Factors Affecting Food Production

Introduction

• The production of food from plants and animals depends on various factors that influence plant growth and crop yield.

Key Factors

• Several factors impact food production:
  • Light availability
  • Available nutrients
  • Water in the soil
  • Competition with other plants

Efficiency Improvement

• Increasing food production requires improving efficiency.
• Practices to enhance efficiency include:
  • Controlling limiting factors (e.g., using fertilisers to address mineral deficiencies)
  • Planting high-yield crop strains
  • Managing weed, disease, and pest competition through pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides
  • Developing pest-resistant crops

Livestock Production

• Livestock production is less efficient than crop cultivation.
• It requires more energy per unit area, with approximately 90% energy loss between trophic levels.
• Livestock farming is also water-intensive.

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Factors Affecting Food Production

Sustainability Considerations

• Promoting a shift towards a more plant-based diet can enhance food security and sustainability.
• Encouraging greater vegetable consumption and reduced meat consumption can help protect food resources.