If mankind is to increase agricultural production by 2050 to meet the requirements of a rising population, we will need to continue to increase the yield per acre achieved in farming, perfect innovative and organic methodologies and reduce food waste. Understanding the optimum development process for any given crop and developing new technologies that increases yields will place us in a more favorable position in meeting the rising demand for food.

A Rising Population…

Global food production will need to increase by 70% by 2050 to feed a population forecasted to reach up to 10.9 billion. In light of the unprecedented challenges to food security being faced today, including that of a shifting climate, the limited expansion of agricultural land and slowing yield expansion, the FAO has outlined recommendations for the preservation of our global environment.

…With Rising Demand

Increasing Yields in Developing Regions Will Combat Global Hunger

Any improvement in crop yields  will  be the dominant factor underpinning production in the future. In developing countries, increasing yields will account for about 70 percent of growth in crop production to 2030, with the remainder coming from expansion in cultivated land. Using high-tech, precision farming systems, as well as approaches borrowed from organic farming, yields for a variety of crops can be improved. One method utilizes irrigation and the development of state-of-the-art moisture retention and distribution systems  and liquid fertilizer (fertigation)  systems.

Perfecting Our Agricultural Resources And Increasing Yields (Pt. 2)

Other innovative methods being utilized to raise yields include GPS controlled tractors to promote sowing and harvesting efficiencies, and customized blends of fertilizer that is tailored to their soil conditions and greater water. Organic farming can also greatly reduce the use of water and chemicals by incorporating cover crops, mulches, and compost to improve soil quality, conserve water, and build up nutrients.

Still Room for Agricultural Expansion, But it’s Not Our Only Option

Globally, there is currently 19.4 million square miles of land  being used explicitly for agriculture, comprising 39 percent of the Earth’s total surface area.  In total only half of the potential 402 million hectares of farmland in developing countries is currently utilized. Still, agriculture’s footprint has caused the loss and damage to ecosystems around the world including the prairies of North America and the rainforests in Brazil. Despite a potential 2.8 billion hectares of land suitable for the production of crops,  alternative methods must be found to increase food production instead of  relying exclusively on expanding the growing area.

Reducing Waste Will Be One of the Most Effective Methods

25 percent of the world’s food calories and up to 50 percent of total food weight are wasted before they can be consumed. In rich countries most of that waste occurs in homes, restaurants, or supermarkets. In poor countries food is often lost between the farmer and the market, due to unreliable storage and transportation. Of all of the options for boosting food availability, tackling waste would be one of the most effective.