Topic Summaries

Factors affecting food security

IGCSE > Biology > Pearson IGCSE > IGCSE Biology Topic Summaries > Food supply and biotechnology > Factors affecting food security
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Stem cells, microscopy, and microorganisms

Pathogens and non-specific immunity

Plant disease and monoclonal antibodies

Resource cycles and environmental change

Science skills: Measuring results

  • Food security means having sufficient, safe, and nutritious food available to meet the dietary needs of a population.It depends on factors such as availability, accessibility, and affordability of food.
  • Biological factors that are threatening food security include:
    • The increasing birth rate in some countries.
    • Changing diets in developed countries means scarce food resources are transported around the world.
    • New pests and pathogens that affect farming.
    • Environmental changes that affect food production, such as widespread famine occurring in some countries if rains fail.
    • The cost of agricultural inputs.
    • Conflicts can disrupt food production or destroy food and water infrastructure.
  • Sustainable methods must be found to feed all people on Earth. This means:
    • Sustainable: preserving resources for future generations.
    • Environmentally friendly: reducing pollution and land degradation.
    • Economically viable: affordable for producers and consumers.
  • Strategies include improving crop yields through biotechnology and better farming techniques, reducing waste in food production and supply chains, educating populations on nutrition and sustainable diets, and supporting smallholder farmers and ensuring fair trade.

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