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examBoard: Cambridge
examType: IGCSE
lessonTitle: Overproduction and Waste in Agriculture
Modern agriculture has become incredibly efficient at producing food, but this efficiency has created new problems. Overproduction and waste are significant issues in today's food systems, with environmental, economic and social consequences.
Key Definitions:
Several factors contribute to farmers producing more than what is needed:
Many governments provide subsidies and price guarantees that encourage farmers to maximise production regardless of demand. The European Union's Common Agricultural Policy historically led to infamous "butter mountains" and "wine lakes" of excess produce.
Farmers often overproduce as insurance against unpredictable weather, pests and market fluctuations. Supermarkets demand consistent supply, leading farmers to grow extra to ensure they can meet contracts even in difficult years.
Improved seeds, fertilisers, pesticides and machinery have dramatically increased yields per hectare. While this has helped feed growing populations, it can lead to surpluses when all farmers adopt these technologies.
Farmers often need to produce at maximum capacity to cover their fixed costs. The "get big or get out" mentality encourages overproduction as farmers try to achieve economies of scale.
Agriculture generates various types of waste throughout the production process:
Includes stalks, stems, leaves, husks and other plant parts not harvested or used. Some examples are rice straw, corn stalks and fruit peels.
Manure, bedding materials and unused feed. Intensive livestock operations can generate enormous volumes of animal waste that must be managed properly.
Unused pesticides, fertilisers, packaging and contaminated water. These can be particularly harmful if they enter water systems.
The excess production and waste from agriculture create several environmental problems:
Overproduction uses more land, water and energy than necessary. This leads to:
Agricultural waste can pollute the environment in several ways:
Food waste and overproduction contribute significantly to climate change:
The UK wastes approximately 9.5 million tonnes of food annually, with a value of over £19 billion. About 70% of this waste occurs in homes. The average UK family throws away £700 worth of food each year. Food waste accounts for about 25 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions – equivalent to 5.5% of the UK's territorial emissions. WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) campaigns like "Love Food Hate Waste" have helped reduce household food waste by 7% between 2015 and 2018.
Waste occurs at every stage of the food supply chain:
Crops may be left unharvested due to weather damage, pest infestation, or market prices being too low to justify harvesting costs. In the UK, up to 16% of crops are wasted before leaving farms, often due to cosmetic standards.
Poor storage facilities, especially in developing countries, lead to spoilage and pest damage. Inadequate refrigeration, transportation and handling cause significant losses of perishable foods.
Trimming, sorting and quality control result in edible parts being discarded. Errors in processing, overproduction and product damage create additional waste.
Supermarkets reject produce that doesn't meet appearance standards. Overstocking, improper rotation of stock and "best before" dates lead to waste. Consumers often buy too much food, prepare too large portions, or discard food due to confusion about date labels.
Various approaches can help reduce overproduction and manage agricultural waste more sustainably:
The UK has over 650 anaerobic digestion plants that process agricultural waste and food waste. These plants generate enough biogas to power over 1 million homes. Farmers benefit from reduced waste disposal costs and can use the digestate as a fertiliser. The process reduces methane emissions that would occur if the waste decomposed naturally and provides renewable energy. The UK government has supported this technology through the Renewable Heat Incentive and Feed-in Tariff schemes.
Long-term solutions involve rethinking our agricultural systems:
Farming methods that work with natural ecosystems rather than against them. These approaches often produce less waste and are more resilient to climate change. Examples include intercropping, agroforestry and integrated pest management.
Designing agricultural systems where waste becomes a resource. For example, using crop residues as mulch, livestock manure as fertiliser and food waste for composting. This mimics natural cycles where nothing is truly wasted.
Everyone can help reduce agricultural waste:
Agricultural overproduction and waste represent significant environmental challenges. They waste resources, contribute to pollution and accelerate climate change. However, solutions exist at every level from government policies to individual actions. By addressing these issues, we can create more sustainable food systems that meet human needs while protecting the environment.
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