are we running out of food?
In 1798, an obscure British scholar published the now infamous Essay on the Principle of Population, in which he warned that the population would quickly outgrow the earth’s power to produce food. Thomas Malthus was the scholar of course, and for years students of his philosophy have predicted the eminent collapse of food sources in the face of relentless population growth. And for years the Malthusiasns have been wrong. However, Reverend Malthus just might have the last laugh.
A new article in the Scientific American points to the alarming and growing disparity between the projected population growth and the current rate of food production. Food production needs to rise by an astonishing 70 percent by 2050 to meet population projections. The 70 percent increase is even more ominous considering that last year saw riots and resource wars in some parts of the world, due mainly to severe droughts, the rising cost of fuel, and water scarcity.
The projected shortfall was the topic of much discussion at this summer’s G8 meeting in Italy. If we are to avoid future catastrophe, the G8 insists that we must start adopting sustainability at every stage of food production.
It’s a simple equation: We have to grow and sustain larger food crops while reducing consumption of valuable resources like water and fuel.
For an even more detailed look at the environmental food crisis, read the UNEP’s Rapid Response Assessment.
