CAIE IGCSE Biology 20.1.1 Methods of Increasing Food Production

Practise explaining how machinery, fertilisers, pesticides and selective breeding increase agricultural output.

Exam points

link machinery and controlled environments to larger scale, efficiency and reliable yield
distinguish fertilisers, herbicides and insecticides by the factor each controls
evaluate higher production against pollution, biodiversity loss and chemical resistance

[Maximum number: 3]

Phloem is used to transport sucrose and amino acids in plants. Sucrose is a carbohydrate.

Aphids are used by investigators to discover how plants transport sucrose.

Fig. 2.2 shows an aphid with its mouthparts inserted into a plant stem to feed on the liquid in the phloem.

Fig. 2.2

A plant was put in a dark cupboard for several days.
Four aphids, A, B, C and D, were then placed on the plant in the dark cupboard as shown in Fig. 2.3.

Fig. 2.3

Many crop farmers try to prevent insects such as aphids from damaging their plants.

Describe how modern technology is used to reduce damage to crop plants by insects.

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20.1.1—Humans have increased food production question 1