New
New
Year 11
AQA

Global patterns of food security

I can describe inequalities in global food security and explain the impacts of food insecurity on people, economies and the environment.

New
New
Year 11
AQA

Global patterns of food security

I can describe inequalities in global food security and explain the impacts of food insecurity on people, economies and the environment.

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.

These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Globally, there are areas of food surplus (security) and food deficit (insecurity).
  2. There are global inequalities in food supply and calorie intake.
  3. 30% of the global population is affected by moderate or severe food insecurity.
  4. Impacts of food insecurity include famine, undernutrition, soil erosion, rising prices and social unrest.

Keywords

  • Food security - when people at all times have access to sufficient, safe, nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life

  • Food insecurity - being without reliable access to sufficient, affordable, nutritious food

  • Famine - a widespread, serious shortage of food; in the worst cases leading to starvation and death

  • Undernutrition - when people do not consume enough nutrients to cover their needs for energy and growth, or to maintain a healthy immune system

Common misconception

Most people around the world are food insecure.

Thirty per cent are food insecure, meaning 70% experience food security. (Food security for all remains a UN target for 2030 and a key priority for governments around the world.)


To help you plan your year 11 geography lesson on: Global patterns of food security, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Dollar Street is particularly useful for this lesson about global patterns and the next which builds on ideas about how and why consumption is linked to access (specifically income). Allowing students time (with technology) to explore the site is invaluable: a picture paints a thousand words.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

Loading...

Prior knowledge starter quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the keywords to their correct definitions.

Correct Answer:Resources,Things we use to live, like food or energy

Things we use to live, like food or energy

Correct Answer:Scarcity,When there is not enough of something

When there is not enough of something

Correct Answer:Development,How a country improves life for its people

How a country improves life for its people

Q2.
Which of these is a basic resource people need to survive?

Gold
Smartphones
Correct answer: Clean water
Aeroplanes

Q3.
Which of these is an example of a country with high food supply?

Chad
Correct answer: USA
Somalia
Sudan

Q4.
How can a lack of clean water affect a country?

Correct answer: It can cause illness and limit development
It only affects plants
It makes the country colder
It improves the environment

Q5.
What is one reason why some countries use more energy than others?

They all have forests
They are closer to the equator
Correct answer: They are more industrialised
They have fewer people

Q6.
Which of these areas is likely to face resource scarcity?

A country with strong trade links
A rich city with advanced technology
A forest with lots of water and animals
Correct answer: A dry, poor rural area with little rainfall

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
Match each term with the correct definition.

Correct Answer:food security,Enough safe, nutritious food for a healthy life

Enough safe, nutritious food for a healthy life

Correct Answer:food insecurity,Not enough access to safe, nutritious food

Not enough access to safe, nutritious food

Correct Answer:famine,Severe, widespread food shortage

Severe, widespread food shortage

Correct Answer:undernutrition,Not enough nutrients for growth or health

Not enough nutrients for growth or health

Q2.
Which of these statements is most accurate?

Everyone has food security now
Correct answer: About 30% of people experience food insecurity
Most people face starvation
Only farmers experience undernutrition

Q3.
What does undernutrition affect most directly?

Correct answer: Health and immune system
Wealth
Farming tools
Clothing

Q4.
Which country is least likely to experience food insecurity?

South Sudan
Correct answer: Germany
Yemen
Ethiopia

Q5.
Which group is most vulnerable to food insecurity?

People living in wealthy urban areas
Teachers in cities
Tourists
Correct answer: People in rural areas without stable jobs

Q6.
A is a very serious shortage of food across a wide area.

Correct Answer: famine