Factors affecting food security (biology only) - AQA GCSE Biology Exam Questions

Practise 39 exam-style questions on Factors affecting food security (biology only) for AQA GCSE Biology. Write your answer as you would in the exam and get it marked in seconds against the mark scheme, point by point, with an AI tutor on hand if you get stuck.

39 questions
3–5 marks each
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20 questions, marked as you go

Sample questions with model answers

Here are 4 of the questions in this topic, each with a model answer, an explanation of why it earns the marks and the mark scheme an examiner would use.

Question 1

3 marks

Explain how crop rotation reduces pest and disease problems biologically.

Model answer

Rotating crops interrupts pest and pathogen life cycles by changing host availability; different crops do not support the same pests or pathogens, reducing build-up in soil and on plants.

Explanation

By not continually planting the same host crop, the organisms that feed on or infect that crop decline, so disease and pest incidence falls and yields are protected.

Mark scheme

1 mark
Changing crops interrupts pest/pathogen life cycles
1 mark
Different crops support different organisms so pests/pathogens cannot build up
1 mark
Result is lower pest/pathogen levels and reduced disease pressure

Question 2

3 marks

Explain how improved veterinary care and disease surveillance in livestock improves food security.

Model answer

Veterinary care (vaccination, treatment) prevents disease losses in animals, improves productivity (meat/milk/eggs). Surveillance detects outbreaks early, enabling control to avoid large-scale mortality and supply disruption.

Explanation

Healthy animals provide steady quantities of food and income. Prevention and rapid response reduce losses and maintain supplies contributing to food security.

Mark scheme

1 mark
Veterinary care reduces disease and mortality improving productivity
1 mark
Vaccination and treatment increase yield of animal products
1 mark
Surveillance detects outbreaks early and prevents large-scale losses

Question 3

4 marks

Describe two ways that improved crop genetics (e.g. marker-assisted selection) can help adapt agriculture to climate change.

Model answer

Improved genetics can produce varieties with drought or heat tolerance and faster maturation to avoid stress periods. Marker-assisted selection speeds development of these traits by identifying genes linked to tolerance.

Explanation

By selecting genes for stress tolerance and using molecular markers to accelerate breeding, crops can be adapted to warmer, drier conditions or shifted growing seasons, helping maintain yields under climate change.

Mark scheme

1 mark
Breeding for drought or heat tolerance
1 mark
Breeding for faster maturation or altered phenology to avoid stress periods
1 mark
Marker-assisted selection speeds identification and incorporation of desirable genes
1 mark
Results in varieties more resilient to climate change, stabilising yields

Question 4

5 marks

Explain the role of genetically modified (GM) crops in improving food security and discuss two concerns about their use (biology only).

Model answer

GM crops can provide traits like pest resistance, herbicide tolerance, or improved nutrition, raising yields and reducing losses. Concerns: potential development of pest resistance and reduced genetic diversity leading to vulnerability; possible unintended effects on non-target organisms.

Explanation

GM traits can directly increase productivity and reduce losses, helping food security. However, biological risks include selection for resistant pests and loss of genetic diversity that can increase vulnerability to future threats.

Mark scheme

1 mark
GM crops can provide beneficial traits (e.g. pest resistance, herbicide tolerance, improved nutrition)
1 mark
These traits can increase yields or reduce losses improving food supply
1 mark
Concern 1: evolution of pest/pathogen resistance to GM trait (e.g. Bt resistance)
1 mark
Concern 2: reduced genetic diversity / monoculture vulnerability to disease or environmental change
1 mark
Or concern: potential effects on non-target organisms or ecosystems
Accept either second concern or expressed as alternative

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