Food resources

1. Food Production & Agriculture

• Modern agriculture makes India self-sufficient in food, but it is unsustainable due to excessive chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
• FAO definition of sustainable agriculture:
  Agriculture that conserves land, water, plant & animal genetic resources, does not degrade the environment, and is economically viable & socially acceptable.
• Most large farms use monoculture, which increases risk of total crop failure due to pests.
• Traditional mixed cropping reduces the chance of complete failure.

2. Integrated Crop Management (ICM)

• Alternatives to chemical fertilizers & pesticides exist → known as Integrated Crop Management, which reduces environmental impact.

3. World Food Problems

• In 64 of 105 developing countries, food production is not keeping pace with population growth.
• Many developing nations cannot afford food imports.
• India overcame food shortages through irrigation and the Green Revolution.
• Green Revolution increased yield but caused:
  • Soil degradation
  • Conversion of forests, grasslands, wetlands into farmland
  • Excessive chemical use
  • Reduced fish resources

4. Inequalities in Food Distribution

• Tribal communities still face malnutrition, especially women and children.
• Diets worldwide are shifting toward more meat consumption, increasing demand for livestock feed.
• Meat-based diets require more land and resources than plant-based diets.

5. Role of Women in Food Resources

• Women play a vital role in food production, cooking, and child nutrition.
• Women receive least technical training and health support.
• In many families, women and girls receive less food than men.

6. Land & Agricultural Challenges

• India faces shortage of cultivable land; farms are too small and get subdivided each generation.
• Harmful practices such as slash-and-burn, shift cultivation, and rab cultivation degrade forests.
• Globally 5–7 million hectares of farmland are degraded each year.
• Causes of degradation:
  • Loss of nutrients
  • Overuse of chemicals
  • Salinization & waterlogging
  • Water scarcity

7. Loss of Genetic Diversity

• Rice, wheat, corn = staple foods for 2/3rd of the world population.
• Wild relatives of crops are disappearing, reducing the ability to improve crops.
• India once had 30,000–50,000 traditional rice varieties → most lost due to commercial seed monoculture.
• Genetic engineering is considered risky and untested compared to traditional breeding.

8. Food Security Facts

• 18 million people die every year from starvation or malnutrition (mostly children).
• Food security depends on:
  • Population control
  • Water availability
  • Equitable food distribution
  • Reducing food waste
• Supporting small farmers is key to food security.

9. Global Food Trade Issues

• Undeveloped countries suffer from dumping of cheap food by developed nations, hurting local farmers.
• Unsustainable practices arise when farmers try to compete with cheap imported food.

10. Fisheries – Important Facts

• Fish is a major protein source worldwide.
• From 1950–1990 → massive increase in fish production; after that, decline due to overfishing.
• FAO (1995) reported:
  • 44% fisheries: fully or heavily exploited
  • 16%: overexploited
  • 6%: depleted
  • 3%: recovering
• Canada closed cod fishing in the 1990s due to depletion.
• Mechanized trawlers and fine-mesh nets cause overexploitation → harm small fishermen.

11. Loss of Genetic Diversity

• Only 15 plant varieties provide 90% of the world’s food.
• There are 50,000 known edible plants, but humans depend mainly on a few cereals.
• Traditional crop diversity is rapidly declining due to monoculture and commercial seeds.

12. Alternate Food Sources

• Forests can be used sustainably for alternate foods such as:
  • Fruits
  • Mushrooms
  • Gums
  • Saps
  • Non-wood forest products
• Acceptance takes time because communities must adapt to new foods.

Energy resources

1. Basic Concepts About Energy

• Energy = capacity to do work (Physics definition).
• Energy occurs in various forms: solar, chemical, mechanical, electrical, thermal, nuclear.
• The Sun is the ultimate source of energy for all life on Earth.
• Solar energy drives:
  • Plant photosynthesis → food + oxygen + biomass
  • Water cycle → evaporation, cloud formation, rainfall
  • Wind movement
  • Formation of fossil fuels (ancient forests).

• Forms & Sources of Energy (Detailed)

Direct Sources

• Solar energy (heat & light)
• Biomass (wood, dung, crop residues)

Conventional (Non-renewable) Sources

• Coal, petroleum, natural gas
• Formed millions of years ago → cannot be replenished in human time scales.

Conventional Renewable Sources

• Hydropower (powered by water cycle)
• Wind energy
• Tidal energy

Non-conventional/Alternative Sources

• Nuclear energy (atomic energy)
• Solar photovoltaic systems
• Geothermal energy
• Biogas
• Biofuels

3. Energy Use in Human Activity

Energy is required in:

• Agriculture: fertilizers, irrigation pumps, machinery
• Industry: manufacturing, factory operations
• Transport: roadways, railways, aviation
• Urban infrastructure: lighting, heating, cooling
• Household activities: cooking, lighting, electronics
• Fact: Production of chemical fertilizers (like urea) requires very high energy inputs.

4. Environmental Impact of Energy Use

• All types of energy use release heat, contributing to atmospheric warming.
• Fossil fuel burning releases CO₂, causing global warming & climate change.
• No energy technology is 100% risk-free.
• Thermal power → air pollution, ash disposal problems.
• Hydropower → displacement, biodiversity loss in river ecosystems.
• Nuclear plants → risk of radiation leaks (Chernobyl, Fukushima).
• Nuclear waste remains radioactive for thousands of years → disposal is a global problem.

5. Global Energy Access & Waste

• Nearly 2 billion people worldwide have no access to electricity.
• A large amount of electric energy is wasted in transmission (heat loss in power lines).
• Highest energy wastage occurs in urban appliances, inefficient lighting, old machines.

6. Future Energy Concerns

• Current combination of renewable + fossil fuels will not meet global demand after 50–100 years.
• Rising population → rising energy demand.
• Wasteful energy use = major environmental threat.
• Need for a less carbon-intensive, cleaner global energy system.

Extra Point

• Global Energy Consumption Data 

Per Capita Use

• An average American uses 24 times more energy than an Indian.
• Global average (2000): 1.5 tons of oil equivalent per person.

Growth in Demand

• World energy demand increased 4× (quadrupled) from 1950 to 1990.
• Electricity demand doubled in the last 22 years.

Total Global Energy Consumption: In 2000, world consumed 9096 million tons of oil equivalent.

Regional Trends

• By 2005, Asia-Pacific’s energy consumption surpassed North America.
• By 2020, Asia-Pacific expected to consume 40% more energy than North America.

• World Energy Mix (End of 20th Century)

Oil remains the dominant global commercial energy source.

• India’s Energy Consumption Pattern (2001 Data)

Biomass

• In India, biomass (wood + dung) provides nearly 40% of the primary energy supply.

• Important Changing Trends in India
• Nuclear power has risen significantly since 1970s–80s.
• Natural gas use increased sharply during 1980s–90s.
• Coal remains the main source for electricity generation.
• Solar and wind power growing fast but still a small percentage of total energy mix.

• Ultra-Important Competitive Exam Facts
• Sun → primary energy source.
• Fossil fuels = stored solar energy from prehistoric forests.
• 2 billion people still lack electricity.
• Coal = 55% of India’s commercial energy consumption.
• World energy demand increased 4× between 1950–1990.
• American per capita energy use = 24× Indian.
• Oil = largest global commercial energy source (39%).
• Biomass = 40% of India’s primary energy.
• Nuclear waste disposal remains an unsolved global challenge.
• Current renewable + fossil system will fail to meet demand beyond 50–100 years.