Is Food Production A Growing Concern - 1473 Words

The world’s population is predicted to reach 9 billion by 2050. Will we be able to feed everyone, what are the problems likely to be and what do we need to overcome these problems?† Undoubtedly food production is becoming a growing concern as factors such as the rapidly growing global population and changing diets within developing countries stretch current production techniques to the limit. The total global human population is expected to increase by 34% by 2050 with this growth occurring predominately in developing areas and with the greatest relative population increase of 120% occurring in todays least developed countries (How to feed the world in 2050, 2009). The development of these countries and the associated rise in prosperity has resulted in shifting diets which centre on an increased consumption of meat (Foley, 2014). As a result of this larger and more developed population with an increased dependency on unsustainable protein sources, food production must increase by around 70% by 2050 (How to feed the world in 2050, 2009). In addition to the strain of an increasing population, other pressures make it difficult to increase the amount of food produced. Climate change poses significant threat to food production as small changes to conditions can drastically reduce crop yields with temperature increases of just 1 °C likely resulting in reductions of 5-10% in the yields of major serial crops (Tamiotti et al., 2009). Moreover, the melting of glacial ice thatShow MoreRelatedThe Problem Of Rapid Population Growth1605 Words   |  7 Pagesa world population of one billion people. Population statistics show that there were 1.6 billion people in 1900 and this figure reached 6 billion before the end of the 20th century. Over the past several decades, the world s population has been growing exponentially. According to the population statistics, this figure is going to ascend to more than 9 billion people by the end of 2050. Recent studies shows that the growth rate of population has somewhat steadied from the pr ior projections due toRead More Population and the World Hunger Debate Essay999 Words   |  4 PagesHunger Debate The correlation between over-population and growing world hunger has become a controversial topic in today’s society. Concerns of population expansion, world starvation, and environment destruction are matters of debate and are of much concern for their outcomes affect everyone of society. The world is home to an estimated 6 billion people with more than 80 million additions every year. With this astonishing growing rate of population it is necessary to address the matter of worldRead MoreThe 2050 Food Security Challenge1292 Words   |  6 PagesThe 2050 Food Security Challenge, is one of the most widely known and concerning issues of the 21st century due to its vast potential of impacting the entire earth. In an analysis titled â€Å"Solutions for a Cultivated Planet,† Foley et al. (2011) note that it as â€Å"one of the greatest challenges of the twenty-first century† (p. 1). In summary, the issue addresses the need for massive expansion of food production in order to accommodate our ever-growing population. By 2050, the world population is expectedRead MoreEffects on the Environment of Mass Food Production1386 Words   |  6 PagesThe Effects of Mass Food Production on the World as a Whole Robert Dupell ANT 340 Mass food production has become an increasing issue in the world. It was created to help solve the lack of nutrition problem that was created by the staggering population growth of the human race. Short term it has solved the issue it was created for. But there are inherent risks that come with this type of food production. Mass food production causes a great deal of stress on the environment. The land, airRead MoreGenetically Modified Food Essay1034 Words   |  5 PagesThe growing demand for food poses key challenges to humankind. Both the biodiversity and arable land for future agricultural food production must be safeguarded to ensure that genetic diversity is protected to safeguard ecosystem resilience. More food must be produced to feed and sustain the growing South African population with less input, while deploying every effort to minimize risk. Agricultural sustainability is no longer optional but mandatory to counteract possible social problems such asRead MoreEssay921 Wo rds   |  4 Pagesinterest. In the case of genetically modified organisms, they raise regulatory concerns in regard to consumer health and safety, and preserving biodiversity. The agricultural outputs can create a health risk to humans, however, there is no actual evidence that GMOs can pose a threat on health towards humans (Drezner, 2007, P. 154). There is no scientific evidence to prove that the presence of GMOs is unhealthy. Another concern the author has is about the effect on biological diversity. Since the seedsRead MoreConsumer Attitudes Of The Food Industry861 Words   |  4 Pagesaround organic and health foods has been quickly emerging as society becomes more concerned about health issues than ever before. The harm associated with large-scale food productions is beginning to be realized, as consumers are now more involved in knowing about what is in the products that they consume. Consumer attitudes related to large-scale food productions and health issues are controll ed by various factors. However, whether or not health food and organic foods are the solution to solve theRead MoreGenetically And Genetically Modified Foods1510 Words   |  7 Pagessolve farmers ever growing challenges. These seeds are then referred to as GMO seeds or GM seeds. The value of producing seeds with genetically modified traits can be seen in today’s agricultural markets. Today, ninety percent of soybeans, sixty percent of corn and sixty percent of cotton grown in the U.S. contain herbicide tolerant traits. With the technological changes in how we create and grow agricultural crops bring concerns from society and scientists alike. Some concerns about GM crops areRead MoreVertical And Vertical Types Of Vertical Farming1667 Words   |  7 Pagescomponent of urban agriculture and is the practice of producing food in vertically stacked layers or vertically inclined surfaces. Advantages of Vertical Farming Minimum Input – Maximum Output Vertical Farming is a revolutionary approach to producing high quantities of nutritious and quality fresh food all year round, without relying on skilled labour, favourable weather, high soil fertility or high water usage. Vertical Farm Systems growing cycles are consistent and reliable, allowing commercial growersRead MoreGenetically Modified Food ( Gm Food )1724 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Genetic engineering or biotechnology can be applied to different fields such as animal biology, agriculture, or in microorganism. [8] Ever since the first genetically modified food (GM food)- Flavr Savr tomato- was invented in 1994 [16], genetically modified food has been at the center of controversy in terms of its suitability for human consumption and its effect on the biodiversity of naturally evolved organisms. Monsanto is the largest GM seed producer in North America to the extend