20.1 Food supply
- Syllabus
- 0610–2026–2027
- Topic
- 20.1
- Level
- —
Learning objectives
20.1.1Humans have increased food production• Describe how humans have increased food production, limited to: (a) agricultural machinery to use larger areas of land and improve efficiency (b) chemical fertilisers to improve yields (c) insecticides to improve quality and yield (d) herbicides to reduce competition with weeds (e) selective breeding to improve production by crop plants and livestock20.1.2Advantages and disadvantages• Describe the advantages and disadvantages of large-scale monocultures of crop plants20.1.3Advantages and disadvantages• Describe the advantages and disadvantages of intensive livestock production
Explain five ways humans increase food production
Each method increases production by expanding workable land, improving efficiency, supplying crop resources, reducing losses or selecting more productive organisms.
| Method | How it increases food production |
|---|---|
| agricultural machinery | allows larger areas of land to be cultivated and makes farm work more efficient |
| chemical fertilisers | supply mineral ions needed for plant growth, increasing crop yield |
| insecticides | kill insect pests, reducing crop damage and improving quality and yield |
| herbicides | kill weeds, reducing competition with crops for resources |
| selective breeding | produces crop plants or livestock with chosen features that improve production |
For each method, link the action to its production effect: method → biological or practical change → higher quality, yield or efficiency.
Keep this card to the five named methods. Insecticides target insect pests; herbicides target weeds; fertilisers supply mineral ions rather than killing pests.
Weigh large-scale crop monocultures
A monoculture is the large-scale growth of one crop species over an area.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| specialist machinery can be used efficiently | habitats and biodiversity are reduced |
| planting, treatment and harvesting are simpler and more uniform | pests or disease can spread rapidly through a similar crop |
| a large, consistent crop can give a high yield | soil nutrients may be depleted and soil erosion may increase |
A complete comparison links scale and uniformity to both sides: they improve efficient production, but reduce biological variety and make one threat capable of damaging much of the crop.
Monoculture means one crop species, not one individual plant. Increased yield is an advantage; increased vulnerability to pests or disease is a disadvantage.
Weigh intensive livestock production
Intensive livestock production keeps many animals under controlled conditions to maximise food output efficiently.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| high and consistent yield | disease and parasites can spread rapidly in crowded conditions |
| efficient use of land and farm resources | waste can pollute water and contribute to eutrophication |
| food can be produced more cheaply and reliably | feed and energy inputs can be costly, and antibiotic use can select resistant bacteria |
Assess intensive production by balancing output and resource efficiency against crowding, waste, disease and input costs.
Do not treat intensive production as automatically better or worse. State a specific advantage or disadvantage and explain the link to production, animals or the environment.