Question

The shift from grain to meat diets also creates more demand for cereals as it takes 3-10 Kg of grain to produce 1 Kg of meat by animal farming. Explain this statement in the light of your knowledge of food chains?

Answer 1

Part 1: Introduction of 10% Law
According to the 10% energy law, only 10% energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next trophic level in the food chain. This means organisms at the higher trophic level receive very less energy.

Part 2: Shifting from grains to meat
The shift from grains to meat means the need for more cereals (grains) are eaten by herbivores which in turn are eaten by carnivores and omnivores. As only 10% energy is transferred from one trophic level, more plants are required on which herbivores can feed so that sufficient amounts of meat can be obtained from these organisms.