Introduction
Food production is a critical theme in IB Environmental Systems and Societies (ESS). For the 2026 first assessment, the syllabus emphasizes how different food production systems reflect cultural, economic, and environmental choices. This topic challenges students to think about sustainability, comparing systems across the globe and evaluating their impacts on people and ecosystems.
Food production systems in ESS are not just about agriculture. They also include fisheries, aquaculture, and pastoral systems. Mastering this area means being able to compare approaches, use case studies, and critically evaluate sustainability.
Quick Start Checklist for ESS Students
When revising food production systems, make sure you can:
- Identify types of food production systems (subsistence, commercial, intensive, extensive, pastoral, aquaculture).
- Compare systems using inputs, outputs, and impacts.
- Use case studies from different parts of the world.
- Explain how food production links to soil, water, and energy use.
- Evaluate sustainability in terms of ecological footprints.
Types of Food Production Systems in ESS
1. Subsistence Farming
- Definition: small-scale, producing food mainly for family or local consumption.
- Characteristics: low technology, high labor, low inputs of fertilizer or pesticides.
- Example: shifting cultivation in tropical rainforests.
- Advantages: culturally adapted, low ecological footprint.
- Disadvantages: vulnerable to climate variation, low yields.
2. Commercial Farming
- Definition: large-scale, profit-oriented agriculture.
- Characteristics: mechanized, high inputs (fertilizers, pesticides, irrigation).
- Example: wheat farming in the U.S. Midwest.
- Advantages: high productivity, economies of scale.
- Disadvantages: soil degradation, loss of biodiversity, high ecological footprint.
3. Intensive vs. Extensive Farming
- Intensive: high input per unit area (e.g., rice paddies in Southeast Asia).
- Extensive: low input per unit area, but large land use (e.g., cattle ranching in Brazil).
4. Pastoral Farming
- Definition: raising animals rather than crops.
- Example: nomadic herding in East Africa.
- Impacts: overgrazing, soil erosion, desertification if unsustainable.
5. Fisheries and Aquaculture
- Fisheries: wild fish capture, threatened by overfishing and stock collapse.
- Aquaculture: controlled fish farming (e.g., salmon farms in Norway).
- Advantages: predictable yields, can reduce pressure on wild stocks.
- Disadvantages: pollution from fish farms, disease transfer to wild populations.
Comparing Food Production Systems
The ESS syllabus expects you to compare systems using a structured framework:
- Inputs: energy, labor, fertilizers, water.
- Outputs: food produced, income, waste.
- Environmental impacts: biodiversity loss, soil degradation, water pollution.
- Sustainability: ecological footprint, resilience, efficiency.
Example comparison:
- Rice farming in Southeast Asia (intensive subsistence): high labor, low technology, relatively sustainable.
- Cattle ranching in Brazil (extensive commercial): large land demand, deforestation, high greenhouse gas emissions.
Case Studies for Food Production Systems
- Subsistence: shifting cultivation in the Amazon.
- Commercial: mechanized wheat farming in the U.S.
- Intensive: rice cultivation in India.
- Extensive: cattle ranching in Brazil.
- Aquaculture: salmon farming in Norway.
- Fisheries: collapse of North Atlantic cod stocks.
Food Production in ESS Exams
Paper 1
Expect data interpretation—graphs showing fertilizer use, fish catch trends, or ecological footprints of farming.
Paper 2
Essay-style questions may include:
- “Compare and contrast two food production systems.”
- “Evaluate the sustainability of aquaculture.”
- “Discuss the environmental impacts of commercial agriculture.”
Exam Tips
- Always use case studies—ESS examiners reward applied examples.
- Use the input–output–impact model for comparisons.
- Link to sustainability—ecological footprints, soil management, water use.
FAQs
1. Do I need to know aquaculture in detail?
Yes. Aquaculture is a growing food production system and often tested because it combines economic benefits with environmental concerns.
2. How many case studies should I learn?
At least three contrasting systems (e.g., subsistence rice farming, commercial wheat, and aquaculture).
3. How does this topic link to the ESS IA?
Many students choose IA investigations on soil, water, or farming impacts. Knowledge of food production systems strengthens IA analysis.
Conclusion
Food production systems are a core part of the ESS syllabus because they show how human choices shape sustainability. By comparing subsistence, commercial, intensive, extensive, pastoral, and aquaculture systems—and backing up your points with case studies—you’ll be ready for exam questions in the 2026 first assessment.
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