14.2 Producing food

• Biologie
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 3

14.2 Producing food

14 Sustainable lifestyle

14.2 Producing food

• Welcome!
  
• Learning objectives
• Instruction

• Assignments
• End of class

Learning objectives

You will learn how farmers produce food and why they have to adhere to certain rules.

Who produces our food?

Crop farmers

Horticulturists(growers)

Stock farmers

More than half of the Netherlands' surface area is used for food production

Historically

Mixed farm = growing of crops as well as raising livestock

- closed cycle

It has changed because of an increase in:

• inhabitants
• export

Modern agricultural companies

1. Producing one single product in large volumes

   - monoculture

   - intensive farming 

2. Increasing profits

   - manure =mest (extra minerals)

   - concentrate feeds (extra minerals and proteins)

lack of minerals = lower yield

Modern agricultural companies

3. Preventing illnesses and damages

   - infestations= harmful organisms on crops

   - pesticides

   - good hygiëne

4. Growing mega crops and mega cattle

   - cross breed = improving plants (via pollination) and animals (via selective breeding)

  

Strict laws and regulations for farmers:

1. Rules for producing and using manure
2. Rules for pesticides
3. Rules for animal welfare

1. Rules for producing and using manure

Manure surplus = more manure produced than needed

Over-fertilisation = more fertiliser than plants need

Eutrophication = excess minerals in soil and water

Algal bloom = rapid algae/duckweed growth from too many minerals

1. Rules for producing and using manure

Acidification

Ammonia = foul-smelling gas from manure; converts to nitric acid, causing soil acidification

Mineral bookkeeping

Manure injection

2. Rules for pesticides

• Selective: only kills pests or infesting weeds
• Biodegradable: can be broken down by fungi and bacteria

Toxic accumulation = buildup of toxic substances in organisms as they are passed along the food chain.

3. Rules for animal welfare

Animals must have light and space

Natural behaviour should be possible

What?	Make: 14.2 assignments 4, 5, 7-11, 13-16, 18, 19
How?	Work in your book. You may consult in a whisper.
Help?	Ask your neighbour first. Then raise your hand to ask me.
Time?	10 minutes
Finished?	Check your answers. Study for the big test.