In view of the increasing world population, a change of direction in food production is urgently needed. This is one of the main conclusions of a recent study by management consultancy PwC Strategy& on the subject of food supply. Above all, high meat consumption jeopardizes future supplies.
According to the PwC study “The Coming Sustainable Food Revolution,” the food industry is now responsible for two-thirds of global freshwater consumption, three-quarters of nutrient pollution in water bodies and a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions. The current system is not resilient. The war in Ukraine was enough to trigger a dramatic rise in global food prices.
Huge increase in meat consumption
According to the PwC research, the strong increase in global meat consumption in recent decades has played a central role. About 80 percent of agricultural land is currently used directly or indirectly for meat production. However, this would only cover 11 percent of global calorie consumption.
Changing eating habits is therefore a crucial step to ensure that the world’s population continues to be fed in the future. Even replacing beef with chicken can cut CO2 emissions from meat production in half and reduce water consumption by about 30 percent. The effect is even greater when switching to a vegetarian or vegan diet.
About a third of goods spoil en route to the consumer
At the same time, however, harvesting and supply chains should be made more efficient so that fewer goods go bad on the way to the consumer. About a third of all food still has to be thrown away due to delays and inefficiencies in harvesting, logistics or retail.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
