The fizz of a sherbet sweet. The crunch of a crusty loaf. The pop of garden peas. The slurping of ramen being wolfed down voraciously. It’s no secret that food nourishes and delights us in equal measure and has the power to bring people together.
But on World Environment Day, it is important to highlight that our production and consumption of food are both the biggest drivers of nature loss and significant contributors to climate change. The entire supply chain, from farming to dealing with food waste, contributes to a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions. All in all, ‘our food system is broken,’ according to the WWF.
Oceans
This is no more apparent than in Sir David Attenborough’s Ocean. Released on his 99th birthday, the film aims to shed light on mysterious underwater realms, detailing how harmful fishing practices could jeopardise entire aquatic ecosystems. Footage of boats dragging heavy iron nets along the sea floor exposes a particularly destructive method of fishing known as bottom trawling. Its aim? To catch as many fish as possible. But the grim reality is that, in some instances, more than three-quarters of what is caught is discarded.
‘It’s hard to imagine a more wasteful way to catch fish,’ Attenborough comments.
Around 93 per cent of fish populations have been pushed to critical limits or worse. Overfishing prevents marine creatures from replenishing their numbers, something that is vital to sustaining healthy stocks. Species are being driven to near-extinction, and this is not only detrimental to the oceans but to us as well. Without sufficient fish, one of our main food sources will dwindle, exposing 3 billion people to the risk of hunger.
Rainforests
Our oceans are not the only place where we have left a trail of destruction. On land, the consequences of unsustainable food systems can be seen from space. Agriculture is the main culprit of tropical deforestation, particularly in the Amazon rainforest, which is home to millions of species. Despite South America’s leaders pledging to crack down on illegal deforestation, unsustainable farming practices such as cattle ranching continue to thrive. We can understand why: many families rely on this industry for an income. In Brazil alone, beef cattle accounts for almost 9 per cent of GDP. But it requires a huge area of rainforest to be felled (or burnt down) to provide adequate room for cattle to graze. And deforestation is occurring at a rapid pace.
The removal of trees leaves the land exposed. Having been burnt to a crisp and flattened by hundreds of pairs of hooves, the soil is soon eroded, no longer taking in water or nutrients. New vegetation cannot grow on this dead patch of land, leaving animals without habitats and carbon dioxide with no choice but to linger in our atmosphere. The cattle ranchers and their herd will eventually move on, and the process will repeat itself. Without intervention, more and more land will become degraded until there is no rainforest left.
Globally, over a third of the Earth’s soil has lost its ability to support plant growth. If we continue on our current trajectory, this figure is projected to rise to 95 per cent by 2050. Yet the vast majority of the world’s food production is sustained by healthy soil. Experts have warned that if we do not change our ways today, the harmful practices we use to feed a rising population could later starve it.
Sustainable Solutions
It is easy to say that saving the planet merely involves stopping overfishing and over-farming. But, realistically, people need to eat. When faced with either putting food on the table or championing environmental causes, we all know which option we would choose. So, how do we balance our needs with those of nature? Sustainable food systems. A sustainable food system is one where we meet our demand for food without destroying the planet or denying future generations the ability to feed themselves.
Surprisingly, the first step towards ensuring that the Earth’s population is fed is all about efficiency. We must focus on distribution as well as production. Currently, we produce enough food to feed everyone on the planet. But with wealthier nations importing more than they need and food waste reaching astronomical levels, over 800 million people remain malnourished. According to the WWF, even though demand for food is set to double by 2050, we can still produce enough food for everyone on roughly the same amount of land that we use now, just by shifting consumption patterns and reducing waste.
As for how to combat harmful farming and fishing practices, introducing legislation to protect certain areas, as well as policing our land and seas for illegal cattle ranchers and fishing boats, is a step in the right direction. The next stage will involve generating new agricultural techniques that do not damage the planet. Whether this involves enlisting locals to restore 100 million hectares of degraded land across North Africa, improving crop rotation in South America, or utilising natural alternatives to pesticides in Europe, finding innovative solutions to the food industry’s biggest problems will bolster sustainability.
Does this sound too pie in the sky? Think again. The late Ester Boserup, a Danish economist, was renowned for her theories on population growth and agricultural development. She trusted that when humanity’s food systems reached a critical point, we would always find newer, better ways to feed ourselves. So far, her theory has proven correct. Man invented combine harvesters and greenhouses, tractors and irrigation, all of which have aided our growing demand for food. Now, we must rectify our current lack of sustainability and regain our faith in human ingenuity.
I just hope that this article has provided some food for thought.
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