Food Security and Farming
Recap Food Security and Farming for GCSE Biology with this free worksheet and full mark scheme — Foundation and Higher exam-style questions with worked answers for AQA, Edexcel and OCR. A separate (triple) biology topic on the biological factors that threaten food security and how the efficiency of food production can be improved.
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These worksheets and mark schemes are original, written for Virtus Academy and checked against the current AQA, Edexcel and OCR specifications. Every worksheet comes with a full mark scheme.
Topic overview
Food security means having enough food to feed a population. Several biological factors are threatening it. This is a Triple-only topic.
The factors are: the increasing birth rate in some countries; changing diets in developed nations meaning scarce food resources are transported around the world; new pests and pathogens affecting farming; environmental changes such as widespread famine caused by lack of rain; the cost of agricultural inputs; and conflicts affecting the availability of water and food.
Sustainable methods must be found to feed everyone. Efficiency can be improved by restricting energy transfer from food animals to the environment — limiting movement and controlling temperature — though many people object to these methods on welfare grounds.
Revision notes
Threats to food security
Increasing birth rate in some countries. Changing diets in developed nations meaning scarce food resources are transported worldwide.
New pests and pathogens affecting farming. Environmental change such as famine from lack of rain. High cost of agricultural inputs. Conflicts affecting water and food availability.
Efficient food production
The efficiency of food production can be improved by restricting energy transfer from food animals to their environment.
This means limiting their movement and controlling the temperature of their surroundings, so more of the biomass they consume goes into growth rather than being used in respiration.
Ethical concerns
Some animals are fed high-protein foods to increase growth.
Many people object to these intensive methods on animal welfare grounds. Evaluation questions expect both the efficiency benefit and the welfare objection.
Key points
- Food security means having enough food to feed a population.
- Increasing birth rate threatens food security.
- New pests and pathogens affect farming.
- Environmental change such as drought causes famine.
- Restricting movement improves food production efficiency.
- Intensive methods raise animal welfare concerns.
Worked examples
Example 1
Give three biological factors threatening food security. [3 marks]
Model answer
The increasing birth rate in some countries (1 mark). New pests and pathogens affecting farming (1 mark). Environmental changes such as widespread famine caused by a lack of rain (1 mark).
Example 2
Explain how limiting the movement of farm animals increases the efficiency of food production. [3 marks]
Model answer
Restricting movement means the animals use less energy in muscle contraction (1 mark), so less glucose is used in respiration (1 mark). More of the biomass they consume is therefore converted into growth rather than being lost as heat (1 mark).
Example 3
Give one objection to intensive farming methods. [1 mark]
Model answer
Many people object on animal welfare grounds, because restricting movement and confining animals causes them distress (1 mark).
Common mistakes
Giving only economic factors.
The specification asks for biological factors such as birth rate, pests and environmental change.
Not explaining the efficiency mechanism.
Say less energy used in respiration means more biomass goes into growth.
Giving only the benefit of intensive farming.
Welfare objections are required in evaluation questions.
Confusing food security with food safety.
Security is having enough food; safety is food being fit to eat.
Exam tips
- Learn several biological threats to food security.
- Explain efficiency through respiration and biomass.
- Include the welfare objection when evaluating.
- Remember this is a Triple-only topic.
Key terms
- Food security
- Having enough food to feed a population.
- Sustainable
- Able to be maintained without depleting resources.
- Intensive farming
- Farming methods maximising output from limited resources.
- Biomass
- The mass of living material.
Related topics
Written and reviewed against the current AQA, Edexcel and OCR specifications. Spotted an error? Let us know.