GCSE Geography | Global food production, distribution of supply chain

Geography Quiz - Global Food Production (Questions)

Food is not produced evenly across the world. This GCSE Geography quiz explores why some places grow plenty of food while others struggle to feed their populations.

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Fascinating Fact:

Climate, soil quality, water availability, and relief strongly influence where particular crops and animals can be farmed successfully.

In GCSE Geography, global food production explores how and where food is grown, reared, and traded worldwide. You will look at patterns of food surplus and shortage, and how physical and human factors combine to create an uneven global “food map”.

Key Terms

Global food production: The total amount of food grown, reared, and harvested around the world, including crops and livestock.
Food security: When people have reliable access to safe, nutritious, and affordable food to meet their dietary needs.
Commercial farming: Farming carried out mainly to sell produce for profit, often using modern technology and large areas of land.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What is global food production in GCSE Geography?

Global food production is the study of where and how the world’s food is grown and reared, why some areas produce more than others, and how this affects people and places.

What factors affect global food production?

Key factors include climate conditions, soil quality, water supply, relief, technology, government policies, and levels of investment in farming and transport networks.

Why is food production uneven around the world?

Food production is uneven because some regions have favourable climate and rich soils, while others face harsh environments, poverty, conflict, or weak infrastructure that limit farming.

Try These Related Quizzes

Which of the following is a true statement.

[ ]	The global demand for food is less now than it was 25 years ago
[ ]	A food supply chain sometimes involves several countries
[ ]	Globalisation has had no effect on food supplies
[ ]	LEDC economies are usually based on agriculture so they do not suffer from food shortages

There are several causes of global food shortages, which of the following is NOT one of them?

[ ]	World population is always increasing
[ ]	Extreme weather destroying crops
[ ]	Food can be shipped around the world
[ ]	Increasing wealth in NEEs

What are 'food miles'?

[ ]	The distance food is transported to reach the consumer
[ ]	The distance that one kilogram of food would power an aeroplane
[ ]	The speed at which food is transported
[ ]	The distance that the food in a supermarket would stretch if it was placed end to end in a long line

Which of the following methods of transporting food around the globe would be the most likely to have the lowest carbon footprint?

[ ]	Container ship
[ ]	Aeroplane
[ ]	Sail powered ship
[ ]	Lorry

Which one of the following is NOT an effect of the globalisation of food production?

[ ]	Produce like fruit and vegetables can be obtained 'out of season'
[ ]	Subsistence farming has flourished in LEDCs as small farmers can now export their produce
[ ]	The growing of cash crops in LEDCs has increased
[ ]	Consumers have a wider choice of foods

In MEDCs, food is readily available. What problems does this cause?

[ ]	Obesity and heart disease
[ ]	Under-nutrition and obesity
[ ]	Diabetes and under-nutrition
[ ]	Muscle wasting and osteoporosis

Which of the following is the name given by Thomas Malthus to a decline in population due to food shortages?

[ ]	Negative check
[ ]	Neutral check
[ ]	Positive check
[ ]	Reverse check

How are scientists trying to help to solve the problems of world food shortages?

[ ]	They are creating food tablets
[ ]	They have invented a liquid that can be added to food that stops under-nourished people from feeling hungry
[ ]	They are developing better tractors
[ ]	They are using genetic engineering and selective breeding

Food security is:

[ ]	keeping food in a locked cupboard
[ ]	making sure that no contamination enters food during processing and packaging
[ ]	making sure that packaging does not burst open when it is being stored or transported
[ ]	the ability of a population to access food of sufficient quality and quantity to ensure they are properly nourished

10.

Which of the following factors does NOT threaten international food security?

[ ]	The annual increase in global population
[ ]	Slash and burn agriculture
[ ]	The global economy
[ ]	Environmental events

Geography Quiz - Global Food Production (Answers)

Which of the following is a true statement.

[ ]	The global demand for food is less now than it was 25 years ago
[x]	A food supply chain sometimes involves several countries
[ ]	Globalisation has had no effect on food supplies
[ ]	LEDC economies are usually based on agriculture so they do not suffer from food shortages

Make sure that you know the reasons why the world demand for food is changing

There are several causes of global food shortages, which of the following is NOT one of them?

[ ]	World population is always increasing
[ ]	Extreme weather destroying crops
[x]	Food can be shipped around the world
[ ]	Increasing wealth in NEEs

Countries who produce more than they can eat can sell their excess to other countries

What are 'food miles'?

[x]	The distance food is transported to reach the consumer
[ ]	The distance that one kilogram of food would power an aeroplane
[ ]	The speed at which food is transported
[ ]	The distance that the food in a supermarket would stretch if it was placed end to end in a long line

Food miles are just one of the factors that are considered when assessing the environmental impact of global food production

Which of the following methods of transporting food around the globe would be the most likely to have the lowest carbon footprint?

[ ]	Container ship
[ ]	Aeroplane
[x]	Sail powered ship
[ ]	Lorry

Transporting food by air has the greatest carbon footprint as the quantities that are carried are relatively small

Which one of the following is NOT an effect of the globalisation of food production?

[ ]	Produce like fruit and vegetables can be obtained 'out of season'
[x]	Subsistence farming has flourished in LEDCs as small farmers can now export their produce
[ ]	The growing of cash crops in LEDCs has increased
[ ]	Consumers have a wider choice of foods

Subsistence farmers produce only enough food for their own needs

In MEDCs, food is readily available. What problems does this cause?

[x]	Obesity and heart disease
[ ]	Under-nutrition and obesity
[ ]	Diabetes and under-nutrition
[ ]	Muscle wasting and osteoporosis

In several MEDCs, obesity and heart disease are a big problem for the health services as populations consume more food than they actually need

Which of the following is the name given by Thomas Malthus to a decline in population due to food shortages?

[ ]	Negative check
[ ]	Neutral check
[x]	Positive check
[ ]	Reverse check

The word 'check' has several meanings, in this context, it means stopping or slowing down (the population growth)

How are scientists trying to help to solve the problems of world food shortages?

[ ]	They are creating food tablets
[ ]	They have invented a liquid that can be added to food that stops under-nourished people from feeling hungry
[ ]	They are developing better tractors
[x]	They are using genetic engineering and selective breeding

By producing crops with a greater yield, more food can be grown on existing farms. Some people don't agree with the idea of genetically modified food