Describe the pattern of life expectancy shown on the map.

Explain three indicators, other than life expectancy, which can be used to measure the health of the population in a country.

“Food miles are an excellent indicator of the environmental impact of agriculture.” Discuss this statement.

Award [1] for each of the following, up to a maximum of [4]:

• low (50–59 years) life expectancy in much of Africa
• lowest (<50 years) in central Africa
• highest life expectancy (80–86 years) in Western Europe/Japan/Australasia
• high (70–79 years) in Southeast Asia/North Africa/E. Europe
• moderate (60-69 areas) Russia/Central Asia/India/South Asia.

Allow other valid points (eg anomalies)

Some use of data is necessary for the full [4].

Possible indicators include:

• infant mortality rate
• HALE (health adjusted life expectancy)
• calorie intake
• access to safe water.

In each case, award [1] for a valid indicator and [1] for further development relating to how it is used to measure health

For example: Calorie intake [1] – countries where adults have fewer than 2000 calories a day would indicate undernourishment [1].
Infant mortality rate [1] – high rate would indicate lack of access to clean water/healthcare [1].

Food miles are a measure of the distance that food travels from its source to the consumer. This can be stated either in units of actual distance or the energy consumed during transport.

The advantages of food miles include:

• they give an indication of the carbon footprint and allow consumers to know the origin of the food they are buying
• they are a relatively simple concept to apply
• they also provide some indication of the type of transport being used and the relative costs of different forms of transport.

The limitations of food miles as an indicator of environmental impact include:

• they do not take into account the carbon footprint of food production measures or the energy/water requirements of different food production systems
• locally produced food may have low food miles, but have very high inputs of energy, pesticides and fertilizers (such as intensive growing of fruit and vegetables under glass or in poly-tunnels) and therefore have a greater
environmental impact
• food miles give no indication of the use of organic methods
• food miles ignore other measures of environmental impact of agriculture, such as the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers.

Good answers will consider the concept of food miles and the extent to which they measure the environmental impact of agriculture at different scales.
Candidates will provide a structured discussion of the advantages and limitations of food miles, and evaluate the concept as a measure of environmental impact.

For band D, expect some description of food miles and their advantages and disadvantages in measuring environmental impact.

At band E, expect either some greater range/depth of explanation of the advantages and disadvantages of food miles, or a structured discussion of the environmental impacts of agriculture and the value of using food miles as an indicator of this.

At band F, expect both of these elements.

Marks should be allocated according to the markbands.