Food, Energy, and Water Resources

This section explains Food, Energy, and Water Resources. Resources are materials or services that people use to survive and maintain a standard of living. Some resources, such as food, water, and energy, are essential for human life and economic development.

Food

Food is a fundamental resource that people cannot live without. The average person requires between 2,000 and 2,500 calories per day, though this varies based on age, gender, height, and activity level.

Effects of Food Shortages and Overconsumption

• Undernutrition: Insufficient calorie intake leads to weight loss, fatigue, and a weakened immune system, making it difficult for people to work. If many individuals in a country suffer from food insecurity, economic productivity declines.
• Overconsumption: Excess calorie intake leads to obesity, increasing the risk of diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. This can also negatively impact a country's workforce.

Global Food Inequality

• HICs: Many high-income countries (HICs) have a food surplus due to large-scale agriculture, high yields, and food imports.
• LICs: Many low-income countries (LICs) experience food deficits due to low agricultural productivity, poor infrastructure, and economic instability.

Water

Water is essential for survival, hygiene, agriculture, and industry. It makes up about two-thirds of the human body, and each person should drink between 1.6 and 2 litres of water per day.

Uses of Water

• Domestic: Drinking, cooking, and sanitation.
• Agricultural: Irrigation is vital in drier regions to ensure crop growth.
• Industrial: Used for cooling, cleaning, and as a raw material in manufacturing.

Water Scarcity and Global Water Inequality

• Water Surplus: Countries with high rainfall and low population density (e.g., Canada, Norway) often have excess water, which can sometimes lead to flooding.
• Water Deficit: Countries with high temperatures, high population density, and low rainfall (e.g., parts of Africa and the Middle East) experience water shortages, which can lead to drought and crop failure.

Energy

Energy powers homes, businesses, and transportation systems. Most energy is consumed in the form of electricity (secondary energy), which is generated from primary energy sources such as fossil fuels, wind, or solar power.

The Role of Energy in Food and Industry

• Agriculture: Biofuel production and mining for energy resources take up land that could be used for growing food.
• Industrial Production: Factories require energy for manufacturing; shortages or high costs increase production expenses, affecting economies and food prices.

Global Energy Inequality

• HICs & NEEs: High-income countries (HICs) and newly emerging economies (NEEs) consume vast amounts of energy due to industrialisation, widespread electricity access, and high technology usage.
• LICs: Many people in LICs rely on traditional energy sources (e.g., wood, animal dung) because they are not connected to national electricity grids.

Energy Security vs Energy Insecurity

• Energy-Secure Countries: Nations that produce most of the energy they consume (e.g., USA, Saudi Arabia) have greater energy security.
• Energy-Insecure Countries: Countries that rely on imported fuel (e.g., Japan) are vulnerable to price fluctuations and supply disruptions.

Conclusion

The global distribution of food, water, and energy is highly uneven, creating disparities between countries. Managing these resources effectively is crucial for economic stability, human health, and environmental sustainability.