Changes in food demandGrowing demand for high-value and

seasonal products

Starter: Key words

Commercial farming

Subsistence farming

Food miles

Over-cultivation

Soil productivity is reduced to the point where once productive land is turned into wasteland.

Crops are grown to sell and make a profit. They may be distributed locally, nationally and/or globally.

This is self-sufficient farming, where farmers grow enough to feed their families. Crops are not grown

to make a profit.

The excessive use of farm land, resulting in the soils nutrients being used up and the land becoming

infertile.

Land degradation

Marginal land

Carbon footprint

The total amount of greenhouse emissions resulting from the activity of a person or persons.

The distance food is transported from the time of its production until it reaches the consumer.

Land that is only just good enough to be worth farming. It may be dry, wet, cool, stony or steep.

• To find out the impacts of the growing demand from for high-value food exports from poorer countries and our all-year demand for seasonal food.

Learning objectives

Changes in demandIn the last decade there has been a major growth of imports of high-value agricultural products to richer

countries from the developing world. Can you think of any examples?

Asparagus

Red spring onions

Mange tout

Pak ChoiBlueberries

Changes in demandSeasonal goods are now available all year round thanks

to sources in tropical countries. However, in order to maintain contracts, these products are still imported

when they are in season in the UK.

In the UK this has been driven by the major supermarkets.

They bring produce thousands of miles onto their shelves.

E.g. Peruvian asparagus travels 10,000 km to get to the UK!

Activity: Food milesThe table below shows agricultural exports to a UK

supermarket.Country of export Distance ProductMexico 8,800 km Red Spring OnionsPeru 10,000 km AsparagusChile 11,500 km Cherries, blueberriesMorocco 2,000 km SweetcornSouth Africa 8,900 km GrapesKenya 6,700 km Baby leeks, mange toutsTanzania 7,300 km Pak choi, fine beansChina 8,200 km GingerIsrael 3,500 km RadishesSpain 1,300 km Raspberries, strawberriesHolland 300 km Carrots, peppers, flowers

Describe the information, remember to use figures!

Activity: How reliant is the UK on imported foods?

Study the article that you have been given.Summarise the argument FOR food imports to the UK.

You may wish to use detailed bullet points.

• Experts claim it would be difficult for us to become self-sufficient. • We have always imported food, since Roman times.• Our climate isn’t suited to growing certain foods that we demand –

out of season, exotic, tea, rice, coffee. • Farming certain products is unlikely to be successful and are often

cheaper to source from overseas. • We would have to use environmentally degrading practices to

meet demand if we don’t import – intensive farming and increased pesticides.

• It would also involve more GM food and would require a change in consumer understanding – we are fussy eaters though!

Prep: The impacts of our increasing demand

Read the bullet points on pg 228 and figure 6.16 on the hand out.

Your task is to write a letter to the produce department Senior Buyer at Morrisons, Mr Andrew Garton, outlining the negative impacts of the supermarket sourcing its fruit and

vegetables from poorer countries.The aim of your letter is to bring his attention to the issues and to suggest ways in which Morrisons may help improve

them.