Explain the physical and human factors that affect food supply, including climate, soil, technology and money

What this dot point is asking

This outcome asks you to explain the factors that decide how much food a place can produce, split into physical (natural) factors and human factors. The central idea is that food supply depends on both the natural environment, such as climate and soil, and human inputs, such as technology and money, and that the two work together.

The answer

Physical (natural) factors

The natural environment sets the basic conditions for farming:

• Climate: crops need warmth and enough water. A warm climate with reliable rainfall (or irrigation) gives good harvests; extreme cold, drought or flooding reduces or destroys crops.
• Soil: deep, fertile soil rich in nutrients gives high yields, while thin, poor or eroded soil produces little. Soils near rivers and volcanoes are often very fertile.
• Water supply: a reliable source of water, from rainfall or rivers, is essential; too little or too much harms crops.
• Relief (the shape of the land): flat or gently sloping land is easier to farm and to use machines on than steep, mountainous land.

Human factors

Human inputs can greatly increase food supply, often overcoming natural limits:

• Technology: machines, improved seeds, fertilisers, pesticides and irrigation raise yields, and better storage and transport reduce waste.
• Money (capital): farmers and countries with more money can afford this technology and these inputs; poorer farmers cannot, so they produce less.
• Labour and skills: enough trained workers and good farming knowledge help raise output.
• Transport and infrastructure: good roads and storage get food to market with less spoilage.

How the factors work together

Food supply depends on both sets of factors. Good natural conditions help, but human inputs can boost production even where nature is difficult, for example by irrigating dry land or fertilising poor soil. Equally, poor farmers in a good climate may still produce little if they lack money and technology.

Examples in context

Example 1. Irrigation turning dry land productive. In some dry regions, irrigation schemes bring water to fields that would otherwise grow little, greatly increasing food supply. This shows how a human input (irrigation technology, which costs money) can overcome a physical limit (lack of rainfall) to raise production.

Example 2. Fertile volcanic soils on Java. The rich volcanic soils of Java support intensive rice farming that feeds millions, a clear example of a physical factor, fertile soil, boosting food supply. Combined with a warm, wet climate and a large farming workforce, the natural and human factors together make the land highly productive.

Try this

Q1. State two physical factors that affect food supply. [2 marks]

• Cue. Climate (warmth and rainfall) and soil fertility (also water supply and relief).

Q2. Explain how technology can increase food supply. [2 marks]

• Cue. Machines, improved seeds, fertilisers and irrigation raise yields, and better storage and transport reduce waste, so more food is produced and reaches market.

Q3. Explain why money is an important factor in food supply. [2 marks]

• Cue. Technology, irrigation and inputs cost money, so farmers and countries with more money can afford them and produce more, while poorer farmers cannot.