Write an essay in which you explain what is meant by the concept of food security. Describe
also the ways in which poor crop farming practices pose a threat to food security in South
Africa. Finally mention how genetically modified food may help to address the problem of food
shortage
Food security.
• The state of having reliable access
• to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food.
Poor crop farming practices
• monoculture planting the same crop over and over
• because it is cost effective, but
• it attracts more pests and it
• reduces quantity of crop produced
• this makes food more expensive to buy / less affordable
• pest reduce the quality of crop making
• it necessary to use more pesticides, more money spent
• pesticides / insecticides kill useful crops also
• pesticides are bad for human health
• affects nerves - they also cause pollution and it
• also reduces biodiversity
• monoculture causes top soil erosion, leading to
• more fertilisers to be used
• over fertilisation causes oxygen deprived soil
• leads to less production of crops in future
• and also produces greenhouse gases
• poor irrigation/ poor infrastructure used due to
• lack of awareness / education / experience / motivation
Genetically modified food
• genes for desired traits are removed
• from one plant and introduced into another plant
• to make better crop
• examples of desired traits
• resistance to diseases
• short maturity
• higher yield
• cheaper food
• increases nutritional value
• longer shelf life
• bigger and more attractive food, etc.
• helps poor / starving / famine people
• to make food accessible and available
Content 17
Synthesis - relevance 1
- Logical sequence 1
- Comprehensiveness 1
Total = 20
also the ways in which poor crop farming practices pose a threat to food security in South
Africa. Finally mention how genetically modified food may help to address the problem of food
shortage
Food security.
• The state of having reliable access
• to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food.
Poor crop farming practices
• monoculture planting the same crop over and over
• because it is cost effective, but
• it attracts more pests and it
• reduces quantity of crop produced
• this makes food more expensive to buy / less affordable
• pest reduce the quality of crop making
• it necessary to use more pesticides, more money spent
• pesticides / insecticides kill useful crops also
• pesticides are bad for human health
• affects nerves - they also cause pollution and it
• also reduces biodiversity
• monoculture causes top soil erosion, leading to
• more fertilisers to be used
• over fertilisation causes oxygen deprived soil
• leads to less production of crops in future
• and also produces greenhouse gases
• poor irrigation/ poor infrastructure used due to
• lack of awareness / education / experience / motivation
Genetically modified food
• genes for desired traits are removed
• from one plant and introduced into another plant
• to make better crop
• examples of desired traits
• resistance to diseases
• short maturity
• higher yield
• cheaper food
• increases nutritional value
• longer shelf life
• bigger and more attractive food, etc.
• helps poor / starving / famine people
• to make food accessible and available
Content 17
Synthesis - relevance 1
- Logical sequence 1
- Comprehensiveness 1
Total = 20
