Agriculture in the age of awareness: land use dilemma

Over the past 50 years, the population has grown significantly, but the expansion of cropland has not kept pace. Instead, the main increase in food production has come from impressive improvements in yields and productivity driven by intensive agricultural practices. However, it now seems that the potential for further increases in food production productivity is limited, while the population continues to grow rapidly. Projections suggest that by 2030, an additional 100+ million hectares of cropland may be needed to feed the growing population. Meeting this demand poses a high risk of further deforestation in regions such as South America, Africa and Oceania, jeopardizing initiatives aimed at zero deforestation by 2030. This presents a major dilemma for the sector: how to sustainably feed the growing population while mitigating and possibly reversing the environmental impacts caused by agricultural practices.

Agriculture in the age of awareness: land use dilemma

Vitaly Sheremet, Agriculture in the age of awareness: land use dilemma