Year 9 Geography - Topic 1 - Sustainable Biomes

Food Security

Year 9 Geography - Sustainable Biomes

Food Security

Source: Nutrishatives, 2018

You only need to write in cells which are green!

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 Year 9 Geography - Topic 1 - Sustainable Biomes
Food Security
What is Food Security?
Food security is defined by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations (2008) as:

Food security exists when all people, at all times,

have physical, social and economic access
to sufficient, safe and nutritious food,
which meets their dietary needs and food preferences
for an active and healthy life.

1. With reference to the FAO definition, define the following terms which comprise the definition

Physical access The physical access to food is also known as availability to food and availability refers
to the physical existence of food.

Social access Social access is that everyone everywhere has the same amount of food that they
can access (equal amount of everyone).

Economic access Economic access is that everyone with different economic standing (rich or poor) can
access enough food for an active and healthy life.

Dietary needs Dietary needs are that people have access to food that support their dietary
requirements/needs.

Food preference Food preferences is there is a wide variety of food to chose from.

2. In your opinion, why is the definition of food security so complex?

The definition of food security is complex as the world is always changing. Any solution to food security
involves a fully understanding of what is implied, understood and excluded in the definition. It is also
complex as many countries are in different economic standings and can only supply a certain amount of
food to their citizens.

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 Year 9 Geography - Topic 1 - Sustainable Biomes
Food Security
Figure 1 - Duration of Food Security
Source: Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, 2008

3. Distinguish the difference between Chronic Food Insecurity and Transitory Food Insecurity

The difference between Chronic Food Insecurity and Transitory Food Insecurity is that Chronic food
insecurity is long-term and persistent while Transitory food insecurity is short-term and temporary.
Chronic Food Insecurity is when people are unable to meet their minimum food requirement over a
sustained period of time while Transitory food insecurity is when there is a sudden drop in the ability to
produce or access enough food.

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 Year 9 Geography - Topic 1 - Sustainable Biomes
Food Security
Figure 2 - Where is food insecurity experienced
Source: World Vision, 2015

4. Categorise five countries for each of the following (use Google Maps to help you)

Very Low Moderately Low Moderately High High Very High

<5% 5 - 14.9% 15 - 24.9% 25 - 34.9% > 35%

Australia China India Chad Ethiopia

South Africa Peru Pakistan Yemen Namibia

Brazil Indonesia Afghanistan Madagascar North Korea

Spain Thailand Bolivia Zimbabwe Zambia

Canada Vietnam Kenya Sierra Leone Haiti

5. Describe the spatial distribution of food security and undernourishment around the world

The spatial distribution of food security and undernourishment around the world is that high-income
countries tend to have a more balanced and nutrient food supply while low-income countries tend to have
to deal will less food per person which results in malnourishment.

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 Year 9 Geography - Topic 1 - Sustainable Biomes
Food Security
Food supply flow chart
Figure 3 - Food supply flow chart
Source: World Vision, 2015

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 Year 9 Geography - Topic 1 - Sustainable Biomes
Food Security
Refer to Figure 3 - Food supply flow chart to answer the following questions
1. Look at the food supply flow chart and list the three problems that could arise at each step in the
process and how these problems might be solved using the table below.

Three problems that could arise at each step in the process include drought, not having the tools/supplies
and not having enough nutrients/not having a balanced diet.

2. Use the food supply flow chart and rewrite as an information text using paragraphs.

Steps in the food What do people need to carry What are problems that What are possible
supply process out these steps? might hinder these solutions to these
steps? problems?

Getting ready to - Need tools Soil is infertile and Make tools out of
grow the food - Need seeds farmer may not have the household appliances
- Need knowledge right tools. and wood.

Growing the food - Need tools There maybe a drought Back up water supply.
- Need good food that occurs that year.
growing climate

Moving the food - Need a mode of War/conflict can Travel to closer

from the field transport damage roads and make distances or sell locally.
- Things to carry food in travel dangerous.

Processing, selling - Need storage Unhygienic storage Make clean storage

or storing the containers methods and food may containers and sell in a
food - Need money go bad as storage is not clean environment.
knowledge as selling done properly.

Preparing and - Need pots and pans Maybe done in an Cook using heat as heat
eating the food - Need equipment unhygienic manner. kills germs.

Activity adapted from World Vision

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 Year 9 Geography - Topic 1 - Sustainable Biomes
Food Security
The capacity of biomes to produce food
Biomes exist on land and in oceans and differ according to their location and geographic characteristics.
Topography (the shape of the land), climate and soils mean similar land biomes can have different species of
plants and animals. Food can be produced from different biomes when people change the environment for
example by ploughing the land, building greenhouses to grow plants, draining swamps and wetlands,
building terraces on slopes etc. (Source: Oxfam, Nd).

Figure 4 - Major Biomes Figure 5 - Balance of Land Use for Agriculture

Source: Oxfam, Nd. Source: Oxfam, Nd

With reference to Figure 3 and 4 answer the following questions (if the images are too small, click on the
source URL for a larger image)
1. Which biomes are mostly used for cropland?

The temperate biome is used mainly for cropland.

2. Which biomes are mostly used for pasture, i.e. animal grazing?

The tropical biome is used mainly for cropland.

3. Which biomes produce the least food?

The desert and tundra biomes produce the least food.

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 Year 9 Geography - Topic 1 - Sustainable Biomes
Food Security

4. Is there an interconnection between biomes and land used for agriculture? Give examples to illustrate
your answer.

The interconnection between biomes and land used for agriculture is that biomes with specific
characteristics tend to be able to grow food in more of a quantity and more efficiently. These
characteristics include more of a controlled climate and seasonal weather (e.g. Rainy and dry seasons).

Activity adapted from Oxfam

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 Year 9 Geography - Topic 1 - Sustainable Biomes
Food Security
Analysis of population projections to predict future demand for food
Malthusian Trap
The world’s population growth has been a topic of interest and concern for many years. However, the
pressure it places on our world resources is not a new topic of discussion. Back in the eighteenth century, an
English economist and minister of religion, Thomas Malthus, predicted that population growth would be
faster than the growth of agriculture (Source: Thompson et al, 2016).

1. In your opinion, describe what will happen at the Malthusian Trap (point of crisis)

At the Malthusian Trap there will be large famines across the world as there will be not enough food for
everyone to sustainably live off. There will be large inequalities of food distribution as citizens of first
world countries will most likely be given enough food and some of it will be wasted while citizens of
poorer countries will oversee their own food production.

2. Look at the FAO Definition of food security (Food security exists when all people, at all times, have
physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food, which meets their dietary
needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life) and brainstorm some ways a community and
a country could overcome food security.

Community Level Country Level

- Reduce food waste - Close the yield gap

- Target food for direct consumption - Use fertilizer more efficiently
- Hold a food donation drive - Raise low water productivity
- Strengthen and support grassroots efforts - Support programs that advocate for a
(community gardens, farmers markets etc.) community-based approach to food aid

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