June 2012 ISSN 2070-4593 - NGC

Access to
natural
resources such
as land, water
or forests — is
essential for the
2.5 billion
people who
produce food
for their own
consumption
and income.
The farmers who
operate the 500
million small farms in
developing countries face
various resource limitations
resulting in insufficient access
to food and nutrition. They need clear
tenure rights to promote equitable access to
and sustainable management of resources
like land and water.
Towards sustainable food production
and consumption systems
Food consumption and production systems
must achieve more with less. On the
consumption side, we need to shift to
nutritious diets with a smaller environmental
footprint, and reduce food losses and waste
throughout the food system.
FAO estimates that global food losses
and waste amount to 1.3 billion tonnes per
year — roughly one-third of the world food
production for human consumption — and
correspond to more than 10 percent of the
world’s total caloric energy consumption.
On the production side, soil, water
and nutrient depletion, greenhouse gas
emissions, pollution and the degradation of
natural ecosystems must be targeted, the
report said. Benefits provided by nature such
as clean air and water (ecosystem services)
need to be protected and harnessed to
achieve sustainable growth.
More with less
Agriculture must produce
more food but with
fewer resources like
energy and water.
FAO is promoting
an eco-system
approach called
Save and Grow to
agriculture that
draws on nature’s
contribution to
agricultural growth,
for example, soil
organic matter, water
flow regulation, pollination
and natural predation of
pests — and applies appropriate
external inputs at the right time and in
the right amount to improved crop varieties
that are resilient to climate change and use
nutrients, water and external inputs more
efficiently.
Feeding 9 billion people
In 2050 there will be an expected global
population of 9 billion, with increased incomes
and rising food demand.
Pressure on the world’s agricultural and
food systems and the resources they use
will grow. Worse, unless purposeful action is
taken, the increase in food production of 60
percent needed to meet effective demand will
still leave behind over 300 million people who
are expected to suffer from chronic hunger
in 2050 because they will remain without the
means to access food.
The only way to ensure their food security
is by creating decent jobs, paying better
wages, giving them access to productive
assets and distributing income in a more
equitable way.
June 2012 Earth Conscious 33