UN: Sustainable Food Production Needed To Feed World

GENEVA -- The United Nations says world food production must increase by up to 100 percent by 2050 and focus on greener methods to sustain an expected 9 billion population.

The U.N.'s annual World Economic and Social Survey says governments must help small-scale farms thrive to keep people fed and reduce environmental harm. The the average size farm in Africa and Asia is 1.6 hectares (2.47 acres).

The survey released Tuesday said the 2007-2008 food crisis and higher food prices this year "revealed deep structural problems in the global food system" that contribute to a warmer climate and polluted land and water.

It says two-thirds of 925 million people undernourished now live in just seven countries: Bangladesh, China, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia and Pakistan.

Comments

[Stacy Jones]

01:54 PM on 07/06/2011

I think this is a good thing! first they encouraged people to become vegans, now this maybe things are really changing after all
http://www.fourgreensteps.com/infozone/world-news/general/un-urges-global-shift-towards-vegan-diet

[Oginikwe]

12:28 AM on 07/06/2011

Then why are they pushing the Codex Alimentrius? That's decidedly NOT green or sustainable and fosters irradiation around the world for the WTO.

[jsarets]

01:03 AM on 07/06/2011

Food irradiation is a good idea, even in a decentralized sustainable food system.

[Oginikwe]

01:13 AM on 07/06/2011

No it's not.
http://www.organicconsumers.org/irrad/FDArebuttal.cfm

http://www.naturalnews.com/023956.html

[leftyirishwoman]

07:29 PM on 07/05/2011

It is in each human's interest to try to obtain a green food supply as best he or she can. But it is in humanity's interest to make population control a priority, specifically by educating girls and making birth control readily available to everyone on the planet. Once that is done, families move towards quality of life of their children versus rather than more children equals better economic sense for themselves.

[pjohns]

05:33 PM on 07/05/2011

I was fortunate to have 10 acres at my disposal at one time and planted a garden (for the first time) that was totally astronomical in output. It was organic. I couldn't believe the quality of the veggies. And had a terrific time in spite of all the work it entailed. We were spoiled, of course, when we moved and had to start buying veggies at the store again. There is no comparison in taste. And I knew it was pesticide free. And e-coli free. And salmonella free. Such enjoyment with no worry about quality or quantity, plus the thanks of the neighbors I gave the overflow to.....itty-bitty agriculture. A kick for sure.

[joanpawsat]

02:26 PM on 07/05/2011

oooh excuse the distrust, but define sustainable cuz this is one big problem
http://www.stwr.org/multinational-corporations/the-corporate-benefits-of-an-agrarian-crisis.html

[Oginikwe]

12:36 AM on 07/06/2011

Thanks for the link! That's a really good site. Thanks, again. :)

[johnrf]

12:18 PM on 07/05/2011

Why is it inevitable that we will have 9 billion people and why isn't the U.N. suggesting we try not to have so many? I'm all for farming sustainably (I grow a lot of my own food in the backyard without any power tools) but when will someone mention that there are too many damn people and that is unsustainable?

[HealthHabits]

11:44 AM on 07/05/2011

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food recently presented his new report “Agro-ecology and the right to food” before the UN Human Rights Council.

Based on an extensive review of recent scientific literature, the report demonstrates that agroecology, if sufficiently supported, can double food production in entire regions within 10 years while mitigating climate change and alleviating rural poverty.

The report calls for a fundamental shift towards agro-ecology as a way for countries to feed themselves while addressing climate and poverty challenges.

In a press release, Special Rapporteur Mr. De Schutter said “To feed 9 billion people in 2050, we urgently need to adopt the most efficient farming techniques available.”

And, if you were to ask the top execs of the world’s biggest agricultural corporations, they might tell you that their most efficient farming techniques rely on massive amounts of pesticides, herbicides, chemical fertilizers, antibiotics, genetically modified seeds, growth hormones, steroids, animal mistreatment, lakes of animal waste, pollution of ground water, etc.

Then again. They might not tell you that.

But, Mr. De Schutter will tell us that “today’s scientific evidence demonstrates that agroecological methods outperform the use of chemical fertilizers in boosting food production where the hungry live – especially in unfavorable environments.”

Link to article.... http://www.healthhabits.ca/2011/03/10/factory-farming/

[HazelPethigFan]

10:02 PM on 07/05/2011

Isn't the third world already basically using farming methods that are organic? And we increase their food production how?

This report claims this with agroecology methods: "with maize yields increasing from 1 ton/ha to 2-3 tons/ha.”

Oh please..how? Details....details. I want details. How can I, as a guy with a farm that has corn, increase MY production 100 to 200% just like that with this magic "agroecology"?

You want this type of production for the U.S. farms, right? Well.... we want details and not just a vague link. (but why do I get the feeling when I get the details I'll just LMAO?)

[HealthHabits]

10:16 PM on 07/05/2011

Here's Prof. De Schutter's email - [e-mail]

He should be able to answer your questions. Would love to hear his response

[benwha]

12:18 AM on 07/06/2011

Isn't the detail simply "labor"? Cheap and lots of it.