OUR FOOD SYSTEM MUST CREATE HEALTHY PEOPLE AND A HEALTHY PLANET.

We all need to eat. But the way we produce and consume food is putting an impossible strain on the planet, while many are still going hungry. And with the world’s population set to grow from 7 billion today to more than 9 billion by 2050, it’s clear that our food system needs to change – urgently.

The good news is that there are huge opportunities to feed the world in a way that works with nature, not against it. Do things differently and we can stop forests turning into fields, keep rivers flowing, restore soil fertility and reverse the loss of life on Earth – all the while ensuring there’s enough nutritious food for every person, now and in the future.

EATING UP THE EARTH

Food production is the single biggest threat to nature today. 

We need to feed our growing global population. But the way we are doing this right now threatens all our futures. A third of all land is already used for crops and livestock. And yet, food production continues to be the main cause of deforestation and other habitat loss. This growing demand for food and continued stripping away of our environment is destabilizing many natural systems we rely on for our well-being and survival.The warning signs are clear: extreme temperatures and erratic rainfall brought on by climate change, water scarcity, collapsed fish stocks, exhausted and eroded soils, alarming declines in pollinating insects. If these environmental crises continue, it will become impossible to feed a growing global population.

WIN-WIN FOR PEOPLE & NATURE

WE CAN MAKE THE FOOD SYSTEM WORK FOR PEOPLE AND NATURE.

By improving production efficiency and strengthening underperforming farmland, we can safeguard forests and grasslands and reduce the impact on rivers – helping to restore wildlife populations and protect the livelihoods of many millions of people. Better production systems can also keep nature healthy in other ways – for example, making sure soils are healthy, and naturally regenerating land rather than simply extracting from it.

If we shift to diets with food that is good for people and planet, and make sure food is distributed more fairly and efficiently, we can feed everyone without destroying yet more nature. We can also improve public health by addressing both malnourishment and overeating.

In addition to protecting nature and feeding people, these changes to our food system we can make a real difference to efforts to tackle the ongoing climate change crisis and so help protect life on our planet for generations to come.

Source:  WWF page