Global world population is expected to hit the 9 billion mark by 2050. Besides the growing population, hunger is another problem that has affected at least 800 million people across the world, mostly females. Both issues can be addressed by increasing food productivity. However, the process of increasing food productivity has not been favorable to the environment for these past years. As a result, a sustainable way needs to be completed to increase food productivity and improve food security while minimizing its negative effects on the environment.
According to J.A. Foley (2015), there are five steps to improve food production in a sustainable way: stop expansion of agriculture land, close the yield gap, efficient use of resources, changing …show more content…
70% of the world’s fresh water is used for agriculture, mainly for irrigation. The water systems have also been contaminated by fertilizers and pesticides used for growing crops. This leads to eutrophication (massive growth of algae bloom) due to phosphorus and death of aquatic animals. Moreover, agriculture contributes directly to 12-16 % of global greenhouse gases, which leads to rise in global temperatures. Enteric fermentation in livestock (methane) and fertilized crops (nitrous oxide) are thought to be the sources of these greenhouse …show more content…
This can be executed by carrying out the five steps at the same time to maximize the effect on food production while minimizing its environmental and social costs. Another way is to connect local agricultural systems with trade by providing the transport and infrastructure required. Trading may help increase farmers’ income because it allows farmers to maximize the production of their goods that they specialized. Governments can also support in making a sustainable food system by creating policies to stabilize food prices and awarding accreditations to person or organization when sustainable actions are carried out. This includes REDD (exchange actions with carbon credits), biofuel policies, labels, and certification programs. Moreover, food awarded points may be necessary to provide its nutritional, environmental and social values to the consumers.
The challenge of feeding the growing population in the world is very huge, but never impossible to overcome. Stopping expansion of agriculture land, minimize the yield gap, using resources efficiently, changing diets, and decreasing the food waste are some of the steps that could be taken to increase food production and preserve biodiversity. This requires the participation of different groups of people from farmers, organizations to governments. Cooperation between these groups is necessary to ensure food security in a sustainable
According to J.A. Foley (2015), there are five steps to improve food production in a sustainable way: stop expansion of agriculture land, close the yield gap, efficient use of resources, changing …show more content…
70% of the world’s fresh water is used for agriculture, mainly for irrigation. The water systems have also been contaminated by fertilizers and pesticides used for growing crops. This leads to eutrophication (massive growth of algae bloom) due to phosphorus and death of aquatic animals. Moreover, agriculture contributes directly to 12-16 % of global greenhouse gases, which leads to rise in global temperatures. Enteric fermentation in livestock (methane) and fertilized crops (nitrous oxide) are thought to be the sources of these greenhouse …show more content…
This can be executed by carrying out the five steps at the same time to maximize the effect on food production while minimizing its environmental and social costs. Another way is to connect local agricultural systems with trade by providing the transport and infrastructure required. Trading may help increase farmers’ income because it allows farmers to maximize the production of their goods that they specialized. Governments can also support in making a sustainable food system by creating policies to stabilize food prices and awarding accreditations to person or organization when sustainable actions are carried out. This includes REDD (exchange actions with carbon credits), biofuel policies, labels, and certification programs. Moreover, food awarded points may be necessary to provide its nutritional, environmental and social values to the consumers.
The challenge of feeding the growing population in the world is very huge, but never impossible to overcome. Stopping expansion of agriculture land, minimize the yield gap, using resources efficiently, changing diets, and decreasing the food waste are some of the steps that could be taken to increase food production and preserve biodiversity. This requires the participation of different groups of people from farmers, organizations to governments. Cooperation between these groups is necessary to ensure food security in a sustainable