An insightful take on the Food poverty that would hit the world population sooner or later. The current wisdom in agricultural innovation is to replicate and engineer crops that would withstand the effects of climate changes
The world population is set to reach 9 billion by 2050.The prospect of soaring food prices and global warming has brought food security and climate change concern to the euphoria.
There are 2 challenges
1. Climate change
2. Increasing demand for food production
Climate change adaption is a must for the agricultural sector. This will require a substantial and financial investment in order to achieve food and nutrition security, especially in the food insecure developing countries
Rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, changes in sunshine levels and increasing concentrations of atmospheric CO2 all these will lead to affecting operations, productivity and range of products offered by the sector
The effects of climate change on agriculture do not respect national borders; they cover entire agro-ecological zones. Farmers are the key actors in the conservation and sustainable use of food crops and they struggle with all the changes that are happening. If we work with a solid scientific basis and the integration of farmers, we will see a substantial improvement in the future
The challenge for global agriculture is to grow more food on not much more land, using less water,fertilisers and pesticides than we have historically done.
There should be a campaign to develop specific policies to conserve and make wider use of plant varieties for generations to come. The conservation and sustainable use of plant generic resources for food and agriculture are crucial to ensuring that the world will produce enough food to feed its growing population in the future
Another major problem with the sector is that its heavy dependence on fossil fuels is undermining its ability to feed the world, perpetuating poverty .
The worlds food production systems----From farms where food is grown to further along the processing and marketing chain ---consume 30% of all available energy. Some 70% of that energy consumption happens after food leaves farms,as it is transported,processed,packed,shiiped,stored, marketed and prepared.
A significant amount of all energy used in the food chain ---about 40-45% is lost due to food losses and waste (about 1.3 billion tones is thrown away or lost due to spoilage each year)
Meanwhile almost 3 billion people have limited access to modern energy services for heating and cooking,and 1.4 billion have zero or limited access to electricity.
To feed the planet , the world’s food production system requires energy. At the same time ,food production is not just using energy ,it is also wasting it.
There is a significant need and huge opportunity to improve energy efficiency in the food chain as well as to produce sustainable energy within the agricultural sector, that
Must be explored boldly
Some of the solutions that can be thought of but not limited to are…
While not all the list of solutions identified will be universally applicable , we can learn a lot about how countries could take similar steps and begin this approach to agriculture
Sd/-
Roohul Haq
The world population is set to reach 9 billion by 2050.The prospect of soaring food prices and global warming has brought food security and climate change concern to the euphoria.
There are 2 challenges
1. Climate change
2. Increasing demand for food production
Climate change adaption is a must for the agricultural sector. This will require a substantial and financial investment in order to achieve food and nutrition security, especially in the food insecure developing countries
Rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, changes in sunshine levels and increasing concentrations of atmospheric CO2 all these will lead to affecting operations, productivity and range of products offered by the sector
The effects of climate change on agriculture do not respect national borders; they cover entire agro-ecological zones. Farmers are the key actors in the conservation and sustainable use of food crops and they struggle with all the changes that are happening. If we work with a solid scientific basis and the integration of farmers, we will see a substantial improvement in the future
The challenge for global agriculture is to grow more food on not much more land, using less water,fertilisers and pesticides than we have historically done.
There should be a campaign to develop specific policies to conserve and make wider use of plant varieties for generations to come. The conservation and sustainable use of plant generic resources for food and agriculture are crucial to ensuring that the world will produce enough food to feed its growing population in the future
Another major problem with the sector is that its heavy dependence on fossil fuels is undermining its ability to feed the world, perpetuating poverty .
The worlds food production systems----From farms where food is grown to further along the processing and marketing chain ---consume 30% of all available energy. Some 70% of that energy consumption happens after food leaves farms,as it is transported,processed,packed,shiiped,stored, marketed and prepared.
A significant amount of all energy used in the food chain ---about 40-45% is lost due to food losses and waste (about 1.3 billion tones is thrown away or lost due to spoilage each year)
Meanwhile almost 3 billion people have limited access to modern energy services for heating and cooking,and 1.4 billion have zero or limited access to electricity.
To feed the planet , the world’s food production system requires energy. At the same time ,food production is not just using energy ,it is also wasting it.
There is a significant need and huge opportunity to improve energy efficiency in the food chain as well as to produce sustainable energy within the agricultural sector, that
Must be explored boldly
Some of the solutions that can be thought of but not limited to are…
1. Crop research for sustainable climate change
2. We need to put climate smart agriculture into practice ,working closely with farmers and their communities
3. Renewable source of energy as a substitute for fossil fuels in the agri-food chain
4. Zero tillage and other sustainable intensification farming techniques can reduce the amount of energy used in the farm
5. Greater use of fuel efficient engines
6. Relying less on non –organic fertilizers and pesticides
7. Integrated pest and weed management techniques
8. Shifting to crop varieties and animal breeds that require fewer inputs
9. Better storage systems and healthy distribution practices
10. Zero wastage –Start from Self at Home
While not all the list of solutions identified will be universally applicable , we can learn a lot about how countries could take similar steps and begin this approach to agriculture
Sd/-
Roohul Haq
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