Publication date: February 2, 2022
The book "Narrow Planet" by Massimo Livi Bacci highlights global population growth and the challenges it poses for agriculture and food supply in the 21st century.
Currently, less than one-third of the Earth's surface consists of land, and of this, about 30% is used for agriculture. Most of it is used for grazing, while a smaller portion is arable or dedicated to permanent crops.
The main global challenges for agriculture are:
- Population and consumption growth: The world population is increasing, as is the demand for food and calories per capita.
- Climate crisis: Climate change negatively affects agricultural productivity.
- Agricultural productivity: Growth in agricultural productivity is not keeping pace with the rising food demand.
These challenges require reflection on emerging trends in food consumption, such as plant-based diets, cultivated meat, climatarian, vegetarian, and vegan diets, as well as innovative production models like vertical farming and hydroponics.
In January 2022, the world population reached 8 billion people. According to the United Nations, it is expected to reach 10.9 billion by the end of the century.
Global food demand is also influenced by the increase in per capita calorie consumption. For example, in North America, diets are rich in meat, dairy, and eggs, while cereals prevail in Africa and Asia. However, even in these regions, there is a rise in animal protein consumption, with significant environmental implications.
Animal-based food production requires proportionally more land, water, and resources, and generates more emissions compared to plant-based production. Currently, global food demand averages 2,884 kcal per day per person, which is over one million calories per year per individual.
To address these challenges, strategic choices and growing attention to sustainability and innovation in the agricultural sector are necessary.
