Environmental impact

    OCR
    GCSE

    A critical examination of the environmental footprint of the modern food industry, focusing on the 'Farm to Fork' trajectory. This study area evaluates the tension between global food security and ecological sustainability, encompassing food provenance, seasonality, food miles, and the impact of processing and packaging. Candidates must analyse the consequences of intensive farming versus organic methods, the implications of food waste, and the role of consumer choice in driving sustainable practices. Assessment focuses on the ability to evaluate trade-offs between convenience, cost, and environmental stewardship (AO4).

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    Objectives
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    Exam Tips
    4
    Pitfalls
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    Key Terms
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    Mark Points

    What You Need to Demonstrate

    Key skills and knowledge for this topic

    • Credit precise terminology: 'carbon footprint', 'food miles', 'biodiversity', 'greenhouse gases' rather than generic 'pollution'.
    • Award marks for explaining the mechanism: e.g., 'transporting food by air releases CO2, contributing to the greenhouse effect'.
    • Candidates must evaluate trade-offs: e.g., 'plastic packaging extends shelf life (reducing food waste) but contributes to landfill'.
    • Responses must distinguish between 'organic' (farming method) and 'local' (transport distance) when assessing sustainability.

    Marking Points

    Key points examiners look for in your answers

    • Credit precise terminology: 'carbon footprint', 'food miles', 'biodiversity', 'greenhouse gases' rather than generic 'pollution'.
    • Award marks for explaining the mechanism: e.g., 'transporting food by air releases CO2, contributing to the greenhouse effect'.
    • Candidates must evaluate trade-offs: e.g., 'plastic packaging extends shelf life (reducing food waste) but contributes to landfill'.
    • Responses must distinguish between 'organic' (farming method) and 'local' (transport distance) when assessing sustainability.

    Examiner Tips

    Expert advice for maximising your marks

    • 💡When discussing sustainability, always consider the entire lifecycle (production, transport, packaging, disposal).
    • 💡In 'Discuss' questions, provide arguments for both sides (e.g., benefits vs. drawbacks of intensive farming).
    • 💡Use the 'PEE' structure (Point, Evidence/Example, Explanation) for high-tariff extended response questions.
    • 💡Memorise specific seasonal foods in the UK (e.g., strawberries in June) to support arguments about seasonality.

    Common Mistakes

    Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

    • Conflating 'food miles' with 'carbon footprint' (ignoring energy used in production/greenhouses).
    • Using vague phrases like 'bad for the planet' without specifying impacts like 'eutrophication' or 'methane emissions'.
    • Assuming all plastic packaging is negative without acknowledging its role in food preservation and safety.
    • Confusing 'Use by' (safety) with 'Best before' (quality) when discussing food waste causes.

    Study Guide Available

    Comprehensive revision notes & examples

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    Key Terminology

    Essential terms to know

    Likely Command Words

    How questions on this topic are typically asked

    State
    Explain
    Discuss
    Evaluate
    Justify
    Assess

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