Issues Related to Feeding the Growing World Population - Essay Example

Feeding 9 Billion Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 Introduction 3 Issues Related to Feeding the Growing World Population 3 Measures to Overcome the Feeding the Growing World Population 6 Freeze Footprint of Agriculture 7 Conduct Agriculture in retained Lands 8 8 Efficient Use of Resources 9 Shift Diets 10 Reduce Waste 10 Conclusion 12 Bibliography 13 Introduction In the present day context, global warming is identified, as a major threat towards the environment of the earth. Global warming is accountable for different disastrous events which include droughts, flood as well as cyclones all over the globe. Additionally, global warming has been adversely affecting the climate as well as weather conditions owing to increased emission of greenhouse gases which entail water vapor, methane and carbon dioxide. The greenhouse gases allow sunrays to penetrate the earth surface easily, which seems to increase the earth temperature and is subsequently accountable for changes in climatic conditions (Cook, 2010; Hansen, 2006). Various sources through which greenhouse gases are emitted include trains, airplanes, cars, trucks and carbon dioxide (CO2) emission from factories among others. Currently, agriculture is determined to be the prime factor responsible for global warming due to augmented emission of methane and carbon dioxide. Additionally, agriculture is one of the major factors accountable for global warming for growing demand of food (Nationalgeographic, 2014). Issues Related to Feeding the Growing World Population Global warming has been adversely affecting the environmental conditions of the earth owing to increased temperature along with changing climatic scenario. Presently, agriculture is considered to be the leading factor accountable for global warming due to increased food requirement for the growing population. Agricultural activities have been emitting greenhouse gases in an increased manner in the form of methane gases from cattle as well as rice farms. Fertilized fields are also identified to release nitrous oxide and additionally, carbon dioxide is released from deforestation of rain forest for raising livestock and growing crops. Agriculture is required to be provided with adequate water supplies for farming operations. Contextually, farming operations are one of the prime sources of water polluter as rivers, coastal ecosystems and fragile lakes are polluted with manure as well as fertilizers. In this regard, agriculture has been recognized to adversely affect biodiversity owing to deforestation and extinction of wildlife (Brown & Sovacool, 2011; Mohr, 2005). Contextually, agriculture poses diverse challenges and threats for the environment due to increased population rate and growing demand of food. Subsequently, agriculture is used in an imminences manner to meet the growing demand for food by the augmented pollution. In this respect, in order to meet the increased food demand of the global population, agricultural practices have been changed from the conventional agricultural practices. Presently, different modernized agricultural techniques are used in relation to mechanization, fertilizers as well as irrigation in order to increase food production (APLNJ, 2014; Brown & Sovacool, 2011). In this regard, there are different factors accountable for the increased concerns towards the issues of feeding the growing population. The issues are described hereunder. Human Population Estimated Population Growth Source: (FAO, n.d.) Presently, it has been identified that the growing population has been the major problem in relation to feed the world population. It has been estimated that human population will rise in an augmented manner as in comparison with food production. Besides, it has been forecasted that the population will be over 9 billion by the end of 2050 (Shah, 2001; FAO, n.d.). World Poverty The issue of feeding the world population is also associated with the factor of poverty. Presently, the rate of inflation has affected all over the world with increased prices of food products owing to inappropriate economic as well as international trade policies. Additionally, increased food prices will require the people to spend almost half of their income in meeting their food requirements (Shah, 2001). Global Warming Global warming is also considered as an important factor responsible for the issue of meeting the food requirement of increased population. Global warming has posed different threats for the global environment in relation to increased temperature and changes in climatic conditions. Climate change has been accountable for decline in the yield of food production and different extreme weather conditions in a frequent manner (The Economist Newspaper Limited, 2012; Shah, 2001). Inappropriate Agricultural Practices The growing population has increased the need of augmenting food products. In this regard, different chemical companies as well as industries based on agricultural businesses have promoted synthetic fertilizers and the use of chemicals for increasing food production. Subsequently, the use of chemical based fertilizers has unfavorably affected soil quality, which in return has affected agricultural yields (Shah, 2001). Measures to Overcome the Feeding the Growing World Population Agriculture has been a prime factor accountable for global warming for different factors that include deforestation and increased use of modern mechanization for farming. Respectively, agriculture is identified to adversely affect the ecosystem of the earth. In this regard, in order to control global warming through agriculture, different measures are required to be adopted which are stated hereunder: Freeze Footprint of Agriculture Freeze Footprint of Agriculture Source: (Nationalgeographic, 2014) In the present scenario, agriculture has been primly responsible for global warming due to the emission of nitrox oxide, methane and carbon dioxide from cattle farms and fertilized fields. Moreover, to meet the demand of food by the growing population, agricultural activities are increased through the expansion of agricultural land. Agricultural lands are expanded through deforestation of tropical forests and vegetation in an increased rate. However, the expansion of the agricultural lands through deforestation has not assisted in increasing food production, as the lands are used for other farming purposes that include production of palm oil, cattle, soybean and timber. Respectively, in order to minimize the adverse effect of deforestation on global warming, it should be controlled as the most important priority (Nationalgeographic, 2014). Conduct Agriculture in retained Lands Presently, agricultural and farming operations are required to be implemented in a strategic manner within existing farms for raising food production without negative environmental impact. In order to minimize environmental impact, the agricultural practices should be changed with the intention of ensuring that food production is enhanced with minimal environmental impact and deforestation. Correspondingly, agricultural lands should be used to grow different varieties of crop to be cultivated in farmlands that are less productive. In this manner, the aim of meeting the current requirement of food should be accomplished through the use of high-tech farming techniques, organic farming and systems of precision farming (Nationalgeographic, 2014). Efficient Use of Resources Traditionally, farming in agricultural lands was conducted with the use of fossil-fuel-based as well as water-based chemicals in order to increase food production. Moreover, different chemical based fertilizers as well as pesticides were used in conventional farming, which were accountable for polluting water sources. In this regard, high-tech equipment that includes computerized tractors and sensors should be used with the aim of ensuring that appropriate fertilizers are applied for cultivation. Additionally, fertilizers used should be blended in a customized manner in accordance with soil conditions. Respectively, innovative technologies and modern agricultural practices should be used in order to minimize pollution in waterways by chemicals (Nationalgeographic, 2014; Mateo & Ortiz, 2012). Furthermore, organic farming should be used in agricultural practices which include mulches, cover crop as well as compost. Organic farming might aid in minimizing the use of chemicals along with water. Responsively, organic farming should be able to enhance soil quality, retain crop nutrients and conserve water (FIBL, 2007). Shift Diets Shift Diets Source: (Nationalgeographic, 2014) Diets of the global people are also accountable for developing challenges in meeting the growing demand for food, as 55 per cent of food calories are consumed by people and around 36 per cent of the crop calories are used for feeding livestock. The rest of the crop calories are utilized for developing industrial products as well as biofuels. Subsequently, the diet chain should be shifted, based on which pasture-raised meat should be consumed more than grain-fed meat. Additionally, food crops should be used in a minimized manner for biofuels production with the intention of enhancing the availability of food (Nationalgeographic, 2014). Reduce Waste The increased level of population has raised the requirement for food components. In the present scenario, it has been estimated that around 25 per cent of food calories and around 50 per cent of the food weight are identified to be wasted before consumption. In economically stable countries, wastage of food takes place in supermarkets, homes and restaurants. In a similar manner, in economically unsound countries, food wastages are perceived for unreliable as well as inappropriate transportation along with storage facilities. In this respect, different measures such as adopting waste-reducing measures in restaurants and cafeterias among others with the aim of minimizing wastages are required to be taken. Moreover, adequate measures should be adopted in order to tackle wastage of food so that the availability of food can be maintained in accordance with global food requirements (Nationalgeographic, 2014). In this context, the different aforesaid measures should be implemented in an effective manner with the intention of ensuring that food production can be improved without adversely affecting the environmental conditions. Additionally, the measures will also assist in ascertaining that food weight and calories are retained successfully in order to minimize their wastages. Correspondingly, the implementation of the measures will ensure that agricultural operations are conducted efficiently in order to minimize the influences of global warming. The measures will also facilitate in building a better balance between food production and planet sustainability. Subsequently, measures of minimizing the impact on global warming has also assisted in ensuring food security and preserving the global environment with minimum rise in temperature and changes in climatic conditions (Nationalgeographic, 2014). Conclusion It can be comprehended from the foregoing discussion that global warming is the most current issue, which is adversely affecting the global temperature and climatic conditions. Global warming is identified to be responsible for different events that include flood and cyclones. It has brought with it a rise in different factors that include wastage and emission of greenhouse gases that include nitrox oxide, methane and carbon dioxide among others. Greenhouse gases are emitted through vehicles, agriculture and factories. Agriculture is recognized to be an important factor accountable for global warming. Agriculture releases different hazardous greenhouse gases, which has been increasing global temperature rapidly. Additionally, the emission of greenhouse gases is also identified to change the climatic conditions globally. Agriculture has been responsible for global warming owing to deforestation and inappropriate use of agricultural practices in order to meet the food requirements for increasing global population. In this regard, different measures are required to be adopted with the aim of ascertaining that effective agricultural practices are used for improving food production and maintaining food security. Bibliography APLNJ. (2014). An HSUS report: The impact of animal agriculture on global warming and climate change. Retrieved June 7, 2014, from APLNJ Web site: http://www.aplnj.org/assets/pdf/HSUSAnimalAgricultureGlobalWarming.pdf Brown, M. A., & Sovacool, B. K. (2011). Climate change and global energy security: Technology and policy options. United States of America: MIT Press. Cook, J. (2010). The scientific guide to global warming scepticism. Retrieved June 7, 2014, from Skeptical science Web site: http://www.skepticalscience.com/docs/Guide_to_Skepticism.pdf FAO. (n.d.). How to feed the world in 2050. Retrieved June 7, 2014, from FAO Web site: http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/templates/wsfs/docs/expert_paper/How_to_Feed_the_World_in_2050.pdf FIBL. (2007). Organic farming and climate change. Retrieved June 7, 2014, from FIBL Web site: https://www.fibl.org/fileadmin/documents/shop/1500-climate-change.pdf Hansen, J. (2006). Global warming: Is there still time to avoid disastrous human-made climate change?. Retrieved June 7, 2014, from Columbia University Web site: http://www.columbia.edu/~jeh1/2006/NAS_20060424.pdf Matae, N., & Ortiz, R. (2012). Resource use efficiency revisited. Retrieved June 7, 2014, from CIAT Web site: http://ciat.cgiar.org/wpcontent/uploads/2012/12/chapter_1_eco_efficiency.pdf Mohr, N. (2005). A new global warming strategy. Retrieved June 7, 2014, from EarthSave International Web site: http://www.earthsave.org/news/earthsave_global_warming_report.pdf Nationalgeographic. (2014). A five-step plan to feed the world. Retrieved June 7, 2014, from Nationalgeographic Web site: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/foodfeatures/feeding-9-billion/#topskip Shah, A. (2001). Population and feeding the world. Retrieved June 7, 2014, from Global Issues Web site: http://www.globalissues.org/article/200/population-and-feeding-the-world The Economist Newspaper Limited. (2012). The 9 billion-people question. Retrieved June 7, 2014, from The Economist Newspaper Limited Web site: http://www.economist.com/node/18200618 Read More