Terrestrial food production systems
Big idea: Agriculture is a human-managed ecosystem designed to maximize food production. We manipulate energy flows and nutrient cycles to channel more productivity into food for humans — but this has environmental costs.
Agriculture as a system
Agricultural systems have inputs, outputs, stores, and flows — just like natural ecosystems, but heavily modified by humans.
Inputs
- Solar energy
- Seeds / livestock
- Fertilizers (N, P, K)
- Pesticides / herbicides
- Water (irrigation)
- Fossil fuels (machinery)
- Labour
Outputs
- Food (crops, meat, dairy)
- Animal feed
- Biofuels
- Waste (manure, crop residues)
- Pollution (runoff, emissions)
- Soil erosion
Types of terrestrial food production
- Crop farming — cereals (wheat, rice, maize), vegetables, fruits
- Livestock farming — cattle, pigs, sheep, poultry
- Mixed farming — crops and livestock together
- Agroforestry — trees integrated with crops/livestock
- Plantation agriculture — large-scale monocultures (palm oil, rubber)
Agriculture accounts for ~70% of global freshwater use, ~30% of global land area, and ~25% of greenhouse gas emissions. It is the largest human impact on the planet!
IB-style question — a food production system's inputs & outputs
Outline the main inputs and outputs of a commercial cereal (e.g. wheat) farming system. [4]
How the marks are earned
- Inputs
• seeds, fertilisers, pesticides, irrigation water
• machinery, fuel, labour - Outputs
• grain (food) + straw (by-product)
• unwanted: nutrient runoff, greenhouse gas emissions
Final answer
Include at least one unwanted output — examiners expect you to show the system has negative outputs too.
Free preview
This is the free notes preview
You're reading the free notes. Aimnova Pro unlocks the full study experience — and you can try it free for 7 days:
- FlashcardsLock in vocabulary and key terms with spaced repetition.
- Practice questionsAnswer exam-style questions and get instant AI marking.
- Mock exams & past-paper vaultSit full mocks and see exactly how examiners award marks.
- Personalised study planA daily plan built around your exam date and weak areas.
Start your 7-day free trial Full access to Aimnova Pro · cancel anytime