Food Sources - Intensive & Organic Farming
Food Preparation & Nutrition: AQA GCSE, topic 6.1.1
Intensive Farming
Apples (fruit), potatoes, carrots (vegetables) and wheat (cereals) are examples of grown foods. Intensive farming (which is sometimes called conventional farming) uses different methods to achieve the highest possible yield.
Highest possible yield
- Producing the highest possible yield means getting the most amount of food from the same plot of land.
- Intensive farming is usually done on a large-scale. Huge spaces are dedicated to producing the same crop.
Artificial fertilisers
- Farmers use artificial fertilisers to add nutrients to the soil to boost crop growth.
Pesticides
- Farmers use pesticides (chemicals) to control pests.
- Some of the different forms include:
- Insecticides.
- Bactericides (for bacteria).
- Herbicides (for weeds)
- Fungicides.
- Rodenticides (for rodents).
- Larvicides (for larvae).
Concerns about fertilisers and pesticides
- Not everyone agrees with the use of pesticides and artificial pesticides.
- These substances can:
- Harm the environment (e.g. soil and water contamination).
- Hurt wildlife.
- Possibly harm human health (e.g. rashes, stinging eyes, blisters, blindness etc.)
Organic Farming
Organic farming doesn't use artificial fertilisers or pesticides - all food is grown through natural methods. Food production by organic farming is more costly than intensive farming.
Organic matter
- In place of artificial fertilisers, farmers use organic matter (e.g. slurry, worm castings, peat, compost and manure) to add nutrients to the soil.
Techniques for ensuring soil fertility
- To ensure soil fertility, farmers may use the following techniques:
- Crop rotation - growing different types of crops.
- Leaving fallow - not growing anything.
Natural pest control
- Using row covers, which are translucent insect barriers.
- Using hot water to spray crops.
- Using biological pesticides.
- Using sticky traps (coloured material coated in a sticky substance to catch insects).
- Bringing in natural predators.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Organic Farming
While organic farming is less harmful to the environment than intensive farming, production costs are higher and crop yield is often lower.
Advantages
- Better for the environment than intensive farming, as chemical pesticides are not used and it uses few non-renewable resources.
- Healthier for farmworkers as chemical pesticides are not used.
- Food contains fewer residues.
Disadvantages
- Crops tend to be of a lower yield.
- Production costs are higher than for intensive farming, so organic food is more expensive.
Test yourself on Food Sources - Intensive & Organic Farming
Which farming strategy has the primary aim of achieving the highest possible yield?
Which of the following is a form of pesticide?
What do farmers use to add nutrients to the soil to boost crop growth?
What are the advantages of organic farming?
What are the disadvantages of organic farming?