IB GEOGRAPHY HIGHER LEVEL EXTENSION PART 4

ENVIRONMENTAL
CHANGE

This part of global interactions

includes
Degradation of raw materials Effects of agroindustrialisation
Effects of transnational manufacturing and
services
Transboundary pollution (with case-study)
Homogenisation of landscapes

Introduction
The Anthropocene
This is a term given to mark the evidence and
extent of human activities that have had a
significant global impact on the Earths
ecosystems
In what way? - history

IB GEOGRAPHY HIGHER LEVEL EXTENSION PART 4

ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE
DEGRADATION THROUGH RAW
MATERIAL PRODUCTION
Agro-industrialization

What does the syllabus say?

Identify the effects of agroindustrialization and changes
in international production and
consumption on the physical
environment

What is agro-industrialisation?
The development of agriculture by combining
corporate and industrial techniques
NOT uniform around the world farming is a
global business run by large corporations in
MEDCs
BUT still many subsistent farms in LEDCs
Agro-industrialisation is said to have a
NEGATIVE environmental impact.

Some Key terms:

Mechanisation, mass production, standardisation
of products, efficient supply chain, large scale
distribution, deforestation
Agriculture becomes food production industry

Main Issues

Huge rising world population

All need fed
How do we continue?
How can we be sustainable?
What has been done to the environment?
Ted documentary What human impacts have there
been on the environment? How have landscapes
been changed? What role does globalisation play?

General observations
Larger farms and field sizes for more
efficient use of machinery such as combine
harvesters.
Decreasing biodiversity due to
monocultural production.
Increasing use of pesticides, herbicides as
agricultural inputs due to reduction in
natural predators eg birds.
Increasing use of fertilizers needed as soil
fertility is reduced through over use.

General observations
Decreasing natural vegetation cover. Eg
hedgerows being cut down to increase field
size.
Increasing use of natural waterways
(rivers) for irrigation of farmland leads to
decreasing water supply for natural
environment.
Pollution of water and eutrophication
(ecosystem response to the addition of artificial
or natural substances)

 Short video clip on monoculture

Read pages 646-649 on agro-industrialisation
and answer QBlock 15A