5.2I Uneven distribution of food (HL) Notes

The Global Food Supply Industry

1. The global food supply industry includes production, processing, storage, distribution and retail.
2. Food moves through international trade routes, with many countries importing large proportions of their food.
3. Food distribution depends heavily on infrastructure, political stability, trade policies, and economic resources.
4. The global food system produces enough calories to feed the world, yet distribution problems cause widespread hunger.
5. Food availability reflects economic power, not only agricultural productivity.
6. High-income countries typically have constant access to diverse, high-quality food, while lower-income countries face scarcity, high prices and unreliable supply chains.

Differences Between HICs, MICs and LICs

1. High-income countries have advanced infrastructure that ensures rapid transportation, cold storage and long-distance imports.
2. Middle-income and low-income countries often lack good roads, refrigeration, market access and stable supply chains.
3. Food production in LICs frequently focuses on cash crops for export, reducing available food for local populations.
4. Protectionist measures in HICs, such as import tariffs and agricultural subsidies, disrupt global food markets and disadvantage farmers in LICs.

Economic Drivers of Uneven Distribution

1. HIC subsidies (such as US rice and corn subsidies) reduce global prices and make LIC farmers uncompetitive.
2. Increased wealth in HICs and NICs leads to higher meat and dairy consumption, which diverts grains from human food to livestock feed.
3. Rising oil prices increase fertilizer and transport costs, raising global food prices.
4. Expanding land use for biofuels in HICs reduces land available for food production in LICs.

Political and Environmental Barriers

1. Conflict disrupts agricultural production, prevents market access, and increases food insecurity.
2. Climate change increases the frequency of droughts, floods, heatwaves, crop disease and crop failure, especially in LICs.
3. Lack of governance reduces the ability to manage supply chains, protect farmers and support vulnerable populations.
4. Displacement of communities during conflict reduces household access to food.

Understanding Food Quality

1. Food quality is determined by nutrient content, not by appearance or quantity.
2. Many diets in LICs rely heavily on starchy staples, which provide calories but lack essential nutrients.
3. In HICs, people may consume excessive calories but still be nutrient deficient due to processed foods.
4. Modern food systems provide year-round supply, but often at the cost of highly processed, nutrient-poor diets.

Processed and Low-Quality Foods

1. Many processed foods contain high sugar, salt and fat, contributing to chronic diseases despite high caloric intake.
2. Cheaper, ultra-processed foods are often more accessible than fresh produce, especially for low-income households.
3. This leads to the paradox where the poor in HICs can experience obesity while lacking micronutrients.

Malnutrition: Under- and Over-nourishment

1. Malnutrition includes undernutrition, overnutrition and nutrient deficiency.
2. It occurs when diets do not meet the body's quantity and quality needs.
3. Malnutrition is influenced by economic access, food quality, cultural habits, and food distribution systems.