How can food security be increased sustainably?
Strategies to increase food security, contrasting large-scale intensive agriculture (agribusiness) with sustainable approaches such as permaculture and local food; and a national case study of an attempt to achieve food security.
A focused answer to OCR GCSE Geography B (J384) Resource Reliance on increasing food security sustainably, contrasting large-scale agribusiness with sustainable approaches such as permaculture, and a national food-security case study.
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What this dot point is asking
This is OCR GCSE Geography B (J384) Component 2, People and Society, the final enquiry of Resource Reliance: "How can food security be increased sustainably?" OCR expects you to explain strategies to increase food security, contrasting large-scale intensive agriculture (agribusiness) with sustainable approaches such as permaculture and local food, and to study a national case study of an attempt to achieve food security.
Strategies to increase food security
There is more than one way to grow more food, and OCR builds this topic on the contrast between an intensive, high-output approach and a sustainable, lower-impact one.
Sustainable approaches
Sustainable food production aims to increase or secure food supply without the environmental damage of intensive farming.
A national case study
OCR requires a national case study of an attempt to achieve food security. Choose the one you have studied (it might be a sustainable food scheme, an irrigation or appropriate-technology project, or a national food strategy) and be ready to assess it against three tests:
- Does it increase the reliable supply of food?
- Is the food affordable and accessible to the people who need it?
- Is it environmentally sustainable, protecting soil, water and biodiversity for the future?
The strongest answers weigh the gains in food security against the environmental and social costs, and judge how sustainable the strategy really is, and for whom.
Try this
Q1. State two features of permaculture. [2 marks]
- Cue. Working with natural processes and growing a diversity of crops with minimal external inputs.
Q2. Explain why local food systems can be more sustainable than the global food system. [4 marks]
- Cue. Food grown and sold locally cuts transport emissions and waste, supports local communities, and can use lower-impact methods.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of OCR exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
OCR 20194 marksExplain one advantage and one disadvantage of large-scale intensive agriculture. (Component 2)Show worked answer →
A 4-mark "Explain" question assessing AO1 and AO2. Markers reward a developed advantage and disadvantage.
Award credit for: advantage, large-scale intensive agriculture (agribusiness) uses high inputs of capital, machinery, chemicals and technology to produce very high yields of cheap food, helping to feed large populations. Disadvantage, it can cause serious environmental harm: heavy use of fertilisers and pesticides pollutes water and harms wildlife, monoculture reduces biodiversity, and intensive cultivation degrades and erodes the soil, so it can be unsustainable in the long term. Top answers develop each point into its consequence rather than just naming it.
OCR 20226 marksUsing a named example, assess how effective a strategy has been at increasing food security sustainably. (Component 2)Show worked answer →
A 6-mark "Assess" question marked by levels of response, assessing AO1, AO2 and AO3, requiring a named example and a judgement.
Strong answers describe a national strategy they have studied (such as a sustainable food scheme, an irrigation or appropriate-technology project, or a local food initiative) and assess it: does it increase the reliable supply of food, is it affordable and accessible to the people who need it, and is it environmentally sustainable (does it protect soil, water and biodiversity for the future)? They contrast large-scale agribusiness (high yields but environmental costs) with sustainable approaches such as permaculture, organic and local food (lower environmental impact but often smaller yields). A good judgement weighs the gains in food security against the environmental and social costs, concluding how sustainable the strategy really is and for whom. Markers reward the named example and a balanced judgement.
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Sources & how we know this
- OCR GCSE (9-1) Geography B (J384) specification — OCR (2016)