MODULE 5

FOOD AND LIVING RESOURCES

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OVERVIEW

The food sector is globally the dominant user of a number of natural resources,
particularly land, biodiversity, fresh water, nitrogen and phosphorus. While food
production is a major driver of biodiversity loss, soil degradation, water depletion and
greenhouse gas emissions, other food systems activities also contribute to
environmental degradation through water use, pollution and energy use. Therefore, the
people who directly or indirectly manage our food systems are also the largest group of
natural resource managers in the world and could become critical agents of change in
the transformation of current consumption and production systems.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon completion of this module, you will be able to:

 Explain the difference between renewable and non-renewable resources.

 Define the different natural resources on earth and its importance.

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NATURAL RESOURCES

Natural resources are naturally occurring materials that are useful to man or could be
useful under conceivable technological, economic or social circumstances or supplies
drawn from the earth, supplies such as food, building and clothing materials, fertilizers,
metals, water and geothermal power. For a long time, natural resources were the
domain of the natural sciences.

All of the Earth’s organisms, air, water, and soil, as well as materials such as oil, coal,
and ore that are removed from the ground. Separated into two broad categories:

 Renewable resources
 Non-renewable resources

Renewable Resources

Are any resources that cycles or can be replaced within a human life span. Examples
include: water, crops, wind, soil, sunlight, animals, etc.

a. Food and fiber–are renewable agricultural resources that can be harvested or

raised indefinitely (unless their use exceeds the rate they can be replaced).

©Google.com

Figure 1: Examples of renewable resources (food and fiber)

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b. Soil– a mixture of living organisms and dirt. Even though it initially takes
thousands of years to form, the rate at which soil can regenerate depends on the
climate of an area.

Figure 2: Examples of renewable resources (Soil) ©Google.com

c. Wind– caused by the uneven heating of the Earth. Not only renewable but
inexhaustible.

d. Sun– light from the sun supports all the life on Earth as we know it. Also
considered inexhaustible. (At least for the next 5 billion years).

Figure 3: Examples of renewable resources (Sun-light) ©Google.com

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e. Water– constantly renewed/replenished by the water cycle. However, fresh water
resources are somewhat limited. The use and quality of water must be carefully
monitored to ensure future use.

©Google.com

Figure 4: Examples of renewable resources (Water)

f. Biomass fuels– are organic matter (wood, plants, animal residues, etc.) that
contain stored solar energy. Used to supply energy to 15% of the world’s supply.

©Google.com
Figure 5: Examples of renewable resources (biomass fuels)

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 g. Geothermal energy– the heat generated deep within the Earth. Fueled by the
decay of radioactive elements. Used to heat water.

©Google.com

Figure 6: Examples of renewable resources (Geothermal energy)

Non-renewable Resources

Any resource that cannot be replaced during the time of a human life span. Took
thousands of years to form and exist in fixed amounts in the Earth. They need to be
conserved before they become depleted.

a. Ores– mineral deposits from which valuable metals and non-metals can be
recovered for profit.

Metallic ores include: gold, silver, copper, aluminum, zinc, etc. Non-metallic ores
include: salt, sand, gravel, clay, diamonds, gemstones, etc. The major non-metallic
ores mined are coal, limestone, granite, slate, sand, and gravel.

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 ©Google.com

Figure 7: Examples of non-renewable resources (Ores)

b. Fossil Fuels are non-renewable because they take thousands of years to form. In
developing countries, the fossil fuels are fossilized wood, charcoal, and peat. In
developed countries, the fossil fuels are mainly coal, natural gas, and oil.

Almost every resource needs to be removed from the Earth and processed in some way
before it can be used. What ultimately determines the availability of resources are the
costs involved in removing/extracting it from the Earth and the costs involved in
processing/refining them into products.

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REFERENCES

Textbooks

 Fundamentals of Environmental Science, 2015.

 Environmental Science, 2019.

Websites

 https://www.whsd.net/userfiles/1524/Classes/7398/Renewable%20and%20Nonre
newable%20Resources%20Notes.pdf
 https://www.tralac.org/images/docs/9748/food-systems-and-natural-resources-
summary-for-policymakers-unep-2016.pdf

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