Chapter 15: Food and Agriculture Section 1 Feeding the World

Humans and Nutrition  We use food for:  Energy  Build and rebuild body  The amount of energy in food is called a Calorie.  Major Nutrients in food:  Carbohydrate (4 cal/g)  Lipid/Fats (9 cal/g)  Protein (4 cal/g)  Malnutrition  Occurs when people do not consume enough calories or do not get all the nutrients they need.

Sources of Nutrition  Diet  The type and amount of food they eat.  A healthy diet consist of a balance of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.  Corn, Wheat, and Rice are the crops produced in greatest amount around the world.  They are very high in Carbohydrates.

Diets Around the World  People in developed countries eat more food.  They also eat a larger portion of proteins and fats.  Less developed areas get most of their diet from carbs.  Avg U.S. person eats ~4000 cals / day  Developing countries <2000 cals/day

The Ecology of Food  A major challenge for the 21 st century is the growing world population.  Land must be set aside for both crops and areas to live.  However, the sustainability of natural ecosystems must be kept also.

Food Efficiency  Efficiency of a type of food is measured in the quantity of food that can be produced in an area with limited inputs of energy and resources.  Calories from animals require much more land.  Calories from plants can be produced with less resources.  This is why developing countries get so much of their food from plants. More Land & Resources Less Land & Resources

Old and New Foods  Researchers are trying to improve food yields, or the amount of food that can be produced in a given area.  They want to find organisms that can thrive on little resources but still produce large amounts.

World Food Problems  Farmers produce enough grain to feed 10 billion people.  The problem is that not everyone is a vegetarian and we need more variety of food to stay nourished.  Meat production has stay relatively constant for many years.

Poverty and Violence  Malnutrition is largely the result of poverty and violence.  Poverty effects people’s ability to purchase food. This can lead to violence.  Starving countries will fight for rights/available food.

Poverty and Violence  Impoverished cultures can turn to subsistence farming, which is growing enough crops for local use.  This is challenged by nature: climate, drought, etc.  Malnutrition can also set in because grain alone doesn’t provide all necessary nutrients.

More Income, More Food  The number of people living in poverty has declined since  The world’s grain production has increased for the last 50 years.  However, the world’s population has grown too. More food will always need to be created for a growing world popluation.

The Green Revolution  Scientists are creating crops that are having higher yields than ever before.  We are creating more food than ever before.  But at what cost?  Is our food safe?  Is our method of food production sustainable for the future?