5.5To what extent can technology help increase agricultural

© Oxford University Press 2009

Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages?

5.55.5 To what extent canTo what extent can technology helptechnology help increase agriculturalincrease agricultural production andproduction and alleviate foodalleviate food shortages?shortages?

Part APart A



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

may not lead to…Reduce food

productionFamine



What are the factors affecting food supply?

Climate Natural environment

Natural hazards

Physical factors

Farming technologies

Economic development

Wars & conflict

Food supply

Affect the ability and necessity to import food

Cultural factors

Affect local food production



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?

Can we apply the same tactics to

countries suffering from 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)



Can technology help increase food supply?What are GM crops? Global area of GM crops

in 2007 reached 114.3 million hectares.

Major growers of GM crops in 2007(Source: International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications)

The major GM crop producing countries in 2007 are the ______, __________, _______ and ________.

Monsanto is a multinational company producing more than 90% of GM seeds worldwide.

USAArgentina Brazil

Canada



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.



1 ClimatePhysical factors

Rainfall is a major factor affecting the amount of food produced.

The Sahel

Little rainfall is unfavourable for

farming

Low agricultural output

Other unfavourable factors for farming

Low food supply

Food shortages



Which places have a poor water resource?

Which places have a poor water resource?

1 ClimatePhysical factors

The Sahel

Southern California

Do both the Sahel and southern California

experience food shortages? Why?

Do both the Sahel and southern California

experience food shortages? Why?



2 Natural environmentPhysical factors

• ( Gentle / Rugged ) relief• ( Infertile / fertile ) soil• Large rivers are ( absent / present )

Which place is more

favourable for farming?

Which place is more

favourable for farming?



3 Natural hazardsPhysical factors

Natural disasters like flooding, droughts and hailstorms can result in crop failure.

Rainstorm

Hailstorm

A maize field is submerged in flood water in North Korea in 2007

(Credit: Reuters/OTHK)



3 Natural hazardsPhysical factors

In more developed countries, farmers have savings and usually food surpluses and a healthy insurance system to get through crop failure.

In less developed countries, when there is crop failure, people do not have the money or resources to help them get through it. Food shortages occur as a result.

Source: Natural hazards: Global overview of countries of concern,

2006, World Food Programme

The impact of crop failure in more developed countries

and less developed countries is different



1 Farming technologies and the level of productivity

Cultural factors

Traditional farming methods in less developed countries often result in low crop yields

In less developed countries, farmers

usually have a ( lower / higher )

education level and little capital

They farm with ( traditional /

modern ) methods. The productivity is

( low / high )

(Credit: Reuters/OTHK)



2 Economic developmentCultural factors

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 daySource: UN Human Development Report 2007/8




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 Low-

Income Food-Deficit Countries

Countries which have a population living below US$1 a daySource: UN Human Development Report 2007/8




Poor hygiene Not able to grow or buy food

Poverty

Lower productivity

Poor health Hunger

Low income

Famine

Prolonged hunger

Poverty cycle

Poverty and famine are

closely linked.



3 Social factorsCultural 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.

Children in Niger experiencing food shortages(Credit: Dominique Derda/France 2/Corbis)



4 Wars and conflictCultural factors

Refugees in Chad (Credit: Olav A. Saltbones/ Norwegian Red Cross)

Farmers may abandon their fields and flee to a safe place.

Troop movement may destroy crops.

Irrigation systems and transport are paralysed.

Failure in growing crops and in getting aid give rise to famine.

A large number of people are displaced from their homes as refugees.

It is difficult to distribute food to the hungry people.

How do wars and conflict affect the food production?

How do wars and conflict affect the food production?



5 Political factorsCultural 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.

5.5To what extent can technology help increase agricultural

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