# Explain how the use of fertilisers and genetic engineering together can help farmers produce enough food to feed the growing human population.

> OCR GCSE Biology A: Gateway Science (J247) — B6.2 Feeding the human race · Explain · 4 marks

> Global food demand is increasing as the human population grows. Farmers use a range of modern techniques to maximise the quantity and quality of crops they can produce from a given area of land.

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. Fertilisers provide essential nutrients to the soil / to plants
2. This increases plant growth / increases crop yield
3. Genetic engineering involves inserting a desired gene from another organism into the crop plant's genome
4. This introduces a desirable characteristic (e.g. disease resistance / pest resistance / drought tolerance / improved nutritional content) so more/better food is produced

## Key terms

- [fertiliser](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/fertiliser)
- [genetic engineering](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/genetic-engineering)

## Related

- [Revision notes for OCR GCSE Biology A: Gateway Science (J247)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Explain" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
- [Practice this with AI marking (free)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/start)

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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/explain-how-the-use-of-fertilisers-3b052e8e) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.