Sustainability of Food Production Systems (HL IB ESS OLD COURSE - IGNORE)
Revision Note
Written by: Alistair Marjot
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
Increasing Sustainability of Terrestrial Food Production
Humans are omnivores, consuming a variety of foods, including:
Fungi
Plants
Meat
Fish
Diets that include more food from lower trophic levels, such as plant-based diets, are generally more sustainable
This is due to their reduced environmental impact
Crop vs. livestock production
Yield and cost:
Crops:
The yield of food per unit of land area is significantly higher with crops than with livestock
Crop production also has lower financial costs associated with it
Livestock:
Producing food through livestock requires more land and resources
It is usually more expensive
Plant-based diets
Increasing the proportion of plant-based foods in diets can make agriculture more sustainable
This is because plant-based diets decrease the demand for resource-intensive livestock farming
Energy efficiency is greater in a plant-based diet compared to a meat-eating diet due to several factors:
Trophic levels:
Energy is lost at each trophic level as it moves up the food chain
When we consume plant-based foods directly, we bypass the energy loss associated with raising animals for meat
By consuming plants (the primary producers) directly, we utilise energy more efficiently
Feed conversion efficiency:
Animals raised for meat require significant amounts of feed to grow and develop
However, a large portion of the energy from the feed is used for the animals' own bodily functions and metabolic processes, rather than being converted into edible biomass
This inefficiency in feed conversion results in higher energy losses when obtaining nutrition from meat
Land use efficiency:
Producing meat requires vast amounts of land for grazing or growing animal feed crops
This land could otherwise be used more efficiently to cultivate plant-based foods directly for human consumption
By consuming plant-based foods, we optimise land use and reduce the energy required for livestock farming
By focusing on lower-trophic-level food production, such as promoting plant-based diets, it is possible to:
Maximise food production per unit area
At the same time, mitigating the pressure on land resources
Global food production and distribution
Current production:
Global agriculture currently produces enough food to feed approximately eight billion people (the global population currently stands at 8.1 billion in 2024)
Despite this, food is not distributed equitably around the world
Some regions experience surpluses, while others face severe shortages
Food waste:
It is estimated that at least one-third of all food produced is wasted
This can be during:
Post-harvest
Storage
Transport and distribution
SDG goal:
The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 12 aims to:
“...ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.”
Target 12.3 within this goal focuses on:
Reducing global food waste by 50% per capita at the retail and consumer levels (i.e. halving global food waste) by 2030
By minimising food losses throughout production and supply chains (including post-harvest losses)
Strategies for sustainable food supply
Reducing demand and food waste:
Encouraging plant-based diets: shifting towards plant-based diets can reduce the demand for resource-intensive animal products
Improving food distribution systems: increasing the efficiency of food distribution can help ensure that food reaches those in need and reduce waste. For example:
Using refrigerated transport to keep food fresh longer
Optimising delivery routes to reduce transport time
Collecting and redistributing surplus food to those in need
Educating consumers: raising awareness about the importance of reducing food waste at the consumer level can have a significant impact
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions:
Plant-based meat substitutes: developing and promoting plant-based alternatives to meat can reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with livestock
These products mimic the taste and texture of meat but are made from plants
Low methane rice cultivation: using rice cultivation practices that produce less methane can help reduce agricultural emissions. For example:
Periodically draining and re-flooding rice fields
Applying additives that reduce methane emissions
Reducing methane release by ruminants: adjusting livestock diets and using dietary additives like seaweed can lower methane emissions from ruminants
Increasing productivity without expanding agricultural land use:
Extending shelf life: improving preservation methods to extend the shelf life of food can help reduce waste. For example:
Improved packaging
Improved refrigeration
Genetic modification: using genetic modification to create crops with increased productivity. For example:
Crops that produce higher yields with the same inputs
Crops that are more resistant to pests and diseases
In-field solar-powered fertiliser production: using solar energy to produce fertilisers on-site
Reduces the need for synthetic fertilisers
Reduces reliance on fossil fuels (required for production of synthetic fertilisers)
Reduces production and transport costs
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