Factors affecting food supply (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Geography) : Revision Note

Human factors affecting food supply

Technology

• LICs lack money to invest in:

  • Machinery

  • Irrigation systems

  • Transport and storage infrastructure

• This means their yields are lower than in HICs which are able to invest money in this technology

Conflict

• During conflicts people abandon or are driven off their land leading to large areas of uncultivated farmland

• Conflict can destroy or block transport routes meaning that food supplies including imports cannot get to where they are needed

• Conflicts also lead to the destruction of crops and livestock

Government

• Investment in agriculture tends to be higher in HICs

• Government subsidies are often available to help support farmers so that they keep producing food

Physical factors affecting food supply

Climate

• Extreme temperatures make growing crops challenging 

• Tropical storms lead to flooding which destroys crops

• Changing patterns of rainfall impact on yield and can lead to drought or floods

• Drought can lead to desertification and salinisation which affect crop growth

Soil

• Soil depth, structure, fertility and pH all influence the types of crops which can be grown

Pests and diseases

• Crops and livestock are vulnerable to pests and diseases

• HICs are able to afford pesticides and treatments to reduce the impact of these on yields

• LICs are often in tropical areas where pests such as locusts and diseases such as African Swine Flu are more prevalent

Water

• Water stress affects the ability to irrigate crops due to lack of water

• LICs are more likely to suffer water stress than HICs due to lack of precipitation and poor infrastructure

• Lack of irrigation in drier areas leads to low yields