AQA · GCSE · Biology
Course version: 8461 · Version from Sept 2018
Environmental changes that affect food production, such as widespread…
Full specification wording
Factors affecting food security: Environmental changes that affect food production, such as widespread famine occurring in some countries if rains fail.
Food production depends on environmental conditions such as rainfall, temperature and soil quality.
Checked against the AQA 8461 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 6 of 9
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Food production depends on environmental conditions such as rainfall, temperature and soil quality. If rains fail, crops may wilt and die, and grazing land may become too dry for livestock. The result can be a poor harvest, less food available and higher prices. In severe or repeated cases, widespread famine can occur in some countries, especially where people rely on rain-fed agriculture and have limited stored food or money to buy imports. Other environmental changes, such as floods, drought, storms or rising temperatures, can also reduce yields. This factor shows that food security is not only a human or economic issue but is closely tied to weather and climate, and that countries with fewer resources may be affected most severely.
What earns the marks
- State that environmental changes include drought, failed rains, floods, storms and temperature changes.
- Explain that failed rains can cause crops to wilt and die and can reduce grazing for livestock, lowering food production.
- Describe the sequence from poor harvest to less food available, higher prices and difficulty obtaining enough food.
- Explain that widespread famine can occur when food production falls severely and people cannot grow or buy enough food.
- Recognise that some countries are more vulnerable because they depend on rain-fed agriculture or lack money to import food.
- Link the environmental change to food security by stating that reliable access to sufficient food is reduced.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Writing that famine is caused only by overpopulation.
Put it right by explaining how drought reduces crop growth and food supply.
Confusing weather with climate.
Put it right by using the term environmental change broadly and giving a specific example.
Stopping at crops dying without explaining the human consequence.
Put it right by adding the consequence for people.
Exam tips
- Use a cause-and-effect chain: failed rains → crops wilt → lower yield → less food → higher prices or famine.
- Refer to a specific region or type of farming, such as rain-fed subsistence farming, to make the answer concrete.
- Avoid claiming that famine happens everywhere when rains fail; use wording such as in some countries or where people are most vulnerable.
Try the lesson
The start of the Factors affecting food security: Environmental changes that affect food production, such as widespread famine occurring in some countries if rains fail. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
In a country where crops depend on seasonal rain, the rains fail for a whole year. What is the primary reason this environmental change reduces food production?
Listen
Food production depends on environmental conditions such as rainfall, temperature and soil quality. If rains fail, crops may wilt and die, and grazing land may become too dry for livestock. The result can be a poor harvest, less food available and higher prices. In severe or repeated cases, widespread famine can occur in some countries, especially where people rely on rain-fed agriculture and have limited stored food or money to buy imports. Other environmental changes, such as floods, drought, storms or rising temperatures, can also reduce yields. This factor shows that food security is not only a human or economic issue but is closely tied to weather and climate, and that countries with fewer resources may be affected most severely. A strong answer earns marks for these points. State that environmental changes include drought, failed rains, floods, storms and temperature changes. Explain that failed rains can cause crops to wilt and die and can reduce grazing for livestock, lowering food production. Describe the sequence from poor harvest to less food available, higher prices and difficulty obtaining enough food. Explain that widespread famine can occur when food production falls severely and people cannot grow or buy enough food. A common slip: Writing that famine is caused only by overpopulation: environmental factors such as failed rains are also major causes. Instead, explaining how drought reduces crop growth and food supply. Exam tip: Use a cause-and-effect chain: failed rains → crops wilt → lower yield → less food → higher prices or famine.
See it
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Environmental change
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Food security
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Widespread famine
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Vulnerability
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- Environmental change
- Changes such as drought, failed rains, floods, storms or rising temperatures that can reduce yields and affect food production.
- Food security
- Reliable access to sufficient food, which is reduced when environmental change lowers food production.
- Widespread famine
- A severe shortage of food that can occur in some countries if rains fail, especially where people cannot grow or buy enough food.
- Vulnerability
- Being more likely to be affected severely, as in countries that depend on rain-fed agriculture or lack money to import food.
Label the diagram
Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.
1Box 1
2Box 2
3Box 3
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