Chapter 19 Food Resources: A Challenge For Agriculture

Overview of Chapter 19 o Food and Nutrition o World Food Problems o Principle Types of Agriculture o Challenges of Producing More Crops and Livestock o Environmental Impact of Agriculture o Solutions to Agricultural Problems o Fisheries of the World

World food problems o Only about 100 species of plants out of the 350,000 are grown to meet human needs. Of that of them supply over 90% of the worlds needs. o Eight terrestrial animals supply over 90% of the worlds meat. o 16 lbs grain = 1 lb meat o 20% of the worlds richest countries consume 80% of the worlds meat and dairy

o Wheat and rice supply 60% of human caloric intake. o About 90% of grain grown in the US is used for animal feed. o The top five countries in order of producing the most metric tons of grains are, China, United states, India, Canada, Ukrain

Malnutrition and famine o One quarter of the human population (1.5 billion) is malnourished. o Sub-Saharan Africa (225 million) East and South East Asia (275 million) South Asia (250 million) o Malnutrition and famine stem from net getting enough calories per day. o People in countries that experience malnutrition have diets high in starch.

Conditions that cause famine o Major droughts o Increased population size o Massive immigration o Floods o Wars o Economic chaos o Political instability o Land seizures o Breakdown in distribution

What is the problem? o The problem is not that the world can’t grow enough food. The problem is that many people are too poor to buy food. o Population density may or may not contribute, more likely it is linked to economic conditions. o Hong Kong has high population density but GNP is high and people can buy food

Food and Nutrition o Carbohydrates Sugars and starches metabolized by cellular respiration to produce energy Sugars and starches metabolized by cellular respiration to produce energy o Proteins Large, complex molecules composed of amino acids that perform critical roles in body Large, complex molecules composed of amino acids that perform critical roles in body o Lipids Include fats and oils and are metabolized by cellular respiration to produce energy Include fats and oils and are metabolized by cellular respiration to produce energy o Vitamins and Minerals

Human Foods

World Food Problems o Feeding growing population is difficult o Annual grain production (left) has increased since 1970 o Grain per person has not (right)

World Food Problems o Famine Failure of crops caused by drought, flood or catastrophic event Failure of crops caused by drought, flood or catastrophic event Temporary but severe shortage of food Temporary but severe shortage of food o Maintaining World Grain Carryover Stockpiles Amounts of rice, wheat, corn and other grains remaining from previous harvest Amounts of rice, wheat, corn and other grains remaining from previous harvest Provides measure of food security Provides measure of food security Decreased each year since 1987 Decreased each year since 1987 UN feels carryover stock should not fall below 70 days UN feels carryover stock should not fall below 70 days

World Grain Carryover Stock o Why the decline? Rising temperatures Rising temperatures Falling water tables and droughts Falling water tables and droughts Ethanol production Ethanol production More grain is going towards feeding livestock More grain is going towards feeding livestock

World Food Problems o Poverty and Food 1.3 billion people are so poor they cannot afford proper nutrition 1.3 billion people are so poor they cannot afford proper nutrition More common in More common in Rural than urban areas Rural than urban areas Infants, children and the elderly Infants, children and the elderly o Economics and Politics Cost money to store, produce, transport and distribute food Cost money to store, produce, transport and distribute food Getting food to those who need it is political Getting food to those who need it is political

The economics o Agribusiness or large corporate ownership and management of farmland will not end famine. o Agribusiness runs on profit. If market prices are unfavorable, large corporations can afford to leave farmland idle until prices increase. o Research has shown that small individual farmers achieve 4-5 times more output per acre that large corporations.

o Free trade will not end famine ; in fact it may make it worse. o Those involved in trading commodities are not the poor masses, they are foreign investors whose motives are profit. o Keeping people in third world countries in poverty results in cheaper foods, cheaper shoes, cheaper TV’s o Results in the “working poor”, part time jobs, low wages, no benefits, no govt assistance.

How we might prevent famine o More developed countries adopt a less developed country. Providing seed, tools, technology, and education to get the other country on it’s feet. o Teach efficient methods of farming in poor countries. o Tie family-planning education to farming education. Fewer people=more food to go around. o Store food surplus for food credits. If you deposit food you can store credits and take the credits when you have a shortage

Principle Types of Agriculture Industrialized agriculture Modern agriculture methods that require large capital input, and less land and labor Modern agriculture methods that require large capital input, and less land and labor

Principle Types of Agriculture o Subsistence Agriculture Traditional agricultural methods, which are dependent on labor and large amounts of land Traditional agricultural methods, which are dependent on labor and large amounts of land o Examples: Shifting cultivation Shifting cultivation Slash and burn agriculture Slash and burn agriculture Nomadic herding Nomadic herding Intercropping Intercropping o Industrialized agriculture o Relies on high input of capital and energy. o Produces high yield

Challenges of Producing More Crop and Livestock o Domestication and Genetic Diversity Domestication of crops and livestock causes a loss of genetic diversity Domestication of crops and livestock causes a loss of genetic diversity Farmer selects and propagates animals with desirable agricultural characteristics Farmer selects and propagates animals with desirable agricultural characteristics Many high yielding crops are genetically uniform Only a few varieties are now grown in US Many high yielding crops are genetically uniform Only a few varieties are now grown in US High likelihood that bacteria, fungi, viruses, etc. will attack and destroy entire crop High likelihood that bacteria, fungi, viruses, etc. will attack and destroy entire crop

o Increasing Crop Yield Challenges of Producing More Crop and Livestock Food production increased in developed countries (wheat (left) Food production increased in developed countries (wheat (left) Pesticides Pesticides Selective breeding Selective breeding

Case-In-Point Green Revolution o High Yielding Rice Varieties

o Increasing Livestock Yields Hormone supplements Hormone supplements US and Canada do this US and Canada do this Europe does not citing human health concerns Europe does not citing human health concerns Antibiotics Antibiotics 40% of antibiotics produced in US are used in livestock operations 40% of antibiotics produced in US are used in livestock operations Problems with increased bacteria resistance Problems with increased bacteria resistance Challenges of Producing More Crop and Livestock

Antibiotic Use and Resistance

o Manipulation of genes by taking specific gene from a cell of one species and placing it into the cell of an unrelated species Genetic Engineering

Issue with Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) o Determined to be safe for human consumption o Concerns about GMO seed or pollen spreading in wild o Backlash against GMOs o GMOs are not currently labeled FDA finds it would be counterproductive and expensive to label FDA finds it would be counterproductive and expensive to label

Environmental Impacts of Agriculture o High use of fossil fuels and pesticides Air pollution Air pollution o Untreated animal wastes and agricultural chemicals Water pollution Water pollution Harms fisheries Harms fisheries o Insects, weeds, and disease- causing organisms developing resistance to pesticides Contaminate food supply Contaminate food supply

Environmental Impact of Agriculture o Land degradation Decreases future ability of land to support crops or livestock Decreases future ability of land to support crops or livestock o Habitat fragmentation Breakup of large areas of habitat into small, isolated patches Breakup of large areas of habitat into small, isolated patches o Cultivating marginal lands Irrigating dry land Irrigating dry land Cultivating land prone to erosion Cultivating land prone to erosion

Solutions to Agricultural Problems- Sustainable Agriculture

Sustainable Agriculture o Examples: Natural Predator-prey relationships instead of pesticides Natural Predator-prey relationships instead of pesticides Crop selection Crop selection Crop rotation and conservation tillage Crop rotation and conservation tillage Supplying nitrogen with legumes Supplying nitrogen with legumes Organic agriculture Organic agriculture o Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Limited use of pesticides with sustainable agriculture practices Limited use of pesticides with sustainable agriculture practices

Fisheries of the World- Problems o No nation lays claim to open ocean Resource susceptible to overuse and degradation Resource susceptible to overuse and degradation o Overharvesting Many species are at point of severe depletion Many species are at point of severe depletion Cod (right) Cod (right) 62% of world’s fish stock are in need of management action 62% of world’s fish stock are in need of management action

Fisheries of the World- Problems o Overharvesting (continued) Sophisticated fishing equipment Sophisticated fishing equipment Bycatch killed off Bycatch killed off Magnuson Fisheries Conservation Act Magnuson Fisheries Conservation Act

Fisheries of the World- Problems o Ocean Pollution - dumping ground Oil Oil Heavy metals Heavy metals Deliberate litter dumping Deliberate litter dumping Stormwater runoff from cities and agricultural areas Stormwater runoff from cities and agricultural areas o Aquaculture Growing of aquatic organisms for human consumption Growing of aquatic organisms for human consumption Great potential to supply food Great potential to supply food

Fisheries of the World- Problems o Aquaculture (continued) Locations of fisheries may hurt natural habitats Locations of fisheries may hurt natural habitats Produce waste that pollutes adjacent water Produce waste that pollutes adjacent water