LFS 100 Lecture 2: WK 2 LFS 100
Document Summary
Over 9 billion people in the world by 2050. Fast growing middle class in two most populous nations (china, india) consuming more animal protein (low biomass conversion efficiency) Producing more food will depend on increasing crop yields, not farming more land. Water will be a limiting resource in many regions. Food production will have to increase by 70% Production rates of increased a lot more by improving the yield (amount of grain per hector) Lots of water needed to produce food (ex: 1350l 1kg. Pesticide production and fertilizer use has increased globally throughout the years. Visualizing externalities: ecological footprints, life cycle analyses accounting for natural capital. Capital intensive (lots of machines, few farmers) We need to learn to feed the cities of the future. Avg 30% food lost due to insects, bad weather. Also loose inputs (water, labour, fertilizer, etc) used to produce food. 1/3 of food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted.
