OCR GCSE Geography B (J384) — Resource Reliance
Why is it that supermarkets are full of produce, yet millions of people worldwide still go hungry? The answer lies in how we manage and distribute our resources. Food Security exists when all people at all times have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to maintain a healthy life.
To achieve true food security, an initiative must be built on four core principles:
However, food security must also be sustainable. Sustainability means meeting the needs of today without preventing future generations from meeting their own needs. We evaluate this using the Three Pillars of Sustainability: Economic (long-term growth and affordability), Social (health and community wellbeing), and Environmental (protecting ecosystems, soil, and biodiversity).
Growing tomatoes in a heated UK greenhouse during winter can sometimes produce more carbon emissions than trucking them from Spain. This highlights the complex sustainability of high-tech agricultural solutions. One major technological method is Hydroponics, where plants are grown in nutrient-rich water instead of soil.
At Thanet Earth in Kent, four massive greenhouses produce over 10% of the UK's cucumbers, peppers, and tomatoes. Modern rotary systems used in hydroponics can use 99% less water than traditional farming. Another high-tech approach involves GM Crops (Genetically Modified), such as Golden Rice, which has been altered to contain beta-carotene to prevent blindness.
Sustainability Analysis of High-Tech Methods:
To compare the efficiency of different farming methods, geographers calculate the yield per hectare.
An urban hydroponic facility covers hectares of land and produces tonnes of tomatoes in a season. Calculate the yield in tonnes per hectare ().
Step 1: Identify the known values.
Step 2: Substitute the values into the yield equation.
Step 3: Calculate the final answer with units.
A Top-down Strategy involves large-scale projects managed by governments or international corporations, usually backed by heavy financial investment.
The Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania (SAGCOT) was launched in 2010. It involved over \1$ billion of investment, largely from Transnational Corporations (TNCs) and international aid. A central hub, the Kilombero Plantation, successfully doubled rice yields for over 7,300 local smallholder farmers.
Sustainability Analysis of SAGCOT:
A Bottom-up Strategy is managed by local communities. These projects rely on Appropriate Technology—equipment that is low-cost, easy to maintain, and suited to the local environment.
The Goat Aid project in Babati, Tanzania (run by Farm Africa), imported 500 Toggenburg goats at a cost of £400 each.
Sustainability Analysis of Bottom-Up Methods (Goat Aid):
Urban Farming involves growing food in towns and cities. It is estimated that 15% of the world's food is grown in urban areas. It is often 15 times more productive per hectare than commercial farming.
In Todmorden, UK, the "Incredible Edible" project uses public spaces—like the front of police stations and health centres—to grow food.
Sustainability Analysis of Urban Farming:
Geographers analyse economic sustainability by comparing the changing incomes of participants versus non-participants.
In the Babati district, a farmer participating in Goat Aid earns roughly Tanzanian Shillings (TSh) per year. A non-participant earns TSh. Calculate the financial advantage.
Step 1: Identify values.
Step 2: Subtract to find the difference.
Step 3: Calculate the final answer.
Ethical Consumerism means choosing products that minimise environmental damage and ensure fair treatment for producers.
Buying Fairtrade products guarantees a Minimum Price to protect farmers from market crashes. It also provides a Social Premium—an extra sum of money the community votes on how to spend, such as building local clinics. Environmentally, Fairtrade bans GMOs and restricts harmful pesticides.
Reducing food waste is also critical. In the UK, households waste 6.6 million tonnes of food annually, costing the average family £700–£800.
Students often assume 'local' food always has a lower carbon footprint. However, growing crops in artificially heated UK greenhouses (like Thanet Earth) can release more CO₂ than importing sun-grown crops from Spain by lorry.
For 'Analyse' questions, remember that even 'good' projects like Goat Aid have drawbacks. Explicitly mention high water requirements or soil erosion to show a balanced geographical argument.
In LIDCs, food waste usually happens at the START of the supply chain (e.g., poor storage). In ACs like the UK, most waste occurs at the END of the chain (households and supermarkets).
Don't confuse date labels: 'Use By' is about safety and must be followed. 'Best Before' is about quality; removing these labels is a key strategy for reducing household waste.
Food Security
When all people at all times have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs.
Sustainability
Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Three Pillars of Sustainability
A framework consisting of Economic, Social, and Environmental factors used to evaluate a project's long-term viability.
Hydroponics
A high-tech method of growing plants in nutrient-rich water without soil.
GM Crops
Crops whose DNA has been scientifically altered to introduce traits like drought resistance or increased vitamin content.
Carbon Footprint
The total amount of greenhouse gases (like CO₂) produced to support human activities.
Top-down Strategy
A large-scale project managed by governments or TNCs, often involving high levels of technology and investment.
Transnational Corporations (TNCs)
Large companies that operate in multiple countries, often investing in top-down agricultural schemes.
Bottom-up Strategy
A small-scale project managed by local communities to meet their specific needs.
Appropriate Technology
Low-cost, small-scale equipment that is suited to the local environment and the skills of the people using it.
Soil Erosion
The removal of topsoil by factors like overgrazing, which reduces the land's fertility.
Urban Farming
Growing, processing, and distributing food within a village, town, or city.
Ethical Consumerism
Purchasing products produced in a way that minimises negative social, economic, and environmental impacts.
Social Premium
An extra sum of money paid to Fairtrade producers to be reinvested in community projects.
Food Miles
The distance food travels from the producer to the consumer.
Permaculture
A farming system that uses natural predators (like ladybirds) and processes instead of chemical fertilisers and pesticides.
Utilisation
The ability of the body to use nutrients, linked to food safety, storage, and preparation.
Availability
Consistent and reliable supply of food being physically present in a region.
Access
Having the resources (money or transport) to obtain food.
Stability
Access to food at all times without risk from sudden economic or climatic shocks.
t ha⁻¹
The unit used to measure agricultural yield, representing tonnes produced per hectare of land.
Put your knowledge into practice — try past paper questions for Geography B
Food Security
When all people at all times have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs.
Sustainability
Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Three Pillars of Sustainability
A framework consisting of Economic, Social, and Environmental factors used to evaluate a project's long-term viability.
Hydroponics
A high-tech method of growing plants in nutrient-rich water without soil.
GM Crops
Crops whose DNA has been scientifically altered to introduce traits like drought resistance or increased vitamin content.
Carbon Footprint
The total amount of greenhouse gases (like CO₂) produced to support human activities.
Top-down Strategy
A large-scale project managed by governments or TNCs, often involving high levels of technology and investment.
Transnational Corporations (TNCs)
Large companies that operate in multiple countries, often investing in top-down agricultural schemes.
Bottom-up Strategy
A small-scale project managed by local communities to meet their specific needs.
Appropriate Technology
Low-cost, small-scale equipment that is suited to the local environment and the skills of the people using it.
Soil Erosion
The removal of topsoil by factors like overgrazing, which reduces the land's fertility.
Urban Farming
Growing, processing, and distributing food within a village, town, or city.
Ethical Consumerism
Purchasing products produced in a way that minimises negative social, economic, and environmental impacts.
Social Premium
An extra sum of money paid to Fairtrade producers to be reinvested in community projects.
Food Miles
The distance food travels from the producer to the consumer.
Permaculture
A farming system that uses natural predators (like ladybirds) and processes instead of chemical fertilisers and pesticides.
Utilisation
The ability of the body to use nutrients, linked to food safety, storage, and preparation.
Availability
Consistent and reliable supply of food being physically present in a region.
Access
Having the resources (money or transport) to obtain food.
Stability
Access to food at all times without risk from sudden economic or climatic shocks.
t ha⁻¹
The unit used to measure agricultural yield, representing tonnes produced per hectare of land.
