Food Production Strategies

This lesson evaluates the main approaches to increasing food production, including intensive and extensive farming, genetically modified crops, organic agriculture, vertical farming, and aquaculture. You will assess the benefits, drawbacks, and sustainability of each strategy using case studies from the UK and globally.

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Intensive vs Extensive Farming

The fundamental distinction in agricultural systems is between intensive and extensive approaches:

Feature	Intensive Farming	Extensive Farming
Inputs	High (fertilisers, pesticides, irrigation, machinery, labour)	Low (minimal chemical inputs, reliance on natural processes)
Yield per hectare	High	Low
Land area	Small to moderate	Large
Capital investment	High	Low
Environmental impact	Often negative (pollution, soil degradation, biodiversity loss)	Generally lower, but requires more land
Labour	Variable (mechanised = less labour; horticulture = more)	Low labour input per hectare
Examples	UK arable farming (East Anglia), Dutch greenhouses, battery farming	Australian sheep stations, Sahel pastoralism, hill farming in Wales

Case Study: Intensive Arable Farming in East Anglia, UK