POLS 2401 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Food Waste, Arable Land
6 Dec 2016
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Document Summary
Duri(cid:374)g the last 35 years, the world"s output of (cid:373)ajor food crops i(cid:374)creased dra(cid:373)atically. 2007-2008 global recession caused a massive food crisis: food prices spiked, lots of lay-offs. 1 billion people were hungry in 2009. 1980: 15 million people died of hunger-related causes; in 2000, 11 million died. Roughly 80% of the hungry are women and children in developing countries. Larger number of people die from malnutrition than from starvation. Poverty is the main cause of malnutrition. Most lasting and destructive effect: absence, or poor quality food for children in less developed countries. 60% of the 10 million annual deaths of children under 5 are directly or indirectly related to hunger. Malnutrition on pregnant women: affects brain development. Productions of food: agriculture is becoming mechanized, consumption of energy increases, 70% of fresh water is used. Loss of food: food waste has increased in developed countries. High agricultural technology due to the use of new seeds, fertilizer, irrigation, and pesticide.
