Explain the strategies countries use to achieve food security, including raising production, importing, reducing waste and new technology

What this dot point is asking

This outcome asks you to explain the strategies that countries use to achieve food security: making sure their people have enough safe, nutritious food. The central idea is that there is no single solution; countries combine raising production, importing wisely, storing reserves, cutting waste and using new technology, choosing the mix that suits their situation.

The answer

Raising food production

One approach is to grow more food at home. Using technology, improved seeds, fertilisers, pesticides, irrigation and machinery, raises yields so more food is produced from the available land. The green revolution in some countries greatly increased harvests this way. Bringing more land into use or farming more intensively can also help, though care is needed not to damage the environment.

Importing and storing food

A country can also secure food by importing it. Buying from a variety of countries spreads the risk, so that if one source fails (because of a poor harvest or conflict), food can still come from elsewhere. Keeping food reserves (stores of staple foods) helps cover short-term shortages and steady prices. This is vital for countries with little farmland.

Reducing food waste

A large share of food is lost between farm and table, or wasted in homes. Reducing waste, through better storage, transport and packaging, and through people buying and throwing away less, means more of the food produced actually feeds people. It improves food security without needing to grow more.

New technology and methods

Modern methods can boost supply, especially where land is scarce:

• Vertical farming and indoor or rooftop farms grow food in small spaces, even in cities.
• Hydroponics (growing plants without soil) and controlled environments raise yields.
• Local production of high-value crops, fish (aquaculture) and eggs adds to supply.

Helping people access food

Because food security also depends on access, governments may help poorer people afford food, for example through support or by keeping prices stable, so that available food actually reaches everyone.

Examples in context

Example 1. Singapore's food security strategy. With very little farmland, Singapore secures food by importing from many different countries to spread risk, keeping reserves, and investing in local production through high-tech vertical farms, rooftop farms and fish farming, under a goal of producing more of its own food. Reducing food waste is also part of the plan. It is a clear example of a land-scarce country combining strategies.

Example 2. The green revolution raising harvests. In several countries, improved seeds, fertilisers and irrigation greatly increased crop yields, helping feed growing populations. This shows how raising production through technology can improve food security, though it also needs careful, sustainable management of soil and water.

Try this

Q1. State two strategies a country can use to improve food security. [2 marks]

• Cue. Raise production with technology (improved seeds, irrigation); import from varied sources and store reserves (also reduce waste and use new farming methods).

Q2. Explain why importing food from many different countries improves food security. [2 marks]

• Cue. It spreads the risk, so if one source fails (poor harvest or conflict), food can still come from elsewhere, keeping supply reliable.

Q3. Explain how vertical or rooftop farming helps a country with little farmland. [2 marks]

• Cue. It grows food in a small space, even in cities, adding to local food supply where there is not enough land for traditional farming.