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Organic Farming and Diversification

Organic farming and diversification show how farmers can protect the environment while keeping rural economies alive. This quiz explores sustainable methods and new income sources in the countryside.

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Fascinating Fact:

Organic farming avoids synthetic chemical fertilisers and pesticides, instead using natural methods such as crop rotation, manure, and biological pest control.

In GCSE Geography, organic farming and diversification are key parts of rural change. Pupils study how farmers reduce chemical use, protect soils and biodiversity, and gain extra income through activities such as farm shops, tourism, and renewable energy projects.

Key Terms

Organic farming: A way of growing crops and raising animals that avoids synthetic chemical fertilisers and pesticides, using natural inputs and methods instead.
Diversification: When a farm develops new activities, such as holiday cottages, farm shops, or outdoor leisure, to earn extra income alongside traditional farming.
Biological pest control: Controlling pests by using natural predators, parasites, or diseases, rather than relying on synthetic chemical pesticides.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What is organic farming in GCSE Geography?

In GCSE Geography, organic farming is defined as farming that avoids synthetic chemical fertilisers and pesticides, relying on natural inputs, mixed cropping, and careful soil management to produce food sustainably.

How does farm diversification help rural areas?

Farm diversification helps rural areas by creating new jobs, attracting visitors, and bringing extra income to farms. This can reduce dependence on one crop or product and support the wider local economy.

What are the advantages of organic farming for the environment?

Organic farming can improve soil structure, increase biodiversity, and reduce water and air pollution. It limits chemical use, which helps protect wildlife, pollinators, and nearby rivers and groundwater.

Try These Related Quizzes

1 .

Which of the following is a reason why organic produce is more expensive than non-organic produce?

Organic farmers are greedy

More crops are lost to pests

The machinery and chemicals needed for organic farming are a lot more expensive

Transporting organic farm produce costs more than transporting non-organic products

Since no pesticides are used, more crops are damaged or destroyed by pests. The yield of crop is lower making it more expensive to produce

2 .

Crop rotation is a technique used by organic farmers. Which of the following advantage / disadvantage pairs applies to crop rotation?

It improves soil structure but is difficult to carry out

It reduces disease and damage to the composition of the soil but gives less productivity

It creates less environmental damage but requires more people to carry it out

It is cheaper and longer lasting but reduces the area available for growing crops and animals

Growing the same crop in the same place year after year can introduce diseases and pests to the soil so yields become lower and lower. Changing the crop that is grown means that the pests and diseases cannot become established permanently in the soil as they are usually specific to a particular crop

3 .

Which of the following best describes diversification?

Growing fewer crops on the farm

Growing more crops on the farm

Changing the way the farm is used

Joining up with neighbouring farms

There are many ways that a farm can diversify, but what they all have in common is that the farmer changes the way the farm is used

4 .

Which of the following would be an example of diversification?

Selling the old farm machinery and replacing it with new equipment

Converting a field to a campsite

Hiring foreign workers

Building a new barn

This works best in tourist areas like the south west of England and the Lake District

5 .

Farm diversification does not include...

increasing the number of cows or sheep on the farm

setting up a farm shop

renovating a cottage owned by the farm and renting it out to tourists

creating a motocross course on the farm

Diversification involves doing something different with the farm, not more of the same

6 .

Which of the following is not a reason for farming diversification?

Supermarkets buy farm produce in bulk

Mechanisation of larger farms

Updating of old machinery

Food imports

The other three reasons cause a drop in food prices so smaller farms need to diversify to increase their income

7 .

Identify the positive aspect of organic farming from the following.

Lower yields mean crops are better quality

Weeds are removed by hand which causes less damage to the soil

Insects and soil pests take only the weakest crops

No chemicals which harm bees and other insects are used

Bees are really important as they pollinate most of the crops we eat

8 .

In which sector is farming?

Primary

Secondary

Tertiary

None of the above

The primary sector of the economy is the sector that makes direct use of natural resources

9 .

Which of the following best describes specialisation?

Concentrating on a particular crop or style of farming

Growing fewer crops or animals on the farm

Increasing advertising so that more people think that the products from the farm are very special

Changing from arable to pastoral farming

There are many ways that a farm can specialise, but what they all have in common is that they concentrate on products for niche markets rather than the mass markets, where competition is greater

10 .

Which of the following statements about organic farming is not true?

Organic produce is more expensive than the equivalent non-organic produce

An organic farm uses artificial fertilisers but not pesticides

Crop yields on an organic farm are lower than on a non-organic farm

Organic farms can be arable, pastoral or mixed

Organic farms use only natural fertilisers

Author: Kev Woodward (PGCE, Science & Chemistry Teacher, Quiz Writer)