Food Security & Scarcity
What is food security?
Reliable access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food.
What is the global population projected to reach by 2050?
10 billion.
How can poverty affect food security?
It prevents people from affording nutritious food.
What can agricultural land be used for besides farming?
Industry or housing.
Approximately how many people does Australia produce enough food to feed?
Around 75 million.
What does food insecurity mean?
Unreliable access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food.
What has the global population recently passed?
8 billion
What percentage of their earnings can low-income households spend on basic food staples?
Up to 70%.
What happens when agricultural land is converted to housing?
Agricultural capacity is reduced (Less arable land)
Approximately what percentage of Australia's agricultural production is exported?
70%
Does producing enough food automatically guarantee food security?
No
Name one resource needed for food production.
Land
Give one example of a dietary want.
Highly processed food (Junk food)
What can intensive farming damage?
Soil and water systems.
What influences what Australian farmers grow?
Global market demand.
What is scarcity?
Limited resources to satisfy human needs and wants.
Why is freshwater important for agriculture?
It is needed for irrigation.
What can poor food intake cause?
Malnutrition.
What can overgrazing cause?
Soil erosion.
What can high global grain prices encourage Australian farmers to grow?
Wheat
What are the four pillars of food security?
Availability, access, utilisation and stability.
What can disrupt global food supply chains?
Droughts, floods or conflict.
What is opportunity cost?
The lost benefit of the next best choice.
Why is protecting soil important for food security?
It maintains future agricultural yields.
What can international demand influence?
Land and water allocation.