Are There Really Enough Food to Feed the World
In 1961, the world population was just over 3 billion. Now it is 7 billion+.
The general perception is that there is not enough food produced to feed this growing population and that the world needs to resort to large, industrial-scale production.
The stark reality is that the food produced per person has actually increased by about 30 percent!
Figure 2: Unsold Food Found in a Seattle Landfill
So, what political and economic frameworks could have led to the commonly held belief that there is not enough food being produced?
For example, in some regions, a government policy of keeping the farm produce prices low is well received by the consumer population at large.
To keep prices of food produce low, supply needs to exceed demand. Therefore, produce more!
Enter, large-scale agricultural practices.
Large-scale agricultural practices and increased pesticide usage go hand-in-hand. To increase yield, more fertilizers and pesticides are pumped into the earth each year.
Figure 3: 200 Million Tonnes of Fertilizers Produced each Year
Figure 4: Production & Consumption of Pesticides on the Rise
Pesticide and fertilizer companies are producing more and ingeniously selling more - with of course, strategic focus on India, China, and the African countries.
While innovations in agriculture and food technology continue to contribute towards yield and productivity, the rate at which we are increasing food production already far exceeds the rate of growth in population.
As per the FAO and UN, we are producing so much more than what is required that half of all fruits & vegetables produced globally is wasted each year.
Not only are we wasting food, in this age of large-scale food production, there is an increasing gap between what we pay at the retail store and what the farmer gets.
Figure 5: United States Retail Bread Price and Farm-Gate Wheat Price, 1975-2016
Small-holding farmers are left poorer in many geographies, as they do not have the bandwidth to market their produce or protect themselves from lower commodity prices driven by scale, fluctuating demand and supply.
Now, imagine a scenario where there are small, sustainable farms distributed all over the world, with each farm supplying fresh, seasonal produce to conscious, responsible consumers around them. There is minimal or no usage of fertilizers and pesticides, minimal food wastage because only what is needed is harvested (or even sown), and a cleaner environment because of increased soil health and reduced food miles.
Too idealistic?
Maybe not.
A local system of production and distribution exists already in various parts of the world. This involves shorter supply chains that enable an enhanced connection between rural and urban areas . This also secures a fair income for small, local farmers.
Why do I have hope that the local food system will have continued success? 4 reasons!
- Our surveys show that 90% of millennials are concerned about how their food is grown and would like to know more about the source of their food.
- There is no need for the increased usage of fertilizers and pesticides. Research indicates that organic farmers could possibly feed the whole world - given local community participation and support throughout the journey.
- It's heartening to note that, as per research findings, small farms produce more total output per unit of land than large monocultures.
- A well-informed reader like you prefers to buy what is grown seasonally and sustainably, from a nearby smallholding farmer and ensures the farmer gets most of what you pay.
Bottom line - Here is a simple act we all can do that will impact farmer well-being:
Keep buying fresh produce, directly from a nearby, smallholding farmer practicing sustainable agriculture. Through your local support, you bring about a positive impact on social & economic development and the environment!
I'd love to have a conversation with you and hear your thoughts. Please share your comments!
About the Author
Vijay Tadepalli - Entrepreneur, Business Leader, busy building the local food system.
B Tech, IIT Kharagpur
About the Company
At EatLocal, we're of the opinion that sustainable agriculture and responsible consumption shouldn't have to be hard work. We are a UN SDG 12 aligned SaaS company enabling sustainable production and consumption. We help farmers to sell their fresh farm produce to consumers nearby and stay engaged with them, for immediate and local consumption.
To urban consumers, we offer a progressive web app for personalized subscription to healthy food, grown locally and sustainably, and to rural producers, an IT enabler for their operations.
Our contribution has been to create a platform, primarily digital, with a mission to:
- Build communities and a shared value to benefit local farmers, the environment and urban consumers.
- Enable farming collectives practicing sustainable agriculture to engage with and retain the community of nearby urban consumers.
- Share inspiring stories of farmers, consumers and communities making an impact.
Acknowledgements: I wish thank to Radhika, Co-Founder - EatLocal, Krishna, my son and Navin Twarakavi, AgTech innovation expert. Their contribution to the research and my endless debates with them is helping me publish a series of articles to draw attention to the agrarian crisis. Navin, Krishna, Radhika -Thank you!
References:
Figure 1: Italian government introduces new legislation to curb food wastage epidemic - Ken Fullerton
Figure 2: A Huge Pile Of Unsold Food From Amazon Go Was Found In A Seattle Landfill - Nicole Nguyen
Figure 3: 200 Million Tonnes of Fertilizers Produced each Year - Our World in Data
Figure 4: The Developing World is Awash in Pesticides. Does it have to be? - Aleszu Bajak
Figure 5: United States Retail Bread Price and Farm-Gate Wheat Price, 1975-2016 - Darrin Qualman
Food Loss and Food Waste - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Nearly half of all fruits & vegetables produced globally is wasted each year - The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)
Top Pesticide Using Countries - WorldAtlas
More than 30 per cent of world's organic producers are in India - Jitendra
Small and marginal farmers account for 86.2% of all farmers in India, but own just 47.3% of the crop area - Sayantan Bera
Zero-budget farming: Budget 2019 makes potentially game-changing announcements for farmers - The Economic Times
Organic farmers could feed the world - Romain Loury
Sustainable Agriculture Outlook Rooted with Millennials - Claire Mesesan
More farmers, better food - Chris Chancellor for Nyeleni Europe and Central Asia Platform for Food Sovereignty
How Small Farms Can (Sustainably) Feed The Future - Louisa Chalmer
We don't need to double world food production by 2050 – here's why - Mitch Hunter
Source: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/enough-food-produced-feed-world-myth-debunked-vijay-tadepalli
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