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