AQA · GCSE · Biology
Course version: 8461 · Version from Sept 2018
Students should be able to describe some of the biological factors…
Full specification wording
Factors affecting food security: Students should be able to describe some of the biological factors affecting levels of food security.
Food security means having enough food to feed a population.
Checked against the AQA 8461 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 1 of 9
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Food security means having enough food to feed a population. An increasing birth rate threatens food security as more people require feeding. Changing diets in developed countries mean scarce food resources are transported globally, depriving local populations. New pests and pathogens can destroy crops or livestock, drastically reducing yields. Environmental changes, such as failing rains causing widespread famine, limit food production. The high cost of agricultural inputs, like fertilisers or genetically modified seeds, restricts farming in developing nations. Finally, conflicts disrupt farming and water supplies, preventing food production and distribution.
What earns the marks
- An increasing birth rate increases the demand for food, threatening food security.
- Changing diets in developed countries can lead to food being exported from areas where it is needed locally.
- New pests and pathogens can cause disease in crops or livestock, reducing yields.
- Environmental changes, such as droughts or floods, can cause crops to fail and lead to famine.
- The high cost of agricultural inputs (e.g., fertilisers, pesticides) can prevent farmers from maximising yields.
- Conflicts can disrupt agriculture, destroy crops, and prevent the distribution of food and water.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Thinking food security only relates to biological factors.
Put it right by including human factors like conflicts and the cost of agricultural inputs.
Stating 'climate change' without a specific mechanism.
Put it right by giving an example, such as failing rains causing drought and crop failure.
Confusing food security with food safety.
Put it right by stating food security means having enough food available, not whether the food is safe to eat.
Exam tips
- Memorise the specific list of factors affecting food security from the specification, including both biological and human elements.
- When describing a factor, always link it to how it reduces the amount of food available or disrupts its distribution.
Try the lesson
The start of the Factors affecting food security: Students should be able to describe some of the biological factors affecting levels of food security. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which biological factor can reduce the amount of food available to a population?
Listen
Food security means having enough food to feed a population. An increasing birth rate threatens food security as more people require feeding. Changing diets in developed countries mean scarce food resources are transported globally, depriving local populations. New pests and pathogens can destroy crops or livestock, drastically reducing yields. Environmental changes, such as failing rains causing widespread famine, limit food production. The high cost of agricultural inputs, like fertilisers or genetically modified seeds, restricts farming in developing nations. Finally, conflicts disrupt farming and water supplies, preventing food production and distribution. A strong answer earns marks for these points. An increasing birth rate increases the demand for food, threatening food security. Changing diets in developed countries can lead to food being exported from areas where it is needed locally. New pests and pathogens can cause disease in crops or livestock, reducing yields. Environmental changes, such as droughts or floods, can cause crops to fail and lead to famine. A common slip: Thinking food security only relates to biological factors. Instead, including human factors like conflicts and the cost of agricultural inputs. Exam tip: Memorise the specific list of factors affecting food security from the specification, including both biological and human elements.
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