5.2A Land and land use Notes

Land as a Finite Resource in a Growing World

Global Limits on Land Availability

1. Only 29 percent of Earth’s surface is land, the remainder being ocean
2. Of this land, 71 percent is habitable, while the rest is barren or glaciated
3. 46 percent of habitable land is used for agriculture, showing heavy pressure on limited space
4. Most high-quality soils are already in use, meaning expansion options are limited

How Agriculture Uses Land

1. Around 70 percent of ice-free land is used for agriculture and forestry
2. Livestock farming occupies nearly three-quarters of global agricultural land
3. Crop cultivation is concentrated on more fertile soils
4. Marginal land with steep slopes, shallow soils, or nutrient-poor substrates supports pastoral farming

Rising Population and Increasing Food Demand

1. Global population increased from 3 billion (1961) to 8 billion (2022)
2. Agricultural land per person has decreased across all regions
3. Growing middle-income populations drive nutrition transition, increasing demand for meat, dairy, and processed foods
4. Intensification, not expansion, has driven most increases in food production
5. Intensification includes fertilizers, irrigation, mechanization, and high-yielding varieties

Vulnerability of Marginalized Groups in Land-Use Decisions

1. Land-use decisions focus on economic growth, commercial agriculture, and industrial development
2. Indigenous peoples, women farmers, low-caste groups, and low-income communities often lack secure land rights
3. These groups rely on land for subsistence crops, livelihoods, cultural practices, and resource access
4. They are easily displaced by large-scale agriculture, urban projects, and biofuel plantations

Gender Inequality in Land Use

1. Women often lack rights to own or inherit land
2. Women provide 50 percent of agricultural labour in Sub-Saharan Africa and South-East Asia
3. Lack of access to credit, education, technology, and market access reduces productivity
4. Equal access to resources could increase yields by 20–30 percent in low-income countries
5. Children's nutrition improves when women have access to education and land

Global Food Production, Inequitable Distribution, and Waste

1. Global agriculture produces enough food to feed 8–10 billion people
2. Distribution is unequal, causing hunger despite adequate supply
3. 690–780 million people were undernourished in 2022
4. Food production is concentrated in China, India, USA, Brazil, while many countries rely on imports
5. Poorer regions cannot afford high food prices for imported products
6. Both undernutrition and overconsumption exist globally

Causes of Food Loss and Waste

1. Food Loss (LICs)

1. Occurs between harvest and retail
2. Caused by poor storage, lack of refrigeration, pests, and weak transport systems
3. Large amounts of food deteriorate or spill during transportation
4. Affects grains, legumes, fruits, and vegetables

2. Food Waste (HICs)

1. Occurs at retail and consumer level
2. Supermarkets reject food for cosmetic imperfections
3. Over-buying, confusing sell-by dates, and large portion sizes increase wastage
4. Retailers generate 1.6 million tonnes of produce waste annually

Sustainable Development Goals and Food Waste

1. SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) focuses on ending hunger and improving nutrition
2. SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) targets reducing food waste
3. SDG 12.3 aims to halve per-capita global food waste by 2030
4. Distinguishes between food loss (farm to retail) and food waste (retail to consumer)
5. COVID-19 worsened food loss but also inspired technological improvements and supply-chain innovation