Biomes and food security: Overview

Elaborations:
* identifying and describing the major aquatic and terrestrial biomes of Australia and the world, and their spatial distribution
* examining the influence of climate on biomass production (as measured by net primary productivity) in different biomes

Elaborations:
* investigating the environmental constraints on agricultural production in Australia, such as soil moisture, water resources and soils, and the extent to which agricultural innovations have overcome them
* investigating how high crop yields around the world (for example from wheat, rice and maize) are related to factors such as irrigation, accessibility, labour supply, landforms and agricultural technologies, such as high yielding varieties
* using the concept of soil moisture budget to examine the spatial and seasonal quantity of soil moisture available for agriculture in different places in Australia

Elaborations
* exploring environmental challenges to food production from land degradation (soil erosion, salinity, desertification), industrial pollution, water scarcity and climate change
* identifying the impacts on food production from competing land uses. For example, urban and industrial uses, mining, production of food crops for biofuels, production of food crops for livestock, and recreation (such as golf courses)
* evaluating whether some ways of increasing food production could threaten sustainability

Elaborations
* identifying the biomes in Australia and overseas that produce some of the foods and plant material people consume
* investigating ways that the production of food and fibre has altered some biomes through, for example, vegetation clearance, introduction of exotic species, drainage, terracing and irrigation
* using the concept of a system to identify the differences between natural and agricultural ecosystems in flows of nutrients and water, and in biodiversity

Elaborations:
* investigating the knowledge and practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples that enabled them to use resources and environments sustainably (such as rotational use and harvesting of resources through planned movement, controlled burning, temporary or permanent prohibitions on hunting animals and harvesting plants, and limitations on harvesting) and how some of this knowledge is currently shared among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and also with non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
* investigating the impacts of alterations of biomes on the productivity and availability of staple resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, for example, the Murnong (yam daisy) in Victoria

Elaborations:
* examining the effects of anticipated future population growth on global food production and security, and its implications for agriculture and agricultural innovation
* researching the potential of agricultural production in northern Australia
* identifying how poverty, food wastage, government policies and trade barriers could affect future food security
* applying an understanding of the functioning of natural and agricultural ecosystems to investigate ways of making Australian agriculture more sustainable
* examining a contemporary geographical issue related to food production and security and debating alternative responses that consider environmental, economic and social factors