Changing Rural Landscape in Developed Countries (SQA National 5 Geography): Revision Note

Specification checklist

This page covers what you need to know from the SQA National 5 geography specification to answer questions on:

• Changes in the rural landscape in developed countries related to modern developments in farming, such as: diversification, impact of new technology, organic farming, genetic modification, current government policy

Developments in farming in the UK

• Farming in developed countries has changed significantly over the last 200 years:

  • Farms are larger: many small farms have been taken over and combined to create larger farms

  • Mechanisation has increased, meaning less labour is needed

  • Fertilisers and pesticides have improved in effectiveness

  • Animals are bred to produce more milk and meat

• In the UK, farming now only creates around 1% of the GDP (a very small share compared with services and industry)

• Overall, farming is becoming less profitable

  • The cost of farming inputs, such as machinery and animal feed, is greater than the profits made from outputs

• This has led to:

  • Diversification, which refers to any additional activities used to raise income

  • Methods of raising productivity and profits

Diversification in the UK

• There are many different ways of diversifying

• All diversification requires an investment of capital

Recreation & leisure

• Many of the ways of diversifying are linked to recreation and leisure

• People in developed countries have more time and disposable income 

• Visiting rural areas in leisure time for activities is increasingly popular

• Leisure activities linked to this on farms include:

  • Horse riding

  • Alpaca walking

  • Hunting and shooting

  • Off-roading

  • Mountain biking

• Farms also often provide accommodation with barns and outbuildings converted to holiday cottages and fields used as camping/caravan sites

Other methods of diversification

• As well as recreation and leisure, farmers may invest in:

  • Pick your own

  • Farm shops and cafes

  • Renewable energy

  • Industrial estates/storage facilities

• These diversification strategies help boost the farmers’ income

• Farmers become more independent and less reliant on subsidies

Issues with diversification

• Rising tourist numbers in rural areas lead to;

  • Traffic congestion

  • Air pollution

  • Damage to stone walls

  • Footpath erosion

  • Increased litter, which may be harmful to livestock

New technology in the UK

• Mechanisation has increased in agriculture including:

  • Tractors and combine harvesters have Global Positioning Systems (GPS)

    • These mean that application of fertilisers and pesticides is more efficient

    • Sowing and harvesting can be completed more quickly and effectively

  • Automated milking machines

  • Computerised irrigation systems

• New technology reduces the number of workers needed on farms

• Use of computerised systems reduces waste and makes the systems more efficient

Organic farming in the UK

• Increasing numbers of farmers are converting to organic methods

• Demand for organic food is growing due to health, animal welfare and environmental concerns

• Organic certification means that:

  • Organic livestock are grazed on the land

  • Antibiotics are only used when it is medically necessary

  • Organic crops are grown without the use of artificial pesticides, herbicides or fertilisers

• Organic farming may be less productive

• Products are only available seasonally

• The price farmers receive for organic produce is higher, which compensates for the lower yield

Genetic modification in the UK

• Genetic modification involves using genes from one species to improve another species and increase yields:

  • Crops can be made pesticide-resistant so that when pesticides are sprayed to remove the pests, the crop is undamaged

  • The vitamin, which causes carrots to be orange (beta carotene) is added to rice to increase human uptake of the vitamin

• Genetic modification is controversial

• GM crops are grown in many developed countries, including the USA and Canada,

• In 2022, the UK government was looking to remove the controls which stop the widespread growth of GM crops (these are currently still in force, 2025)

Government policy in the UK

• The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is responsible for agriculture in the UK

• Following Brexit in January 2020, the UK government passed the Agriculture Act, 2020

  • The purpose of the act was to move farmers from reliance on EU subsidies to payments to farmers, encouraging more sustainable food production

• The UK government provides farmers with payments or grants for a range of schemes, including:

  • Environmentally sustainable land and water management

  • Improvements to animal health and welfare

  • Improving and protecting soil quality

• These grants may be used to pay for more efficient irrigation, weeding and harvesting systems

• The Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) aims to:

  • Enhance the rural economy

  • Support agricultural and forestry

  • Protect the natural environment

  • Support rural communities

• Forestry grants, including agroforestry grants, are given for the creation or improvement of woodland areas

• The Agri-Environment Climate Scheme gives funding for schemes which help to mitigate or adapt to climate change, including:

  • Peat bog preservation

  • Hedgerow restoration

  • Floodplain management