Chapter 9Chapter 9Production and Distribution Production and Distribution

of Foodof Food

Major Patterns of Food ProductionMajor Patterns of Food Production

I. Crops and Modern Industrialized AgricultureI. Crops and Modern Industrialized AgricultureA. Transformed from traditional agriculture with a A. Transformed from traditional agriculture with a

move towards the move towards the Green RevolutionB. Use of machineryB. Use of machineryC.C. Fertilizers and pesticidesFertilizers and pesticidesD.D. IrrigationIrrigationE.E. High-yielding plant varieties (Green Revolution in High-yielding plant varieties (Green Revolution in

Mexico with wheat)Mexico with wheat)F.F. Situation TodaySituation Today

Old variety of wheat and high-Old variety of wheat and high-yielding wheatyielding wheat

Traditional vs. Modern Traditional vs. Modern

Subsistence Agriculture in the Subsistence Agriculture in the Developing WorldDeveloping World

Small parcels of land used to produce enough Small parcels of land used to produce enough food for family and a small cash cropfood for family and a small cash crop

The move toward industrialized agriculture leads The move toward industrialized agriculture leads to nonsustainable practices and possible to nonsustainable practices and possible ecological devastationecological devastation

Animal FarmingAnimal Farming One quarter of the world’s crops are used to feed One quarter of the world’s crops are used to feed

domestic animalsdomestic animals Like crop farming, there are the two patterns of Like crop farming, there are the two patterns of

industrialized farmers or pastoralists (subsistence industrialized farmers or pastoralists (subsistence farmers of animals) see page 225farmers of animals) see page 225

Similar consequences of crop farming along with Similar consequences of crop farming along with high production of methane (greenhouse gas)high production of methane (greenhouse gas)

BiotechnologyBiotechnology

Benefits: increased taste and nutrition; resistance Benefits: increased taste and nutrition; resistance to disease, pests and weed killer; incorporation of to disease, pests and weed killer; incorporation of vaccines to humans; tolerance of harsh conditions; vaccines to humans; tolerance of harsh conditions; enhanced productivity (less land use) enhanced productivity (less land use)

Problems: disease or pests may develop resistance; Problems: disease or pests may develop resistance; cross pollination may produce undesirable traits; cross pollination may produce undesirable traits; possible allergic reactions; overuse of antibiotics possible allergic reactions; overuse of antibiotics may make pathogens in humans more resistant; may make pathogens in humans more resistant; unknown consequencesunknown consequences

Pros and cons - articlesPros and cons - articles

Biotechnology (cont.)Biotechnology (cont.)

Policy:Policy: In the U.S., the USDA, the FDA and the EPA are In the U.S., the USDA, the FDA and the EPA are

trying to collaborate in providing country-wide trying to collaborate in providing country-wide policy regarding GMOs (genetically modified policy regarding GMOs (genetically modified organisms)organisms)

The Cartagena Protocol created by the UN enacts The Cartagena Protocol created by the UN enacts the the precautionary principleprecautionary principle regarding GMOs: regarding GMOs: where there are threats of serious damage, lack of where there are threats of serious damage, lack of scientific certainty should not be used as a reason scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for failing to take measures to prevent potential for failing to take measures to prevent potential damage.damage.

Food Distribution and TradeFood Distribution and Trade Food trade: allows countries to trade foodstuffs Food trade: allows countries to trade foodstuffs

for other commodities or vice versafor other commodities or vice versa Grains such as wheat, rice, corn, barley, rye, and Grains such as wheat, rice, corn, barley, rye, and

sorghum being the most important on the world sorghum being the most important on the world market.market.

Levels of responsibility in supplying foodLevels of responsibility in supplying food Family, country, global communityFamily, country, global community

Hunger, Malnutrition and FamineHunger, Malnutrition and Famine

NutritionNutrition Malnutrition is the lack of essential nutrientsMalnutrition is the lack of essential nutrients Undernourishment is the lack of adequate food Undernourishment is the lack of adequate food

energyenergy Extent of HungerExtent of Hunger

790 million in developing nations790 million in developing nations 34 million in developed world34 million in developed world 2/3 of hungry in Asia and Pacific2/3 of hungry in Asia and Pacific

Population growth Population growth and food supplyand food supply

HungerHunger

Consequences of hunger: Consequences of hunger: 1) prevention of normal growth- mental and 1) prevention of normal growth- mental and physical impairmentphysical impairment2) poor resistance to disease, thus more sickness2) poor resistance to disease, thus more sickness3) death (see page 256 – first paragraph)3) death (see page 256 – first paragraph)

Cause of hunger:Cause of hunger:1) lack of money or land1) lack of money or land2) poor public policy2) poor public policy3) corruption of resources3) corruption of resources

FamineFamine

Severe shortage of food accompanied by a Severe shortage of food accompanied by a significant increase in death ratesignificant increase in death rate

Caused by drought and/or warCaused by drought and/or war

Food Food AidAid

Distributed to countries where there is Distributed to countries where there is widespread hunger or the threat of severe famine widespread hunger or the threat of severe famine (U.S. and Canada are the leaders in giving away (U.S. and Canada are the leaders in giving away food)food)

Problems:Problems: Undercuts the local marketUndercuts the local market Short-term solution – population increasesShort-term solution – population increases