By 2050 we’ll need to feed two billion more people than those making the world population today. How can we do it without overwhelming the planet?
Let’s have a look at some recent facts about world agriculture provided by National Geographic Magazine.
‘On the Vulgamore farm near Scott City, Kansas, each combine can harvest up to 25 acres of wheat an hour—as well as real-time data on crop yields. Most of the food Americans eat is now produced on such large-scale, mechanized farms, which grow row after row of a single crop, allowing farmers to cover more ground with less labor.’
‘At Granja Mantiqueira in Brazil eight million hens lay 5.4 million eggs a day. Conveyor belts whisk the eggs to a packaging facility. Demand for meat has tripled in the developing world in four decades, while egg consumption has increased sevenfold, driving a huge expansion of large-scale animal operations.’
‘A bumper crop of corn piles up outside full silos in Brazil’s Mato Grosso state, which sends much of its grain to China and South Korea to feed their pigs and chickens. The demand for more crops to feed livestock is one reason experts say we’ll need to double crop production by 2050.’
Zero Hunger is Goal 2 of the UN SDGs. It is about creating a world free of hunger by 2030. ‘In 2020, between 720 million and 811 million persons worldwide were suffering from hunger, roughly 161 million more than in 2019. Also in 2020, a staggering 2.4 billion people, or above 30 per cent of the world’s population, were moderately or severely food-insecure, lacking regular access to adequate food.’ (United Nations)
Feeding a growing population is a complex challenge that requires a multi-faceted approach. It may involve several actions, such as:
Increase agricultural productivity using better seeds, fertilizers, and other inputs, meaning that more food can be obtained from the same amount of land.
Invest in research and development. It can help to create new technologies and methods to increase yields and improve the efficiency of farming.
Reduce food loss and waste, following the “save, preserve, recycle” principles.
Improve distribution and storage. It can help to ensure that food gets to where it is needed most, reducing the risk of loss and food shortages.
Promote sustainable farming practices. Sustainable farming practices, such as agroforestry, crop rotation, and conservation agriculture, can help to reduce the environmental impact of agriculture while also increasing yields.
Encourage a shift towards plant-based diets. Plant-based diets can be more environmentally sustainable and require fewer resources than animal-based diets. Encouraging a shift towards plant-based diets can contribute to reducing the demand for animal products and the resources needed to produce them.
Address poverty and inequality. Poverty and inequality can prevent people from accessing food, even when it is available. Addressing poverty and inequality means to ensure that everyone has access to the food they need to thrive.
During our research and projects, we have found out that farmers based in Sub-Saharan Africa can often grow and provide yields that might be used to mitigate the hunger problem. Yet, due to lack of connectivity, resources, and specialised knowledge, they may end up wasting up to 80% of their harvest.
Farmer Charlie technology provides connectivity to cover remote areas, connect farmers to external markets, bring effective solutions in farming thanks to soil and environmental data that facilitates decision-making in local farms. We strive to support farmers in emerging countries and contribute to fostering sustainable development and achieving the UN SDGs by 2030.
If you want to leave your mark on solving the hunger problem or to support us in our activities, please feel free to contact us and share your ideas – community@farmer-charlie.com.
The future starts now!
-Marina Novokhatska
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