Climate Change Threatens the Future of Food
Human activity is causing changes in the environment that will severely threaten the world's food supply. Fossil fuel emissions have increased the amount of CO2 and ozone in the atmosphere, causing a slow, but steady increase in global temperatures since the beginning of industrialization. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) estimates a 60 % increase in demand for food. FAO also estimates that global yield will decrease between 16 to 33% in overall agricultural production
Although Initial gut instinct based on elementary scientific knowledge might suggest that an increase in carbon emissions would promote plant growth, the residual effects of increased carbon emissions means harmful changes to weather patterns.
Although Initial gut instinct based on elementary scientific knowledge might suggest that an increase in carbon emissions would promote plant growth, the residual effects of increased carbon emissions means harmful changes to weather patterns.
The atmospheric changes are causing a change in weather patterns. They are
becoming more dramatic. Floods and droughts have begun to riddle many of the global hotbeds for agriculture. The increase of greenhouse gas emissions has resulted in higher overall ocean and ground temperatures, disrupting the hydrologic cycles. Dryer areas are becoming dryer. Geographic regions with consistent precipitation are seeing even more. The added heat has caused a faster rate of the overall hydrologic cycle.
Increased precipitation also means more habitat for pests and insects that thrive in wetter environments. Bugs can be detrimental to agriculture. They spread disease and directly damage the crops.
With all that being said, the world population is expected to grow to an estimated 9.8 billion people by the year 2050. According to United Nations projections, that number will reach a staggering 11.2 billion by the end of the century. Thats a global population increase of 27% in just over thirty years and a 45% increase by the year 2100. Therefore, as the world population increases, the demand for food is also increasing exponential, and there is evidence to suggest food demand is increasing even faster.
becoming more dramatic. Floods and droughts have begun to riddle many of the global hotbeds for agriculture. The increase of greenhouse gas emissions has resulted in higher overall ocean and ground temperatures, disrupting the hydrologic cycles. Dryer areas are becoming dryer. Geographic regions with consistent precipitation are seeing even more. The added heat has caused a faster rate of the overall hydrologic cycle.
Increased precipitation also means more habitat for pests and insects that thrive in wetter environments. Bugs can be detrimental to agriculture. They spread disease and directly damage the crops.
With all that being said, the world population is expected to grow to an estimated 9.8 billion people by the year 2050. According to United Nations projections, that number will reach a staggering 11.2 billion by the end of the century. Thats a global population increase of 27% in just over thirty years and a 45% increase by the year 2100. Therefore, as the world population increases, the demand for food is also increasing exponential, and there is evidence to suggest food demand is increasing even faster.
Famine and world hunger already pose a threat to many underdeveloped countries. The United Nations states that 815 million people across the globe were undernourished. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations also estimates that one-third of all food grown for human consumption is never actually consumed. It spoils or goes to waste.
There is also a growing demand for meat and dairy products in developing nations and rising economic powerhouses. That is bad news for sustainability enthusiasts. Animal products take multitudes more water and energy to produce compared with standard field crops.
There is also a great debate between environmentalists and farmers. Environmentalists would argue that water must be conserved and used less. Whereas many farmers would argue that more water usage is needed to ensure food and nutrients to the world's population. The UN states that 3 out of every 10 people are already without access to water. Growing populations, the future need
of more farming, and unsustainable practices will only make this access that much harder.
There is also a growing demand for meat and dairy products in developing nations and rising economic powerhouses. That is bad news for sustainability enthusiasts. Animal products take multitudes more water and energy to produce compared with standard field crops.
There is also a great debate between environmentalists and farmers. Environmentalists would argue that water must be conserved and used less. Whereas many farmers would argue that more water usage is needed to ensure food and nutrients to the world's population. The UN states that 3 out of every 10 people are already without access to water. Growing populations, the future need
of more farming, and unsustainable practices will only make this access that much harder.
In summary, human activity is affecting the availability of food and water in a negative pattern and is trending worse into the future. Weather patterns are becoming more dramatic, causing flooding and droughts in regions reliant on agriculture. With a growing population and food demand per capita also increasing, the world will need to carefully consider the global consequences of individual actions and move towards sustainable developments that preserve and support agriculture.
