Environment’s Role In Averting Future Food Crises

This report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) outlines a seven-point plan to reduce the risk of hunger and rising food insecurity in the 21st century.

Major Findings:

• The century long trend of declining food prices may be at an end, and food prices may increase by 30-50% within decades.
• Up to 25% of the world’s food production may be lost due to “environmental breakdowns” by 2050 unless action is taken.
• More than one-third of the world’s cereals are currently being used as animal feed, which is expected to rise to 50% by 2050.
• Recycling food waste and new technologies to produce sugar from waste may be a key alternative to increased use of cereals for livestock.
• The 30 million tonnes of fish discarded at sea as “bycatch” could sustain more than a 50% increase in aquaculture production.
• Climate change may undermine the ability to feed the global population of more than nine billion people by 2050.
• Many of the factors blamed for the current food crisis (including drought, high oil prices, etc.) may substantially worsen in coming decades.