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Agricultural Needs of a Growing Planet

The future of agriculture is at a crossroads. According to the World Bank, as of 2009, more than more than 6.7 billion people are living on Earth. Pollution, climate change and economic failure coupled with a growing human population threaten agriculture as you know it. Understanding how these and other factors will transform agriculture in the future is imperative to ensure adequate food supply.

  1. Cheap Energy

    • As the planet grows and demand for agriculture increases, there will have to be some way to fuel the equipment needed for large-scale agriculture. Drastic increases in agricultural production can cause hikes in oil prices, which eventually trickle down to the cost of food to consumers. Progressive thinkers and scientists must develop viable alternative energy solutions from sources such as the sun, the wind and ethanol. Cheap energy, however, cannot come at a price that may ironically hurt agriculture. If the farming industry turned completely to ethanol, which is made from corn to fuel its equipment, then a shortage of corn could result.

    Water

    • Crops need water to grow. Therefore, the planet needs not only an ample supply of water to sustain large-scale agriculture but also a clean water supply. As water is a finite natural resource, conserving water as best you can is imperative. If the population grows -- which is expected -- then the competition for water will grow, too. Thus, you must also do all that you can to keep your water clean by reducing pollution.

    Ecosystem Degradation

    • According to Jonathan Foley, director of the Institute on the Environment at the University of the Minnesota, as of 2009, approximately 35 percent of Earth's surface has been cleared for agricultural production. Large-scale agriculture is highly destructive to local and even global ecosystems. The planet needs sustainable agriculture that can account for the increase in the global population without threatening climate or ecosystems such as tropical rain forests. One solution to the problem is for all people to become more self-reliant by growing their own fruit and vegetables.

    Production vs. Environment

    • Mankind must bridge the divide between agricultural production and conserving the environment. The world will need drastic increases in production given the expectations that the global population is going to rise significantly in the next half century. But increased production doesn't come without a price. Opting for one extreme or the other will be catastrophic. Ceasing large-scale agricultural production in favor of a pure conservation approach could cause millions of people to starve. On the other hand, abandoning environmental concerns will amount to a "buy now, pay later" approach, whereby later generations pay the price for their ancestors' irresponsible use of land.

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