18 Food Resources

World Food Security Feeding growing population is difficult

852 Mil people lack access to food (needed for healthy lives)

3 Billion people are malnourished Annual grain production has increased from 1961–2008

Due to increasing population, amount of grain per person has not increased

** 2 areas of the world with the greatest food insecurity

South Asia

sub-Saharan Africa

World Food Security Famine

Temporary but severe shortage of food Developing nations most at risk More people die from malnutrition than starvation

associated with famine Malnutrition

condition that results from eating a diet in which certain nutrients are lacking, in excess

Starvation severe deficiency in caloric energy, nutrient, and

vitamin intake (Most extreme form of malnutrition)

World Food Security

Maintaining World Grain Stocks Amounts of grains remaining from previous harvest Provides measure of food security Decreased each year since mid 1980’s In 2010, UN estimated that carryover stock would last

72 days

15 species of plants provide the bulk of food

Food ProductionThe most common foods eaten in the world today are

Decline in Grain Stock

Rising temps Falling water tables & droughts Ethanol production More grain for feeding livestock Increased meat consumption in

developing countries

World Food Security

Economics and Politics Cost money to store, produce, transport & distribute food Getting food to those who need it is political

Poverty & Food main cause of undernutrition & malnutrition is POVERTY 1.3 billion people cannot afford proper nutrition More common in

Rural areas Infants, children and the elderly

Types of Agriculture

Industrialized agriculture High input of capital Lower inputs of energy high yields Requires less land

Subsistence agriculture Produces enough to feed a family High input of manual energy Low productions yields Types Slash and burn, nomadic, Intercropping

Animals as food

40% of calories consumed in developed countries 5% of calories consumed in developing countries

Mutton - Sheep

Energy Inputs in Industrialized Agriculture

Challenges of Producing More Crops

Challenges of Producing More Crops

Balance of fertilizer Use of pesticides & herbicides Genetic engineering Selective breeding (< variety)

Better features but everyone wants to grow the best

Germplasm Bank any plant or animal that may be used for breeding

Plants (seed & plant tissue) Livestock (egg and sperm)

To preserve diversity Store older more diverse varieties

Challenges of Producing More Livestock

Increasing Livestock Yields Hormone supplements

US and Canada, not used in Europe

Antibiotics 40% of antibiotics produced in US are used in livestock

Problems with increased bacteria resistance- some bacteria are resistant to every antibiotic known (TDR-TB & XDR-TB)

Studies have show the overuse use of antibiotics is the direct cause of antibiotic resistance

Genetic Engineering

Manipulation of genes take specific gene from one species and put it into the

genome another species (may be related may be not)

Used to produce Genetically Modified (GM) food Ex: golden rice - rich in beta carotene

(prevent Vitamin A deficiency in developing countries) Plants that are tolerant to insect pests, heat, cold,

drought, or acidic soils (Monsanto) More productive farm animals

Cows that can make milk & silk in there milk

Unmodified VS drought resistant GM corn

Safety in Genetic Engineering

Determined to be safe for human consumption

Concerns about GMO seed or pollen spreading in wild (cross pollination) Currently does not appear to be an issue GMO plants no longer produce pollen or seeds Long term unknown

Backlash against GMOs - especially in Europe Scared that genes could somehow move to weeds (has not been show)

GMOs are not currently labeled FDA found it would be counterproductive & expensive

?? GMO vs. selective breeding ??

Selective breeding Taking 2 of the best of something and breeding it to get

something hopefully better Usually use inbreeding (decreases variance)

Dogs & cats are a good example

Genetic Modification The use of antibiotic resistant genes Use small segments of DNA (that have a function) and

put it into another organism so that it has a new function DNA used are already in common foods

Salmon genes 1 Special Salmon 2 Carotene from carrots Rice (golden rice)

Environmental Impacts of Agriculture

Solutions to Agricultural Problems- Sustainable Agriculture

Agricultural methods that maintain soil productivity & a healthy ecological balance while having minimal long-term impacts Decrease pesticide use, Increase biodiversity, manage wetlands & water, increase

soil health, minimize commercial fertilizers and move away from monoculture farming.

Sustainable Agriculture Examples

Natural Predator-prey relationships instead of pesticides Problem when invasive predators are brought in.

Crop rotation & conservation tillage Supplying nitrogen with legumes Organic agriculture (What does it mean to be “organic”)

One definition - Form of agriculture that relies on techniques such as crop rotation, green manure, compost, and biological pest control (But there are lots of different def.)

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Limited use of pesticides with sustainable agriculture

practices

Fisheries of the World - Problems

No nation lays claim to open ocean Resource susceptible to overuse and degradation

Overharvesting Many species are at

point of severe depletion 62% of world’s fish stock

are in need of mngt. action Magnuson Fishery Conservation

Act (1977) regulate the U.S. marine fisheries Magnuson-Sevens Fishery Conservation & Mngt. Act

(1996) requires protection of “essential fish habitats”

Fisheries of the World - Problems

Ocean Pollution (dumping ground) Oil Heavy metals Deliberate litter dumping Storm water runoff from cities and agricultural areas

Aquaculture Growing of aquatic organisms for human consumption Great potential to supply food

Finfish, shellfish, seaweeds, oyster, mussels, clams, lobsters Locations of fisheries may hurt natural habitats

Produce waste that pollutes adjacent water

World Seafood Harvest

Sophisticated fishing equipment

Sophisticated fishing equipment