FOOD PRODUCTION

There are different ways to increase food production, depending on the type of food, the location, and the resources available. Some of the common methods are:

- Reducing food waste: According to some estimates, one-third of all food produced is wasted. This means that a lot of resources, such as land, water, energy, and labour, are also wasted. Reducing food waste can help save these resources and make more food available for consumption. Some ways to reduce food waste are improving storage and transportation, promoting consumption of imperfect produce, donating excess food to charities, and composting organic waste.

- Shifting diets: Another way to increase food production is to shift diets to more plant-based foods, such as grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. A diet high in meat is very wasteful, as it requires a lot of land, water, and feed to produce a small amount of animal protein¹. Plant-based foods are more efficient and sustainable, as they use fewer resources and emit less greenhouse gas. Shifting diets can also improve human health and reduce the risk of chronic diseases.

- Improving crop yields: Crop yields refer to the amount of food produced per unit of land. Improving crop yields can help increase food production without expanding the cultivated area. Some ways to improve crop yields are using improved seeds, fertilizers, irrigation, pest control, and crop rotation. Genetic engineering can also help create crops that are more resistant to drought, disease, or pests.

- Using controlled environment technology: Controlled environment technology refers to using artificial systems to create optimal conditions for plant growth. Examples of controlled environment technology are greenhouses, hydroponics, aeroponics, and vertical farming². These methods can help increase food production by extending the growing season, saving water and space, and reducing the use of pesticides and herbicides.

- Expanding arable land: Arable land is land that can be used for growing crops. Expanding arable land can help increase food production by providing more space for cultivation. However, this method has some drawbacks, such as deforestation, soil erosion, biodiversity loss, and greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, expanding arable land should be done carefully and sustainably.

- Increasing animal productivity: Animal productivity refers to the amount of animal products (such as meat, milk, eggs) produced per animal. Increasing animal productivity can help increase food production by making more efficient use of animal feed and resources. Some ways to increase animal productivity are using improved breeds, feed supplements, vaccines, hormones, and genetic engineering. Animal welfare and environmental impacts should also be considered when increasing animal productivity.