003 - Water, land and 

food

Geographic knowledge and understanding

An overview of global patterns and trends in the availability and consumption of:

• water, including embedded water in food and manufactured goods

• land/food, including changing diets in middle-income countries

Key Concepts

The location (place)  of resources helps to create powerful nations who can exert influence over others. Technology creates possibilities for resource extraction, transfer and use. The demands of the middle classes changes the process of food production. With the unstoppable process of global development and rise of the middle classes, is there the possibility of a serious resource crisis?

Key Terminology


Define the key terms above by using your new Geography textbook 'Geography Global Change' by Simon Oakes pages 84 - 87.


Useful Links

Activity One - Where is water?

Useful Resources

The Water Rooms

Why is the global footprint an important issue to focus on?

UNESCO

Where is our water and how much do we use?

Activity Two - Describe - Water

As you are becoming used to in Geography it is important to be able to read different types of maps and graphs which show the patterns and trends of a specific knowledge point. This particular syllabus point demands that we focus on the pattern of water consumption and the trend of how this has changed over time. But it is not as simple as it first seems as we use water not just for our own domestic use.


Useful Resources

Activity Three - Describe - Food

Food is just as important resource as water for our survival. One way to compare how much people eat is to focus on calories. But how many calories should we be eating each day and does it accurately show health?


Useful Resources

Our World in Data - Food

Activity Four - Impact

While it is interesting to look at the changing availability and use of water and food across the world it is important to explain why these changes are happening. Using the four resources in the 'Useful Resources' box below explain why the demand for food and its availability has changed over time. Think about the changes to peoples diets due to globalisation as well as the developments in technology.

Useful Resources

Hungry Planet Family Food Portraits

What the World Eats

National Geographic Magazine - The Next Green Revolution

'Geography Global Change. Study and Revision Guide' by Simon Oakes page 84

Exam Style Question

Explain two ways in which the changing lifestyle of residents in middle-income countries are impacting the global trends in the consumption of water. [3+3 marks]