20.1.2

Food Supply & Modern Technology Drawbacks

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Drawbacks to Modern Food Production Practices

Modern food production practices have led to much-needed increases to food production. However, these improvements have not been without their associated disadvantages.

Illustrative background for Monocultures of cropsIllustrative background for Monocultures of crops ?? "content

Monocultures of crops

  • Monocultures of crops (only one type of crop being grown in a particular place) reduce biodiversity and genetic variety within an ecosystem:
    • Reduced insect populations affect food webs.
    • There can be an over-reliance on chemical fertilisers that do not replenish organic structure and nutrients to soil.
Illustrative background for Intensive livestock productionIllustrative background for Intensive livestock production ?? "content

Intensive livestock production

  • Intensive livestock production (keeping large numbers of animals indoors or with restricted movement) leads to:
    • Increased risks of disease.
    • Large amounts of waste that may negatively impact the ecosystem.

Jump to other topics

1Classification of Living Organisms

2Organisation of the Organism

3Movement Into & Out of Cells

4Biological Molecules

5Enzymes

6Plant Nutrition

7Human Nutrition

8Transport in Plants

9Transport in Animals

10Diseases & Immunity

11Gas Exchange in Humans

12Respiration

13Excretion in Humans

14Coordination & Response

15Drugs

16Reproduction

17Inheritance

18Variation & Selection

19Organisms & Their Environment

20Human Influence on Ecosystems

21Biotechnology & Genetic Modification

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