How can organic farming feed the world? – Posted in: Uncategorized

Interesting research and analysis from the Soil Association on Feeding the World:

Organic and other agro-ecological farming systems can help the world feed itself, but as well as changing our farming systems, we need to eat differently, feed our livestock differently, and waste less food.

There is already enough food produced today for everyone to have the nourishment they need, and yet nearly 1 billion people are hungry, and 1 billion malnourished with another 1 billion people overweight, leading to major diet related health problems, and this number is growing.

The majority of people who are hungry live in the Global South, in poor rural areas, although hunger amongst the urban poor is growing. A growing number of international experts agree that agroecological systems such as organic are best suited to meet the needs of the poorest people, while reversing environmental degradation.

It is predicted that there will be 9 billion people in the world by 2050. This has lead some to argue that a 70% increase in food production will be needed. But this assumes the spread of a Western diet, involving much higher consumption of meat and dairy products, to people in the Global South, while also assuming there will be no reduction in the amount eaten in the Global North.

Continue reading at:

http://www.soilassociation.org/futurefarming/policyresearch/feedingtheworld