1

Though issues such as global warming, depletion of the ozone layer, loss of biodiversity and deforestation have received far more publicity, soil loss and degradation are just as serious for the future of the planet and could have even more catastrophic implications, especially for the poorer countries of the world. The reason is simple. Ninety per cent of food production depends ultimately on the soil. With the worlds population already over 5 billion and increasing at nearly 100 million a year, the capacity of the soil to produce enough food is being stretched to the limit.

10 Optimists point out that the doubling of the worlds population which has taken place in the last half century has been matched by even bigger increases in food production. But can the miracle of the Green Revolution be repeated on an even bigger scale as the population doubles yet again in the next 50 years? It seems unlikely.

15

20

While improved farming efficiency and the introduction of high yielding crops have so far enabled global food production to stay ahead of population increases, the picture is much bleaker at regional level. In much of Africa, food production per head has fallen back in recent years. Worldwide, 69 developing countries have seen a decline in per capita food production. The tide of 25 new births has overwhelmed the capacity of farmers to produce food from a soil which is being exploited to destruction in more and more areas. Conservation of the planets soil as a healthy and productive resource is clearly vital. But the reality is that soil is being lost or contaminated on a vast scale. According to 30 the latest report from the World Resources Institute, quoting estimates by the worlds leading soil scientists, more than 1,2 billion hectares of vegetated land an area as large as India and China put together have been significantly degraded since World War II. The UN estimates that 6 million hectares of land are 35 still being turned to desert each year and that a further 21 million hectares are being so badly degraded that crop production cannot be supported. 40 Most of the damage is being caused by erosion, with deforestation being a major contributor. Removal of tree cover greatly increases the vulnerability of the soil to erosion by wind and water. In Asia alone deforestation has caused the degradation of some 300 million hectares. 45 It is not just the developing countries which are experiencing damage to the soil. In Europe about 23% of vegetated land has been degraded, 14% of total land area is threatened by erosion. More than 14 million hectares are contaminated with industrial and urban waste, pesticides and other pollutants.

50 Many of these problems arise from the industrialization of agriculture. The rich countries have applied mass production techniques to farming as well as to the manufacture of goods. This approach has been immensely successful in terms of productivity and has freed millions of people from the tyranny of the land though now it is fashionable to deplore the fact that the happy peasantry of the land has been 55 replaced by the alienated workforce of the factory. In 1870 almost half the population of OECD countries was employed in agriculture. Today the proportion is less than 6%. In Britain it is hardly more than 2%. Agriculture has become agribusiness and the care of the land often comes a poor second to 60 maximizing output. By ignoring the capital expense of soil degradation and other environmental costs, factory farming has appeared to be much more profitable than it really is. Now the bills are beginning to roll in. The problems vary from place to place but reach all 65 parts of the globe. In southern Sweden, soil has been compacted by heavy machinery. In eastern England, nitrate contamination of drinking water has reached alarming levels. In Ecuador, deforestation on steep slopes has resulted in 70 disastrous landslides and loss of soil into the rivers. In the Third World, traditional practices such as slash and burn and shifted cultivation sustainable on a small scale often leave a trail of damage which leads to serious erosion when practiced by large numbers of people. Even irrigation can destroy the 75 soil by bringing excess salts to the surface. It is difficult to see how the problem of soil degradation can be solved in the near future. Even in the developed countries, many farms have become locked into a cycle of use which requires them to make up for deteriorating soil quality by ever larger applications of fertilizer. In Europe, for example, the application of nitrogenous fertilizers grew from 509 pounds per hectare in 1980 to 575 pounds in 1990. Monoculture and other industrial farming practices increase vulnerability to pests and diseases. The excessive use of pesticides to control these problems contaminates and depletes the soil which then needs more fertilizer. And so it continues in a vicious circle of decline.
Understanding Global Issues

Group A / B / C / D / E

Names

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________ ______________________________________

EXERCISE A : Tick off, underline or answer the questions.

1. In a few words explain the problem that is dealt with in this document. (2 pts) ... ... 2. Whats the main cause to the problem ? (1 pt) ... ... 3. The problem concerns rather the past, present or future. (1 pt)
4.

Is the document generally positive or rather pessimistic about the future ? Explain. (2 pts) ... ...

5. Which part of the world is concerned ? (2 pt) ... ... 6. Several causes are mentioned. List 5 of them. (5 pts) ... ... ... ... ... 7. Whats the consequence of monoculture? (2 pt) ... ... 8. What has so far contributed to preventing starvation in many parts of the world ? (2 pts) ... ... 9. Whats the situation in the developed countries ? (1 pts) ... ...

EXERCISE B : Right or Wrong ? Justify.

1. The quality of the soil is not an important factor in agriculture. (___) .. .. 2. Agricultural techniques allow to solve the problems linked to population growth. (___) .. .. 3. The situation, as far as soil quality is concerned, has declined substantially since WWII. (___) .. ..

4.

Deforestation is the main and only cause to land degradation. (___) .. ..

5.

This phenomenon fortunately hits only the developing countries. (___) .. ..

6.

The industrialization of agriculture has had only negative impacts. (___) .. ..

7.

Less than 2% of the British population works in agriculture. (___) .. ..

8.

Irrigation is not a problem in the Third World. (___) .. ..

9.

In the developed countries farmers start using less noxious products. (___) .. ..

10. Monoculture has only positive effects. (___) .. ..

EXERCISE C : 1. Match the equivalents.

a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. j. k. l. ozone layer to stretch to the limit the doubling efficiency crops worldwide on a vast scale removal land slides to make up for to deplete agribusiness 1. 2. 3. 4. harvest to compensate elimination the business or industry of farming or agriculture : farming thought of as a large business. 5. the downward sliding of a relatively dry mass of earth and rock. 6. to empty, to waste. 7. the layer of the upper atmosphere where most atmospheric ozone is concentrated. 8. to extend or enlarge beyond the usual or proper limits. 9. increase 10. productivity, resourcefulness 11. extensively 12. throughout the world

a. g.

b. h.

c. i.

d. j.

e. k.

f. l.

2. Find in the text synonyms for the following words.

- questions - to impoverish - improbable - removal of tree cover - developing countries - cost - yield - disease . .

EXERCISE D : Tick off the structure that corresponds best to the one that is underlined. 1. 90 % of food production depends ultimately on the soil (2) finally hardly mainly 2. the capacity of the soil to produce enough food is being stretched to the limit (2) is reasonable has no limits is beyond what is considered reasonable 3. to stay ahead of population increases 4. the picture is much (4) bleaker at regional level (4) in a more advanced the situation is position brilliant in a less advanced the situation is position hopeless to give population the situation is worse increases 5. food production has fallen back in recent years (4) the food production has decreased the food production has increased the food production has remained the same 6. the tide of new births has overwhelmed the capacity of farmers to produce (4) has made the farmers powerless has made the farmers stronger has made the farmers capable to produce 7. Worldwide, 69 developing countries have seen a decline in per capita food production (4) in parts of existing in different parts of the world existing in all parts of the world 8. 14 % of total land area is threatened by erosion (7) is menaced by degradation is treated is experiencing damage

9. In Britain it is hardly more than 2 % (9) certainly only just undoubtedly

10. to make up deteriorating quality (12) to compensate to increase to decrease

for soil

EXERCISE E : Translate the last paragraph in your own language.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 . . . . .

Collective work assessment

You will be graded out of 100 points for the following :
1. 10 points if every member of the group has contributed to the final paper. 2. 10 points for working together quietly and efficiently. 3. 10 points for handing in a clean, clear and neat collective paper on time by the end of the lesson. 4. 70 points (for correct answers in full sentence form).

A
Names _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________

B
Names _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________

C
Names _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________

D
Names _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________

E
Names _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________

EXERCICE A : Tick off, underline or answer the questions.

1. In a few words explain the problem that is dealt with in this document. (2 pts) Soil loss and soil degradation can have dramatic implications as 90% of food production depends on the soil. 2. Whats the main cause to the problem ? (1 pt) The increase of world population and erosion. 3. The problem concerns rather the past, present or future. (1 pt) 4. Is the document generally positive or rather pessimistic about the future ?. (2 pts) Pessimistic. It seems unlikely that in the next 50 years food production will match the increase of population.

5. Which part of the world is most concerned by the problem ? (2 pt) The planet (not only the developing countries . In Europe about 23% of vegetated land has been degraded. 6. Several causes are mentioned. List 5 of them. (5 pts) Deforestation Erosion by wind and water Overpopulation Overexploitation Contamination with industrial and urban waste Pesticides and other pollutants 7. Whats the consequence of monoculture and intensive agriculture ? (2 pt) They increase vulnerability to pests and diseases. 8. What has so far contributed to preventing starvation in many parts of the world ? (2 pts) Improved farm efficiency and the introduction of high yielding crops. 9. Whats the situation in the developed countries ? (1 pts) 14% of total land area is threatened by erosion. More than 14 m hectares are contaminated with pesticides.

EXERCICE B : Right or Wrong ? Justify.

1. The quality of the soil is not an important factor in agriculture. (___) W. Soil loss and degradation are as serious as global warming, depletion of the ozone layer, loss of biodiversity and deforestation. 90% of food production depends on the soil. 2. Agricultural techniques allow to solve the problems linked to population growth. (___)

R. Yes, but considered a miracle. 3. The situation, as far as soil quality is concerned, has declined substantially since WWII. (___)

R. More than 1.2 billion hectares of vegetated land have been significantly degraded since WWII 4. Deforestation is the main and only cause to land degration. (___)

W. Erosion with deforestation being a major contributor. 5. This phenomenon fortunately hits only the developing countries. (___)

W. Its not just the developing countries which are experiencing damage to the soil. 6. The industrialization of agriculture has had only negative impacts. (___)

W. This approach has been immensely successful in terms of productivity and has freed millions of people from the tyranny of the land. 7. Less than 2% of the British population works in agriculture. (___)

W. hardly more than 2 % 8. Irrigation is not a problem in the Third World. (___)

W Even irrigation can destroy the soil by bringing excess salts to the surface. 9. In the developed countries farmers start using less noxious products. (___)

W. They are locked into a cycle of use which requires them to make up for deteriorating soil quality by ever larger applications 10. Monoculture has only positive effects. (___) W. It increases vulnerability to pests and diseases.

EXERCICE C : 1. Find in the text equivalents for the following words.

a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. j. k. l. ozone layer to stretch to the limit the doubling efficiency crops worldwide on a vast scale removal land slides to make up for to deplete agribusiness 1. 2. 3. 4.

harvest to compensate elimination the business or industry of farming or agriculture : farming thought a large business. 5. the downward sliding of a relatively dry mass of earth and rock. 6. to empty, to waste. 7. the layer of the upper atmosphere where most atmospheric ozone is concentrated. 8. to extend or enlarge beyond the usual or proper limits. 9. increase 10. productivity, resourcefulness 11. extensively 12. throughout the world

a. 7

b. 8

c. 9 f. 12

d. 10

e. 1

g. 11

h. 3

i. 5 l. 4

j. 2

k. 6

2. Find in the text synonyms for the following words. - questions issues - to impoverish to contaminate / to degrade / to deplete - improbable unlikely - removal of tree cover deforestation - developing countries the poor countries / third world - cost expense

- yield - disease

productivity / output pest

EXERCICE D : Tick off the structure that corresponds best to the one that is underlined. 11. 90 % of food production depends ultimately on the soil (2) finally hardly mainly 12. the capacity of the soil to produce enough food is being stretched to the limit (2) is reasonable has no limits is beyond what is considered reasonable 13. to stay ahead of population increases 14. the picture is much (4) bleaker at regional level (4) in a more advanced the situation is position brilliant in a less advanced the situation is position hopeless to give population the situation is worse increases 15. food production has fallen back in recent years (4) the food production has decreased the food production has increased the food production has remained the same 16. the tide of new births has overwhelmed the capacity of farmers to produce (4) has made the farmers powerless has made the farmers stronger has made the farmers capable to produce 17. Worldwide, 69 developing countries have seen a decline in per capita food production (4) in parts of existing in different parts of the world existing in all parts of the world 18. 14 % of total land area is threatened by erosion (7) is menaced by degradation is treated is experiencing damage 19. In Britain it is hardly more than 2 % (9) certainly only just undoubtedly 20. to make up deteriorating quality (12) to compensate to increase to decrease for soil