Examining the global impact of food production and mitigation strategies

June 15, 2023

Food consumption accounts for 28% of the world's ecological footprint according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). As a consequence, our feeding habits yield profound and sometimes irreversible environmental impact. Alarmingly, we squander approximately 25% of global calorie production amidst a staggering 822 million people suffering from undernourishment worldwide. The required actions for mitigating these impacts include lifestyle and dietary changes, particularly in the Global North; transformative global farming practices; and the utilisation of innovative technologies within existing supply chains. Success lies in implementing these actions harmoniously.

Food production's environmental impacts are wide-ranging:

Water usage : Food production consumes 70% of global water usage. Water scarcity currently plagues 1.1 billion people lacking sufficient clean water. Soil degradation : Intensive agriculture and monoculture farming practices contribute to the annual loss of 24 billion tonnes of fertile soil, as per a recent UN study. Use of chemical fertilisers and agrochemicals : Increased land yield efforts have led to escalated chemical usage and consequential environmental impacts.

Monoculture farming: a short-term yield with long-term environmental implications (photo by Tim Hüfner on Unsplash)

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Someone explains:

“To address these challenges, the industry needs to invest in research and development to develop new and more effective technologies. Additionally, there needs to be more collaboration between industry stakeholders, technology developers, and regulatory bodies.”

Technology Challenge

Another challenge facing the power from waste industry is technology. While there have been significant link example in waste-to-energy technology, there is still room for improvement. Some of the key areas where technology needs to evolve include waste sorting, emissions control, and energy efficiency. To address these challenges, the industry needs to invest in research and development to develop new and more effective technologies. Additionally, there needs to be more collaboration between industry stakeholders, technology developers, and regulatory bodies.