FOOD How can we produce enough food for

FOOD How can we produce enough food for a rapidly growing population while sustaining our ability to produce it?

Population vs. Food Availability • 1 out of every 6 people in developing countries is chronically undernourished or malnourished. • To feed the world’s projected population of 8. 9 billion in 2050, we must produce and equally distribute more food than has been produced since agriculture began about 10, 000 years ago. • 1 out of 5 people do not enough land to grow their own food, or the money to buy enough food, regardless of how much food there is. • In the United States, about 36 million Americans are classified as “food insecure” or lacking money to obtain sufficient food at all times.

Food Security • Despite increases in food production, there are still millions of hungry people on the planet. • Since 1961, our ability to produce food has grown faster than the human population. – By using more fossil fuels, planting and harvesting more frequently, increasing fertilizer and pesticide use, and by developing productive crop and livestock varieties. – BUT this has been done at the expense of soil and nearly all of the planet’s arable land is in use. • At what point does population exceed food availability?

Food Security • What are three essential steps to global food security? 1. Maintain healthy soil and water. 2. Protect the biodiversity of food resources. 3. Ensure the safe distribution of food.

Environmental Problems • Growing and developing food products can negatively impact the environment…even when it is done responsibly. Exposed soil can wash away or blow away • Soil Loss • Nutrient Depletion • Water Pollution • Drought • Loss of Biodiversity We are degrading the world’s net productivity. Soil can be overused and nutrients don’t get replaced. Overused fertilizers and pesticides wash off into rivers and streams. Water is redirected for irrigation and overused. It doesn’t reach places that need it. Single species are planted in large fields creating monocultures.

Specific Solutions • Increased Food Efficiency – Production of food using fewer resources in a wiser way. • Subsistence Farming – Family farming to provide most of the necessary food needs. • Genetic Modification of Foods – Developing smart, hearty, strong types of food to sustain drought, low nutrients, etc. • Local Growing and Buying • Expansion of Food Options – Utilizing food options that are native to different areas and expanding the market for them. (black ant larvae and giant water bugs) • Polyculture vs. Monoculture – Growing multiple crops in a field rather than just one. This can combat biodiversity, nutrient depletion, and crop loss due to pests or disease. • Improving Pest Management – Past techniques have created “super pests” that are resistant to our efforts.

Industrial Food Production When we choose what we eat, we are also choosing how we use our resources. Land Required to Produce 1 Kg of protein… • Beef – 245 square meters • Pork – 90 square meters • Eggs – 22 square meters • Chicken – 14 square meters • Milk – 23. 5 square meters Eating plants is a much more efficient way to get nutrients overall. Water Required to Produce 1 kg of protein… • Beef – 750 kg • Pork – 175 kg • Eggs – 15 gk • Chicken – 50 kg • Milk – 250 kg

Review Questions 1. What are the advantages and disadvantages to feedlot operations that are a part of industrial food production. 2. What is the danger in using aquaculture to grow fish for food? 3. Why does the world need to grow more food? 4. Are you comfortable eating genetically modified food? Why or why not? 5. Do you think organic foods are worth the extra cost? Explain your answer.