Skip to content

Going Green

Food and Agriculture Reorganisation

by Dave Armstrong 14 Oct 2011
Food and Agriculture Reorganisation

Grain crop via Shutterstock

Nature has published a daring study outlining plans to double food production in order to feed the projected nine billion mouths we will have in 2050. By using only satellite images and crop records, the eminent researchers from Canada, the US, Sweden, and Germany have been able to predict less environmental impact with double production. With one billion chronically malnourished humans at the moment, perhaps we can make an immediate start.

Expansion of farmland and land clearance would stop, while the improved use of crop varieties, management strategies and genetics could result in a 60% increase in productivity would close the infamous "yield gap".(* This crop failure phrase describes how many farms could increase yields simply by using best practice in these areas.)

Water, nutrients and other supplements to the land can be reallocated, especially in those areas where shortages are starkly obvious. Animal feed and biofuel production should ideally cease, as it wastes the farmland that must be used to create more human food. The calories /person would rise by 50% with these dedicated croplands.

Here the authors show the fraction of the world's total cropland that is dedicated to growing food crops (crops that are directly consumed by people) versus all other crop uses, including animal feed, fibre, bioenergy crops and other products.

Here the authors show the fraction of the world's total cropland that is dedicated to growing food crops (crops that are directly consumed by people) versus all other crop uses, including animal feed, fibre, bioenergy crops and other products; Credit: © Nature

Wastage must also be fought. With 33% spoilage, discarded or lost to pests, farm production needs the boost of efficient "farm to mouth" pathways. Food consumption could rise in this way by another fifty per cent.

While NASA, NSERC and NSF funded "Solutions for a Cultivated Planet," it is the rest of the world that need to fund and adopt this plan or a strong alternative before we realise that we are involved in a food war. "For the first time, we have shown that it is possible to both feed a hungry world and protect a threatened planet," said lead author Jonathan Foley. We must all know by now that every argument has an opposite argument by politicians and farmers who don't mince words, with emotions, dogma and traditional practice used as "evidence". The fight against such prejudicial practice and the ancient profit motive has just begun.


Trending Eco-Friendly Clothing

Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Love My Planet women's eco-friendly relaxed fit hoodieSize Guide Centimeters 8 10 12 14 16 18 Bust 84 88 92 97 103 108 Waist 66 70 75 80 85 91 Hips 91 95 99 104 109 116 Bust: Measure around the fullest part of...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Penguins Hate Push-Ups men's eco-friendly pullover HoodieSize Guide Centimeters XS S M L XL XXL Height 171 175 179 183 189 195 Chest 86 93 99 104 116 129 Waist 71 76 81 89 99 112 Chest: Measure all round your chest just below...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Lightning Bolt kids eco-friendly long sleeve t-shirtSize Guide Centimeters 3-4yrs 5-6yrs 7-8yrs 9-10yrs 11-12yrs Height 98 112 125 136 147 Chest 60 66 70 75 84 Chest: Measure all around your chest just below your armpits. Height: Your natural height If you fall between...
£18.00
£18.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Union Jack eco-friendly colour tote bagProduct Specification Organic Cotton Tote Bag. Twill Weave (170gsm). 37 x 42 cm (7cm gusset.) Made in India / Designed on the Isle of Wight. Wash Cool, Hang Dry.
£16.00
£16.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Prev Post
Next Post

Eco-Friendly Shop

Women's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Women Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable women’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Men's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Men Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable men’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Kids Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothes for Kids Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable kids clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies and jumpers. Our garments...
Shop Now
Someone recently bought a
[time] ago, from [location]

Thanks for subscribing!

This email has been registered!

Shop the look

Choose Options

Earth Times
Sign up for exclusive updates, new arrivals & insider only discounts

Recently Viewed

Edit Option
Back In Stock Notification
this is just a warning
Login
Shopping Cart
0 items

Before you leave...

Take 20% off your first order

20% off

Enter the code below at checkout to get 20% off your first order

CODESALE20

Continue Shopping