Population holocaust across the world is regularly presenting a vast challenge for meeting the demand of food and energy. Further, the world’s population is estimated to be tripled by the year 2050 with the projected growth up to 9 billion. The ever-expanding population is also becoming more discerned with greater demands for healthy and heigynic foods and sustained energy. Meeting these increasing demands over the years requires a much higher production of food and energy from existing levels. How are we going to achieve this?
With about 7 billion people currently living on the planet to feed and increasing daily, that is a very important but hard questions. The answer relies in increasing production and public education and controlling the population,
Reduce food loss and waste
So much food is wasted every day, if we can just work on public education, we may able to save some and send it to poor countries
Boost crop yields
Boosting yields is particularly important in sub-Saharan Africa, which currently has the world's lowest cereal yields but will account for one-third of all additional calories needed in 2050.
Improve land and water management
Conservation agriculture — such as reduced tillage, crop rotations and mulching — increased maize yields in Malawi. Combining these techniques with agroforestry — intercropping with trees — further increased yields. These practices could be scaled up on more than 300 million hectares in sub-Saharan Africa.
Achieve replacement level fertility
Reducing population growth can help hold down food demand. While most regions are projected to reach replacement level fertility — or the rate at which a population exactly replaces itself from one generation to the next — sub-Saharan Africa's population is on course to more than double between now and 2050.
Truly a research question. We have to explore the possibilities of cultivating such crops that can meet both demands i.e. food needs and energy source at the same time. However, population growth would be the major challenge. For that planning is quite essential as no more land can be added to the world.
With about 7 billion people currently living on the planet to feed and increasing daily, that is a very important but hard questions. The answer relies in increasing production and public education and controlling the population,
Reduce food loss and waste
So much food is wasted every day, if we can just work on public education, we may able to save some and send it to poor countries
Boost crop yields
Boosting yields is particularly important in sub-Saharan Africa, which currently has the world's lowest cereal yields but will account for one-third of all additional calories needed in 2050.
Improve land and water management
Conservation agriculture — such as reduced tillage, crop rotations and mulching — increased maize yields in Malawi. Combining these techniques with agroforestry — intercropping with trees — further increased yields. These practices could be scaled up on more than 300 million hectares in sub-Saharan Africa.
Achieve replacement level fertility
Reducing population growth can help hold down food demand. While most regions are projected to reach replacement level fertility — or the rate at which a population exactly replaces itself from one generation to the next — sub-Saharan Africa's population is on course to more than double between now and 2050.
We can explore oceans since they are full of seafood. We can also build water dams and projects to exploit water in an efficient way.
With diminishing oil supplies and greater demands for “clean” energy sources, it is entirely conceivable that India will turn increasingly to renewable energy sources: solar, hydro and wind power. Coal, however, will retain its dominance, though its share in energy generation will diminish by approximately 25 per cent. Nuclear power will not rise to a major extent (in the overall context) given its start-up costs and current public sentiment. It is likely that India will turn increasingly to imports of liquid natural gas and shale oil, the latter sourced from either Russia or the United States for political reasons.
http://www.futuredirections.org.au/publications/indian-ocean/1118-meeting-india-s-energy-requirements-in-2030-1.html
I am strongly accept with the answers of Prof. Behrouz Ahmadi-Nedushan and Prof. Asmat Ali.
Prof. Lala Behari Sukla's Link is very useful for the stated question.
Hi
The development of a sustainable, long-termsolution to meeting the world’s energy
needs is a defining issue of our time. Energy is directly linked with the key global challenges that the world faces - poverty alleviation, climate change, and global, environmental and food security.
I think https://www.unido.org/fileadmin/user_media/Publications/documents/energy_development_and_security.pdf
is an interesting article for this question.
Dear Yogesh, this is an existing issue and needs to be solved. The following report from the UN: Our Common Future, Chapter 2: Towards Sustainable Development, From A/42/427. Our Common Future: Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development. It discusses the problem, see the whole report at:
http://www.un-documents.net/ocf-02.htm
UN reports are made by people who are never involved at grass root level of production of foods. Reporting are made by elite class based on secondary data which is either pro government or reporting institution
But reality in food sector is never known at bottom up
One side big group of farmers are making suicide due to big loss
But same time there is lot of positive reforms in this ectors
Definitely, it is a huge challenge for most nations to feed a rising population. There is a limit to which the agricultural productivity can be increased through better seeds and technology. Simultaneously, more land is going to be acquired for habitation of the additional population, further limiting the cultivable land. Exploitation of sea resources is a good point. Additional poultry and meat production through better variety of animals is also one of the solution. But the sustainable solution has to be population control.
Unfortunately dear @Ravindra, the UN's reporting are made by elite class based on secondary data which is either pro government or reporting institution.
Today the population is close to 7 billion. By 2050, our planet could hold more than 9 billion people. The current problem is unsustainable resource utilization by a few relatively wealthy middle and upper classes.
“While economic progress is laudable, its impacts on natural resource use are substantial. Wealthier, more urbanized populations have transitioned toward more diversified diets, increasing their consumption of not only meat, but also vegetables and sugars—all of which require much more water and energy per unit of calorie produced. The lifestyles in industrialized countries are particularly characterized by overuse of both renewable and fossil resources.”
So we need to take a holistic view, and develop strategies that will be multipronged: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle
Land, water and energy utilization need to be organized in a sustainable fashion with optimum mix of renewable technologies. Energy strategy should be
http://www.ifpri.org/ghi/2012/sustainable-food-security-under-land-water-energy-stresses
Energy consumption in agriculture is very intensive. It uses large quantities of locally available non-commercial energies, such as seeds, manure and animate energy, and commercial energies directly and indirectly in the form of diesel, electricity, fertilizer, plant protection, chemicals, irrigation water, machinery, etc. Efficient use of these energies helps to achieve increased production and productivity, and contributes to the economy, profitability and competitiveness of agricultural sustainability of rural communities. It is realized that crop yields and food supplies are directly linked to energy. One strategy to combat the situation would be via systems optimization. This concept can be used to improve energy efficiency and productivity in a wide range of industrial applications..Systems optimization can support effective energy management by helping to identify areas of wastage, understand the energy consumption of the process, highlight changes to energy consumption patterns and reach an optimal condition for the supply of power. In most cases, energy efficiency benefits are achieved by improving productivity. By effective implementation of systems optimization one can achieve:
Output, energy efficiency and product quality are Increased.
Energy cost, downtime and human input are decreased.
Emissions and waste per unit of output are reduced, also it minimizes Occupational health and safety.
...
Although this is quite controversial, we may tap into the potential of 'safe' genetically engineered alternatives such as Golden Rice. That is going through rigorous safety assessments but is yet to be declared safe for consumption. However, GE foods will always be a second option, since nothing comes close to natural foodstuffs-- which (excepting organic food) may not be entirely safe either in some cases such as foods most prone to high pesticide residue.
Here is a paper on how to feed the world in 2050:
http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/templates/wsfs/docs/expert_paper/How_to_Feed_the_World_in_2050.pdf
@ Behrouz - Thanks for your tempting answers. You have underlined some pertinent points like reduction of food wastes, enhancement of crop yield, efficient landuse and water management and above all population control. Of course these issue need sincere attention by researchers and policy makers. So far reduction of food waste and population control are concerned, greater awareness and accountability among people across the world in general and developing countries in particular are important.
@ Nageswara Rao express his concern over the overuse/abuse of food and energy resources by urban society and industrialized nations and stressed for taking a holistic view, and developing effective strategy and policy for Reduce, Reuse and Recycle of resources that are vital for life.
@ Mahfuz & Debi S. pertinently pointed out blasting population growth as the main offender for food crisis and challenges for future looking to shrinking cultivable land. Their suggestion for exploitation of sea resources appeared a practicable option.
@ Asmat Ali Yes, exploring the possibilities of cultivating such crops that can meet both food and energy needs, giving due attention to population control are need of hour. In fact tackling the challenge entail a combination of multiple efforts like cultivation of land currently covered in rainforests, enhancing production from existing arable land, changing people’s habits to change food consumption patterns, reducing food waste and quality production directed R&D approach.
@ Ravindra & Abedallah drawn attention towards lack of grass root level approach in UN reports on demand and supply of food and emphasized the need for realistic reports on crucial issues incorporating the real facts.
Most posts are very interesting and value-adding. I fully endorse the thread of dear Nageswar and Kamal as more sustainable ways of looking at the issue keeping in view a systems view in mind. The attachment of dear Monica about how to feed the world in 2050 is very interesting. Great posts. Thanks.
A respectful management and long-term, that does not undermine the foundations of development for future generations. Agriculture that is detached from the deleterious dependence on oil (and the related implications of pollution and the greenhouse effect) and by industrial monocultures, and rediscover more natural methods and the enhancement of local varieties, and face start a new virtuous circle of the whole 'wide chain of connected field.
The purpose of the economy and its current paradigm are not functional in the future. You have to unlearn our current system of doing business: the only way you can find a new way, a different solution out of the crisis.
@ Lala Behari Sukla & Mahmoud Omidne - True Dr Shulkla, consequent to declining resource of fissile fuel resources coupled with environmental concern, demands for “clean” and renewable energy is on the global agenda. India should look towards and make every effort to harness renewable energy sources like: solar, hydro and wind power. Yes, systems optimization concept in a wide range of industrial applications can be effective in improving energy efficiency and productivity as rightly stated by Mahmoud Omid.
Article attached by Dr. Kamal, Monika and Atena are important, interesting and worth reading.
@ Monica – Yes Monika, despite the much emphasized role of biotechnology in agriculture and food production, GM crop and foods products probably will not grab the front row and will remain second option owing to the lack of nature vigour. High cost and comparatively low productivity of organic foods is still a limiting factor for their mass acceptability. Organic food/vegetables/fruits have become elite products due to their high cost and thus not affordable for all. Atena rightly underlined the link between energy and key global challenges like poverty, and environmental and food security.
Dear Prithvi, I agree with you that indigenous way of fertilizing the croplands using different kind of plentifully available organic materials has immense promise for environmentally-benign agricultural practices for production of food crops free from residual toxicity.
Food security has become a real threat
sustainable development , organic agriculture, conservation of forest,
save or conservation of water along with rain water harvesting etc. with integrate approach it is possible to overcome the threat of food security
In addition to higher production, it is of utmost importance to avoid waste.
In 2013, 50% of food was wasted. In developed countries predominantly in the consumption stage, in low-income countries mostly during production. This points to different levers to reduce waste that can be applied during the different stages of the value chain. Levers comprise
- improvements in food manufacturing, warehousing and logistics, as well as
- changes in consumer behaviour.
Waste of energy can be tackled by
- products with improved energy efficiency
- saving energy during production and transportation
- reusing/ recovering energy
- industrial symbiosis
- prevention of waste e.g. by changes in consumer behaviour
Dear All,
Mahfuz are right: in such difficult situations only totally new solutions can help and these may be the outcome of extraordinarily original ideas. Sea food is one of them. Question is the volume and the sustainability of seafood production? There is another old thought for feeding humanity with valuable and cheap provisions: insects – easily reared and massively produced insects are available. This is a traditional human food in some communities. One should get accustomed to design of Tribolium hamburger. One thing is sure meat is too expensive in terms of energy but insects contain a lot of proteins.
Another opportunity: meat production is unsustainable so we should become vegetarians!
The most important option: decreasing human population growth! This is not too popular but necessary.
About energy requirement and food-safety:
Fossil fuels contaminate the environment and food. They also are responsible for climate change, which threatens food production and living areas. Short time visions are prevalent - like fracking - worsening the situation.
The ongoing development of nuclear power as a 'green' technology is of big concern. Fukushima particles are traceable everywhere, the overall radiation situation is getting worse and poses a serious threat.
Seafood production cannot be safe in these - an other - contamination respects.
About traditional farming:
http://www.gazetesiz.com/doga/colu-durduran-adam-83085.html
Renewable source and Green environment is the only solution for future energy and food requirement.
Dear All,
Elisabeth comment is more than crucial in an age and culture where wasting (of everything) and the lack of quality became the mainstream ideas of production and life style. Even human relationships are subordinated to this peculiar but mercenary practice. Everybody should understand that feeding of future generations is not a scientific question. Science has no real part and task in it! It is a question of way of life: changing unsustainable attitudes which spread like wildfire. In this relationship scientific activity has got but a role of Sisyphus.
Our tragedy is that we are not able to see the wood for the trees.
We can meet our food and energy requirements of our future generations through
"There are many synergies and trade-offs between water and energy use and food production"! The answer is somewhere here!
http://www.unwater.org/topics/water-food-and-energy-nexus/en/
http://www.unwater.org/topics/water-and-food/en/
http://www.unwater.org/topics/water-and-energy/en/
Our food and energy requirements of future generations can be met through;
preventing soil pollution through use of biopesticides and biofertilizers
Preventing spoilage of food
preventing food wastage
Taking good crops through proper management
preventing water wastage
taking advantage of weather conditions depending on the situation
All good answers above, but so many dimensions to this question. I would start with the human dimension, and if the people are empowered. Taking control of your food supply is an important start and a willingness to work together for the common good. The other side is a dependence on food from other areas or importation, especially processed foods. We've seen a shift away from native foods in the Pacific to cargo food, such as canned and processed foods. The quality of foods, and the resulting imbalance in diets is a disaster. What is the cost? Diabetes, obesity, hypertension, etc? Community leadership is always a problem and constantly changing. What kind of hierarchy are the people accustomed to living under. In many of these war-torn areas of the world, such as Iraq and Afghanistan, the loss of important crop varieties and a rich genetic base is a tragedy because you cannot just replace it with another variety from another area. Selecting for drought and heat tolerance starts with the local varieties, and possibly crossing it with a resistant variety so changes in taste are minimized. Energy has to be appropriate energy with a large part of the control in the hands of the people. What is the goal? Independence starts with interdependence, and dependence is the worst possible scenario. The ancient cultural and family systems are so vital to the survival of communities and is the glue that holds them together, especially for those who have few choices. Education will always be a limitation, but it has to be based on the strength and resilience of their family system, and enhancing that system.
Dear Krishnan,
1. „Increase in Productivity
2. Increase in yield
3. Reduction of Wastage
4. Increase in proper storage methods”
I can but repeat with increasing human population growth your 4 points do not work. In addition, the 3. point needs an economic an behavioural answer. Introduction of your other 3 points cannot be a solution: Please, read Donella Meadows 12 points on the operation of systems. http://www.thesolutionsjournal.com/node/419
The verb “increase” cannot work in either natural or artificial systems. Because critical increase should have been attained but the time is limited!
“Numbers, the sizes of flows, are dead last on the list of powerful interventions. It’s not that parameters aren’t important—they can be, especially in the short term and to the individual who’s standing directly in the flow.” Go again to http://www.thesolutionsjournal.com/node/419
@ Costas, I completely agree, Green technology is the only Green solution to a Green environment, which gives us food :))
@ Tobias M Ntuli - Indeed, biotechnological tools including genetic engineering have paved the ways for attaining enhanced production of food plants with desirable qualities isolate Genes with favourable traits have been isolated and inserted to produce crop that can resist drought, insects, pesticides and even is more nutritious. However, the safety of such products is not verified yet. Studies suggested a link between engineered food and cancer. It could raise new allergy outbreaks in humans. It was found that a genetically engineered soya bean containing Brazilian nut protein was allergenic to humans and was withdrawn from production. Altered genes in engineered food will multiply through generations, passing with it any unknown damaging trait to the future population. Affordability by poor communities is another limiting factor. Production of genetically modified food needs very high investment and usually done by the large companies established in western world that will make under-developed countries more dependent on developed countries. As, such, the answer has to be found indigenously with appropriate scientific intervention.
I agree with YOGESH CHANDRA TRIPATHI. We must take caution in front to undiscovered. The most rational in the moment is make better research about the natural varieties. Several production cultures are going up because of variety selection. The segment sugarcane in Brazil recognise and grateful - Just as soybean, peanut, etc..
I insist on this procedure que should happen into other different vegetables Human food - it will give higher production for bioenergy.
Dear @Jose, I do agree with You and @Yogesh about better research on natural varieties. "A rising worldwide population demands more food and natural resources to satisfy its’ needs, and at the rate things are happening it is obvious that agriculture will not be able to handle the constant abiotic and biotic threats that accompany crop production. Thirty years ago the first plant genetic modifications set out the basis of a new scientific branch that offers multiple options to cope with the threats against agriculture." This paper seems very contributing to this thread!
Article An overall viewpoint of 30 years of genetically modified cro...
A milestone has been reached in the 60-year struggle to harness the nuclear reactions that power the Sun in an experiment that could lead to a way of producing an unlimited source of clean and sustainable energy in the form of nuclear fusion.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/the-lasers-fuelling-hopes-of-unlimited-clean-nuclear-energy-9124237.html
Thanks a lot José Alberto for agreeing to my view. I also endorse your statement "The most rational in the moment is make better research about the natural varieties" Thanks Ljubomir Jacić for the informative thread.
Dear Yogesh, you are asking an important question. The problem is that over-population has never emerged in the past and thus humanity does not have historical recipe of how to deal with it. The major problem is the limit of bearing capacity of the Earth to reproduce renewable resources: biomass, water, etc.
Scientists starting from Malthus have been concerned with this problem. The works of Club of Rome in 1972 put this problem again as the hot; that time the population was only 4 billion. It is true that new technologies contribute to growth of agricultural productivity, but it is also true that the limit is close.
I think that this book by Brian Czech "The supply shock" is very important for understanding where are we now: https://supplyshock.org/promote/
I also worked on this problem; you can read this text with 2 models - on interaction between economics and nature, and urbanization: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/278110040_Low-Dimensional_Nonlinear_Dynamical_Systems_as_a_Tool_for_Socio-Economic_Modelling
Conference Paper Low-Dimensional Nonlinear Dynamical Systems as a Tool for So...
Dear Yuri, you are right - new technologies indeed contributing to growth of agricultural productivity, but this growth perhaps failing to commensurate with the demand of exploding population.
Yorkshire Chandra,
Few simple suggestions :
1) Conservation of food and energy
2) R&D on Solar applications
3) Simple living may support the future generations
4) Dig out the secrets of the past; Godly people did perform many miracles, by producing food and energy. May be, meditation may reveal such secrets.
Dr.S.Ravindran
The only correct answer to this question is the one provided by https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Behrouz_Ahmadi-Nedushan at the end of his list: Achieve replacement level fertility. Any answer that does not address fertility simply adds to the problem, since feeding people without addressing their reproductive rate simply makes more people. Asking how much food is needed to feed a growing population is like asking how much wood is needed to feed a growing wildfire.
You are right Dear Christopher Bystroff. But addressing fertility issue has social, political and religious constraints.
We have a stark choice Yoghesh Chandra Tripathi, either we reduce the population or nature will do it for us. If nature does it, it will not be pretty! Social, political and religious constraints are ignored by nature.
Yes, Indefinite population growth is certainly an alarming issue. It is physically impossible on a finite planet to provide reasonable quality of life for all. It will certainly stop at some point either humane way or later through more deaths by famine, disease, war, the natural way. As Maurice Strong, Secretary General of the 1992 Earth Summit put it: "Either we reduce our numbers voluntarily, or nature will do it for us brutally." The world needs a definite population policy beyond all social, cultural, political precincts. The Nature has nothing to do with all these human-made systems and their traditional conduct.
Dear Hamit Can,
Thanks for sharing informative and useful thread.
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