Food miles and sustainability

    OCR
    GCSE

    This study area demands a critical evaluation of the environmental, social, and economic implications of global food supply chains. Candidates must analyze the correlation between food provenance, transportation distances ('food miles'), and carbon footprints, while balancing these against consumer demand for seasonality and variety. Assessment focuses on the tension between local sourcing and global trade, requiring an understanding of Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) rather than a simplistic reduction to distance traveled. Mastery involves evaluating trade-offs, such as the energy cost of heated greenhouses in the UK versus air freight from warmer climates.

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    Objectives
    4
    Exam Tips
    3
    Pitfalls
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    Key Terms
    4
    Mark Points

    What You Need to Demonstrate

    Key skills and knowledge for this topic

    • Award marks for the correct classification of food processing stages: Primary (e.g., milling wheat) vs Secondary (e.g., baking bread)
    • Credit responses that explicitly link 'food miles' to fossil fuel consumption and global warming potential, rather than generic 'environmental damage'
    • Candidates must evaluate the impact of seasonal consumption on sustainability, noting the energy costs of artificial heating in non-seasonal production
    • Differentiation between 'use by' (safety) and 'best before' (quality) dates is essential when discussing food waste reduction

    Marking Points

    Key points examiners look for in your answers

    • Award marks for the correct classification of food processing stages: Primary (e.g., milling wheat) vs Secondary (e.g., baking bread)
    • Credit responses that explicitly link 'food miles' to fossil fuel consumption and global warming potential, rather than generic 'environmental damage'
    • Candidates must evaluate the impact of seasonal consumption on sustainability, noting the energy costs of artificial heating in non-seasonal production
    • Differentiation between 'use by' (safety) and 'best before' (quality) dates is essential when discussing food waste reduction

    Examiner Tips

    Expert advice for maximising your marks

    • 💡In 'Discuss' questions, use the connective 'however' to pivot from benefits to drawbacks, ensuring AO4 analysis marks
    • 💡Memorise the specific criteria for assurance schemes (Red Tractor, MSC, RSPCA Assured) to provide concrete evidence in evaluation
    • 💡When analysing food security, categorize factors into Availability, Access, and Utilisation
    • 💡Allocate approximately 1 minute per mark; extended response questions require a final judgement paragraph to access top bands

    Common Mistakes

    Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

    • Confusing 'Fairtrade' (farmer wages/conditions) with 'Organic' (farming methods/chemicals)
    • Asserting that all plastic packaging is unsustainable without acknowledging its role in extending shelf life and reducing food waste
    • Assuming 'locally sourced' automatically equals 'lower carbon footprint' without considering production efficiency or transport mode

    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
    Describe
    Explain
    Discuss
    Evaluate
    Assess

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