{"id":957,"date":"2026-03-08T05:09:09","date_gmt":"2026-03-08T05:09:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fourcornerseducation.net\/ESS2026\/?page_id=957"},"modified":"2026-03-08T11:18:32","modified_gmt":"2026-03-08T11:18:32","slug":"5-2-feeding-the-world","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/fourcornerseducation.net\/ESS2026\/5-2-feeding-the-world\/","title":{"rendered":"5.2 Feeding the World"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n
\n
\"\"
World food production (2006) in US$. The lighter the colour the less food is produced<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"
Calories consumed per person per day. The lighter the colour the less calories consumed.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The two maps above bring into stark contrast the availability of food across the planet. Whilst we produce enough food to feed the whole global population, food is not equitably distributed and much is wasted or lost in distribution. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The three maps below are from WorldMapper<\/a>. “Worldmapper is a collection of world maps called cartograms, where territories are resized on each map according to the subject of interest.” The first map is the base reference map used by Worldmapper. The second, is a Representation of Global Hunger as expressed by underweight children. The second map is Childhood obesity.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Worldmapper base map.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"\"
Malnourished Children<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"\"
Childhood obesity<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

Farming the differences matter. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Agricultural systems are varied, with different factors influencing the farmers\u2019 choices. These differences and factors have implications for economic, social and environmental sustainability. In the carousel of images below different systems form different countries are highlighted. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One example of this is Sheep farming in Great Britain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Large areas of Western and Northern Britain are home to upland sheep pastures. The soils in these areas are naturally low in mineral nutrients because of acidic parent material (the rock that the soils are made from) and leaching (loss of mineral salts in solution) in the high rainfall these areas receive. Many upland pastures receive little additional fertiliser and often the soils are quite acidic. The results in a specialised community of grasses developing which are palatable to sheep, but not cattle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Falling wholesale meat prices over the last decade have meant that often sheep farmers in the uplands see the cost of improving soil fertility as an added burden that is not cost effective. Therefore these agricultural systems remain relatively unproductive compared to lowland pastures in well drained soils<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Agricultural systems can be classified in a number of ways. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • Outputs from the farm system\u2014arable, pastoral\/livestock, mixed, monoculture or diverse. HL.c<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Reasons for farming\u2014commercial or subsistence, sedentary or nomadic.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Types of inputs required for the farm system\u2014intensive or extensive, irrigated or rain-fed,
    soil-based or hydroponic, organic or inorganic.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Consider how each system below might be a result of both abiotic and socioeconomic factors.<\/p>\n\n\n