Food security and global food challenges.

    OCR
    GCSE

    Candidates must analyse the multifaceted nature of global food security, defined by the FAO as the state where all people have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food. The study encompasses the tension between rising global population demands and finite resources, examining the impact of climate change, conflict, and economic disparity on food supply chains. Assessment focuses on the evaluation of sustainable solutions, including technological interventions (GM crops), ethical trading frameworks (Fairtrade), and waste reduction strategies.

    5
    Objectives
    4
    Exam Tips
    3
    Pitfalls
    3
    Key Terms
    4
    Mark Points

    Learning Objectives

    What you need to know and understand

    • The four pillars of food security: Availability, Access, Utilization, Stability.
    • Global population projection: 9.7 billion by 2050 requiring ~70% increase in food production.
    • Fairtrade Foundation mechanism: Minimum price guarantee and the Fairtrade Premium.
    • Specific GM example: Golden Rice (Vitamin A enrichment) or Bt Corn (pest resistance).
    • Food waste statistic: Approximately 1/3 of all food produced globally is lost or wasted.

    Marking Points

    Key points examiners look for in your answers

    • Credit specific definitions of 'Food Security' referencing access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food.
    • Award marks for explicitly linking 'Food Miles' to 'Carbon Footprint' and the mechanism of greenhouse gas emissions.
    • Candidates must evaluate the trade-offs of GM crops (e.g., increased yield/pest resistance vs. biodiversity loss/superweeds).
    • Responses must distinguish between 'use by' (safety) and 'best before' (quality) when discussing food waste reduction strategies.

    Examiner Tips

    Expert advice for maximising your marks

    • 💡When discussing sustainability, explicitly apply the 6 Rs (Rethink, Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Repair) to the scenario.
    • 💡For 'Discuss' questions, ensure both positive and negative impacts of a technology (e.g., fortification or intensive farming) are analyzed.
    • 💡Allocate approximately 1 minute per mark; reserve at least 15 minutes for the final extended writing question (Section B).
    • 💡Use the term 'provenance' correctly when referring to the origin, transport, and assurance schemes of ingredients.

    Common Mistakes

    Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

    • Conflating 'organic' farming solely with nutritional superiority rather than defining it by the absence of synthetic pesticides/fertilizers.
    • Using vague assertions like 'it is bad for the planet' without specifying mechanisms like eutrophication, soil erosion, or resource depletion.
    • Failing to address the 'economic' aspect of sustainability (cost to farmer/consumer) in evaluation questions, focusing only on environmental factors.

    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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