Contemporary Approaches to Food Production | SL IB Geography Revision Notes 2019

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO)

Genetically Modified Organisms are modifications of genetic material
- Genetic modification involves adjusting DNA to create new variations of plants and animals
- New DNA is inserted into other organisms or shared between organisms to improve productivity, flavour or nutritional value
- Through biotechnology, we can now alter the structure of organisms

Normal methods for food production may be unsuccessful or cause certain issues
- For example, pests and diseases may impact successful crop growth
- Genetic modification can increase pest and disease resistance
GM methods include:
- Increasing the nutrition density of a crop
- Disease resistance
- Pest resistance
- Growth hormones
- Increasing shelf life and reducing spoilage time
- Taste improvement
Examples of GM foods include:
- Pink Pineapple
- Tomatoes
- Salmon
- Cotton
- Summer squash

It is a heavily debated food production method
Many countries across the world ban or have restrictions on GMO products

global-restrictions-on-gm-crops

Countries with GMO restrictions in 2016

Vertical Farming

Vertical farming is the growth of crops vertically (upwards), in layers
Usually occurs in large buildings, greenhouses or shipping containers to reduce land use
Produces more food for the land available
Examples include:
- Hydroponics - growing plants without soil, using mineral nutrient-rich water instead
- Aquaponics - using aquaculture with hydroponics. Waste from marine animals nourishes the water used for crop growth
- Aeroponics - crops hang in the air, with their roots exposed. A nutrient-rich condensed mist waters the plants
Vertical farming is seen in countries across the world, from Germany and the Netherlands to Japan and Singapore
Examples of vertically farmed foods include:
- Lettuce, kale, broccoli, garlic
- Strawberries
- Tree seedlings
- Plants used for medicine
- Fish

aeroponic-system

An Aeroponic system

In Vitro Meat

In Vitro Meat is synthetic meat
It is produced by removing cells from live animals and placing them into a culture liquid full of nutrients, where they will grow to produce tissue
Natural (or synthetic) materials, e.g. gelatine, are then used to help shape the tissue into the recognisable ‘meat’
It is highly restricted or banned in some countries
Only the United States and Singapore currently sell In Vitro Meat

Advantages of contemporary approaches

Contemporary approach	Advantages
Genetically Modified Organisms	Helps to increase the nutrition provided by crops through nutrient fortification Rice with high vitamin A density This is useful for LICs with higher levels of undernutrition and nutrition-related diseases Crops may be drought-resistant This supports food growth in countries with arid climates and low water provision May produce more productive crops and higher yields This will lower food prices and support food security Food lasts longer and won't spoil quickly Pest resistance limits the use of harmful pesticides Can improve flavour and the look of food, e.g. apples which don’t brown
Vertical farming	Doesn’t require soil, which is ideal for places with poor soils Can be grown in all sorts of places, from highly urbanised cities to the underground Much more sustainable, using Less land Fewer pesticides and fertilisers (and therefore less pollution) Less water Recycled water Less polluting machinery Less transport (reducing food miles) Saves land for other resources Supporting food security and climate change, as there is less risk of crop damage from flooding or droughts. It is more reliable Aeroponics reduces the amount of labour needed to grow produce
In Vitro Meat	More sustainable - conventional meat production has negative effects on the environment e.g. high water use, land use, greenhouse gas emissions Better for animal welfare than conventional farming (animals don’t die) Is productive, with large outputs Better for our health with fortification of nutrients e.g. Omega-3 fatty acids Reduces the need for things like growth hormones Reduces the risk of animals contracting diseases and limits the risk of food poisoning pathogens

Disadvantages of contemporary approaches

Contemporary approach	Disadvantages
Genetically Modified Organisms	People are still worried about the safety of GMO foods for consumption e.g. allergic reactions or cancer May cause superweeds, which are resistant to certain herbicides This increases the use of harmful herbicides Different restrictions across the world add to people’s suspicion Biotechnology giants control production. Patents limit what farmers have access to and could ultimately affect food security May cause biodiversity loss and cross-contamination of GMO genes into other natural organisms
Vertical farming	Needs regular monitoring and knowledge to operate successfully Low labour inputs may result in fewer jobs and the loss of traditional farming jobs Heavily technology dependent If there is a fault in the system, crop loss will be catastrophic Land in urban areas is expensive, resulting in higher costs The systems use a lot of energy
In Vitro Meat	Many question the ethics of production Can be costly, with technologies and trained staff This results in higher prices for the consumer Low-income countries may not be able to adopt this method Has a different taste from normal meat Uncertainty around the safety of In Vitro Meat e.g. cancer possibilities The culture liquid is sometimes made from animal blood, therefore it isn’t necessarily cruelty-free Not really a useful alternative for vegetarians and vegans Could put conventional farmers out of business Increasing people’s access to meat may result in people eating more, bringing disease with it

Examiner Tip

Make sure you know the advantages and disadvantages of each contemporary approach to food production. You may be asked to compare the three or with traditional farming techniques!

Contemporary Approaches to Food Production (SL IB Geography)

Revision Note

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO)

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO)

Vertical Farming

Vertical Farming

In Vitro Meat

In Vitro Meat

Advantages of contemporary approaches

Disadvantages of contemporary approaches

Examiner Tip

Author: Grace Bower