Transcript 5-5 - Shun Lee Catholic Secondary School

Part 5
5.5
© Oxford University Press 2009
Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages?
To what extent can
technology help
increase agricultural
production and
alleviate food
shortages?
Part A
Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages?
Part 5
What are the factors affecting food supply?
The causes of famine are very complex. It may be a
natural or human-induced disaster, or a combination of
both.
Natural hazards and an
unfavourable physical environment
Reduce food
production
© Oxford University Press 2009
may not
lead to…
Famine
Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages?
Part 5
What are the factors affecting food supply?
Physical factors
Climate
Cultural factors
Natural
Natural
environment hazards
Affect local food
production
Farming
Economic
Wars &
technologies development conflict
Affect the ability and
necessity to import food
Food supply
© Oxford University Press 2009
Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages?
Part 5
Can technology help increase food supply?
We have seen that modern
farming technology used in
southern California has
successfully increased
farming productivity.
Can we apply the
same tactics to
countries suffering
from food shortages?
© Oxford University Press 2009
Part 5
Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages?
Can technology help increase food supply?
What are GM crops?
GM crops are crop plants
created for human and
animal consumption using
biotechnology
______________.
The four main GM crops
grown are soybean, maize,
cotton and canola.
Genetically-modified maize plant in
California (Credit: Lowell Georgia/Corbis)
© Oxford University Press 2009
Part 5
Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages?
Can technology help increase food supply?
What are GM crops?
Global area of GM crops in
2007 reached 114.3 million
hectares.
The major GM crop
producing countries in
2007 are the ______,
USA
Argentina _______
__________,
Brazil
and ________.
Canada
Monsanto is a
multinational
company producing
more than 90% of GM
seeds worldwide.
Major growers of GM crops in 2007
(Source: International Service for the Acquisition of
Agri-Biotech Applications)
© Oxford University Press 2009
Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages?
Part 5
In southern California, modern farming
technology has successfully increased
farming productivity. However, it may
have negative impact on the
environment.
Before exploring the negative
impact, we first learn how the
agro-ecosystem functions in
Part B.
© Oxford University Press 2009
Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages?
Part 5
Physical factors
1
Climate
Rainfall is a major factor affecting the amount of food
produced.
Little rainfall is
Other unfavourable
unfavourable for
factors for farming
farming
Low agricultural
output
The Sahel
© Oxford University Press 2009
Low food supply
Food shortages
Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages?
Part 5
Physical factors
1
Climate
The Sahel
© Oxford University Press 2009
Which
have
a
Do
both places
the Sahel
and
poor
waterCalifornia
resource?
southern
experience food
shortages? Why?
Southern
California
Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages?
Part 5
Physical factors
2
Natural environment
• ( Gentle / Rugged ) relief
• ( Infertile / fertile ) soil
• Large rivers are ( absent /
present )
Which place is
more
favourable for
farming?
© Oxford University Press 2009
Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages?
Part 5
Physical factors
3
Natural hazards
Natural disasters like flooding, droughts and hailstorms
can result in crop failure.
(Credit: Reuters/OTHK)
Hailstorm
Rainstorm
A maize field is submerged in flood water in North Korea in 2007
© Oxford University Press 2009
Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages?
Part 5
Physical factors
3
Natural hazards
The impact of crop failure in
more developed countries
and less developed
countries is different
Source: Natural hazards: Global
overview of countries of concern,
2006, World Food Programme
moredeveloped
developedcountries,
countries,when
farmers
have
savings
and
In less
there
is crop
failure,
usually do
food
and a healthy
insurance
system to
people
notsurpluses
have the money
or resources
to help
get through
crop failure.
them
get through
it. Food shortages occur as a result.
© Oxford University Press 2009
Part 5
Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages?
Cultural factors
1
Farming technologies and the level of
productivity (Credit: Reuters/OTHK)
In less developed
countries, farmers
usually have a ( lower /
higher ) education
level and little capital
Traditional farming methods in less developed
countries often result in low crop yields
© Oxford University Press 2009
They farm with
( traditional /
modern ) methods.
The productivity is
( low / high )
Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages?
Part 5
Cultural factors
2
Economic development
An area that cannot produce
enough food to meet local food
demand can import food from
other countries
Countries which have a population living below US$1 a day
Source: UN Human Development Report 2007/8
© Oxford University Press 2009
Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages?
Part 5
Cultural factors
2
Economic development
However, the countries who have
the greatest need for imported food
are very often the least able to pay
for it. They are known as the LowIncome Food-Deficit Countries
Countries which have a population living below US$1 a day
Source: UN Human Development Report 2007/8
© Oxford University Press 2009
Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages?
Part 5
Cultural factors
2
Economic development
Poverty and
famine are
closely linked.
Poverty
Poor hygiene
Not able to grow
or buy food
Prolonged
hunger
Famine
Poor health
Hunger
Lower productivity
Low income
Poverty cycle
© Oxford University Press 2009
Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages?
Part 5
Cultural factors
3
Social factors
Places with distinct
social classes may have
an unequal distribution
of food among various
classes.
For example, in some
places, men are
allocated more food
than women and
children.
Hence, the ability to
obtain food varies with
the social background
of the people.
© Oxford University Press 2009
Children in Niger experiencing food
shortages
(Credit: Dominique Derda/France 2/Corbis)
Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages?
Part 5
Cultural factors
4
Wars and conflict
How do wars and
conflict affect the
food production?
Farmers
may abandon
A
large number
of people
theirdisplaced
fields andfrom
flee their
to a
are
safe place.
homes
as refugees.
Troop
movement
may
It
is difficult
to distribute
destroy
crops.
food
to the
hungry
people.
Irrigation systems and
transport are paralysed.
© Oxford University Press 2009
Refugees in Chad
(Credit: Olav A. Saltbones/ Norwegian Red Cross)
Failure in growing crops
and in getting aid give rise
to famine.
Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages?
Part 5
Cultural factors
5
Political factors
Government and
bureaucratic inefficiency
can add to food shortage
problems.
In countries where
corruption and bribery are
common, it is impossible to
ensure that food goes to
the needy.
© Oxford University Press 2009