Sustainability of Lower Productivity Food Systems (HL) (DP IB Environmental Systems & Societies (ESS)): Revision Note

Sustainability of lower productivity food systems

• Lower productivity food systems focus on small-scale, traditional, or alternative farming practices

  • These systems often prioritise:

    • Sustainability

    • Local food security

    • Environmental health

• Examples include:

  • Indigenous farming methods

    • These methods often respect natural cycles and ecosystems

  • Traditional subsistence agriculture

    • Farmers grow food mainly for their family or local community

  • Alternative systems like permaculture

    • Use sustainable methods to grow diverse crops with minimal environmental impact

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

Claims of sustainability

• Advocates argue that low-productivity systems can support global sustainability by:

  • Reducing the environmental impact

    • E.g. by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity loss

  • Preserving local ecosystems and biodiversity

    • E.g. through more natural farming methods

  • Focusing on:

    • Soil health

    • Water conservation

    • Minimising chemical inputs

• These systems also often enhance resilience to climate change

  • This is because diverse crops and traditional practices may be more adaptable to changing conditions

Challenges for feeding a growing population

• Despite sustainability benefits, low-productivity systems face limitations:

  • Lower food yields:

    • These systems may not produce enough food to meet the needs of a large, global population

  • Economic constraints:

    • They often rely on local resources and are not designed for large-scale food distribution

  • Lack of commercial viability:

    • Many low-productivity systems have limited market reach, reducing their impact on global food supply chains

• Balancing sustainability with the need for higher food output is a significant challenge for these systems

Evaluating sustainability vs. productivity needs

• Pros of low-productivity systems:

  • Environmentally friendly, with fewer pollutants and minimal resource extraction

  • Promote local food security, particularly for indigenous and rural communities

  • Maintain cultural and agricultural heritage by preserving traditional knowledge

• Cons of low-productivity systems:

  • Limited ability to feed large populations at a global scale

  • May struggle to keep up with demand as populations grow, especially in urban areas

  • Often lack the infrastructure to support large-scale distribution, reducing accessibility for wider populations

Real-world examples

• Rice terraces in Southeast Asia:

  • Traditional rice terraces reduce soil erosion and promote water conservation, but the yield may not compete with industrial rice production

• Amazon rainforest farming (indigenous agroforestry):

  • Indigenous groups in the Amazon use agroforestry techniques that integrate crops (e.g. cassava) with native trees and plants

  • This method supports biodiversity and preserves soil health using low-impact techniques

  • It provides food for local communities without large-scale deforestation or high resource inputs

  • But produces lower quantities of food compared to intensive farming

• Peruvian Andean potato farming:

  • Andean farmers cultivate diverse potato varieties adapted to high-altitude climates

  • The system relies on local knowledge and traditional farming methods, sustaining soil fertility

  • While it supports food security for local communities, it is not highly productive on a commercial scale