Chapter 8: The Human Food Supply Victoria Alapo, Instructor Geog 1010

Chapter 8:

The Human Food Supply

Victoria Alapo, Instructor

Geog 1010

Introduction to GeographyPeople, Places, and Environment, 4e

Edward F. BergmanWilliam H. Renwick

Food Supplies Over the Last 200 Years

Malthus’ prediction

Technological advances: Green revolution New crops

Transplants and genetic engineering New cropland

New lands opened by irrigation Transportation and storage

Faster refrigerated modern methods Improved storage protects against spoilage and pests

Agriculture Today

Subsistence agriculture Food for self and family

Commercial agriculture Food for sale

Polyculture Raising a variety of crops

Monoculture Specializing in one type

Pastoral nomadism Transhumance – when nomadic movement is

regular and seasonal

Subsistence and Commercial Agriculture Subsistence Traits

Relies mostly on human labor – little animal or machine power

Low technology use Smaller average

farm size Most food is

consumed by farmer

Commercial Traits Relies on capital

investment in machinery, chemicals, improved seeds

Large average farm size

Products sold to agribusiness companies

Fewer family owned farms

Chapter 9: Earth’s Resources and Environmental Protection

Victoria Alapo, Instructor

Geog 1010

Introduction to GeographyPeople, Places, and Environment, 4e

Edward F. BergmanWilliam H. Renwick

What Is a Natural Resource?

Anything from nature that people use and value; distinguished from human creations and inventions

Nonrenewable resources Limited amounts e.g. gas, oil, coal, metals

Renewable resources Replaced continually e.g. air, wind, water,

solar

Mineral Resources

Distribution of deposits are uneven Encourages Cartels. And a cartel is when a group

of countries come together to determine the price of a good e.g. OPEC, diamonds, etc

Distribution of Oil 2/3 of oil reserves in Middle East (77% of world

total). See next table. North America and Europe have highest per capita

oil consumption rates (next slides).

World Energy Consumption

The U.S., with about 5% of world population, consumes almost 25% of world energy.

Solid Waste

Sanitary Landfills NIMBY – “not in my backyard” Recycling reduces waste

Renewable Energy

Hydroelectric Flowing water; ¼ of world’s

electricity Nuclear: potential accidents, radioactive

waste, public opposition, high cost. Pg 372.

Biomass Wood, plant material and animal

waste; home heating and cooking in most of world

Brazil vehicles use a lot of ethanol fuel (highest rate in the world)

Solar Wind generation

Air Pollution

Urban air pollution Temperature inversion – when the ‘upper’

atmosphere is warmer than the ‘lower’ atmosphere. Caused by rapid cooling of surfaces at night. (See next slide)