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• Different countries produce different types of food, which they trade with one another. Although there is enough food to feed everyone, it is not evenly spread.
• Global food consumption is increasing. As countries become wealthier, their populations eat more.
• Food insecurity is a major issue in some countries. It can lead to hunger, soil erosion, rising prices and conflict. Many factors determine our ability to grow enough food.

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Different countries produce different types of food, which is often dependent on their climate. For example, Asian countries grow rice, African countries grow cocoa, South American countries produce oil crops, and European countries produce a lot of milk and fish. Of all arable land in the world, around half is farmed.

Modern food production allows some, but not all, of the world’s population to enjoy a varied diet throughout the year. For example, it is possible to eat strawberries in winter in the UK. This scale of food production can have negative impacts on people, animals and places.

Increasing food miles adds to global climate change. This is because fuel is required to move food between countries, which leads to increased carbon emissions.

There is enough food to feed everyone, but it is not evenly spread, and some countries have food insecurity. The population in HICs such as the United Kingdom is consuming more food than it needs, which can lead to problems such as obesity. LICs, like Niger, in Africa, have less food than they need which leads to malnutrition.

Average global food consumption is increasing. The world’s population is growing at a rate of 1.08 per cent per year, meaning there are around 80 million additional people to feed each year. Also, as countries become wealthier, their populations eat more as they have more money to spend on food.

The global supply of food is affected by several factors.

• global temperatures and rainfall (climate)
• technology
• political unrest or conflict
• pests and diseases

• Millions of people go hungry each year and may not be able to eat for extended periods.
• Farmers try to produce more food. Trees are cut-down to make more farmland and more cattle are squeezed into fields. This causes soil erosion and deforestation.
• When the demand for food exceeds the supply, prices increase. Many of the most vulnerable people cannot afford to eat.
• Food is a basic human need. Food shortages can lead to conflict.