gases than livestock.

Truffle harvesting uses trained dogs or pigs to find them, minimising disturbance to the ecosystem.

Legal regulations can protect endangered species by enforcing sustainable practices and involving local communities in wildlife protection.

Pangolins and bears are overharvested for traditional medicine, which, along with habitat loss, threatens their populations and raises ethical concerns.

Lower productivity food systems are small-scale, traditional, or alternative farming practices that focus on sustainability, local food security, and environmental health.

Indigenous farming methods often respect natural cycles and ecosystems.

Permaculture focuses on using sustainable methods to grow diverse crops with minimal environmental impact.

False.

These systems generally have lower yields compared to high-intensity commercial agriculture.

Traditional subsistence agriculture is when farmers grow food mainly for their family or local community.

Low-productivity food systems often enhance resilience to climate change due to their diversity and traditional practices.

Advocates argue that these systems can reduce environmental impact and preserve local ecosystems and biodiversity.

Low-productivity systems often focus on soil health, water conservation, and minimising chemical inputs.

A main challenge is that these systems may not produce enough food yields to meet the needs of a large, global population.

Market reach in food systems refers to the ability of a system to distribute food products to a wide range of consumers or markets.

True.

Many low-productivity food systems lack the infrastructure and market reach for large-scale food distribution.

The rice terraces of Southeast Asia help reduce soil erosion and promote water conservation.

Indigenous agroforestry integrates crops with native trees, supporting biodiversity, preserving soil health, and providing food without large-scale deforestation.

Food distribution is the process of moving food from production areas to consumers.

Economic policies and infrastructure quality are two major factors that influence food distribution patterns.

Wealthier countries typically have diverse and high-quality food supplies, while lower-income countries may face food shortages.

Hidden hunger is when malnutrition and nutrient deficiencies occur despite adequate calorie intake, often due to diets low in essential nutrients.

Undernourishment is insufficient calorie intake to meet energy needs, while undernutrition is a lack of essential nutrients even if calorie intake is adequate.

Processed foods often have lower nutritional value and may be high in sugar, salt, and fats.

Overnourishment is the excessive intake of calories, which can lead to health problems such as obesity.

False.

Overnutrition is the excessive intake of non-essential nutrients (such as fats, sugars, and salts) without sufficient vitamins and minerals.

Malnutrition refers to health issues arising from inadequate or unbalanced nutrition.

Two common health impacts of undernutrition are stunted growth and weakened immunity.

Food insecurity is the state in which people lack reliable access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food for an active, healthy life.

The Irish potato famine was caused by potato blight, a fungal disease that destroyed potato crops.