What could be greener than a field of crops?
It may sound like a misnomer, since every stage of agricultural production is dependent on the natural resources which feed it, but apart from the color of the leaves, the energy intensive nature of farming today provokes criticism from environmentalists and has raised alarm around the globe.
Two-fifths of the world’s landmass is dedicated to food production and as technology has expanded, so has its impact on the environment. Globally the agricultural sector is responsible for 70% of water consumption, a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions, close to a third of energy consumption and four-fifths of deforestation.
Moreover, with the world’s population set to reach 9 billion by 2050, production will have to increase by 50% to ensure food security for all. It makes for a daunting prospect for the planet, especially today on World Food Day, dedicated this year to “Feeding the world, caring for the earth.”
“Meeting this target will require the expansion of area under cultivation, particularly in the developing world, with implications for the sustainability of the planet’s land, freshwater, biodiversity and climate,” explained Mohamed Bakarr, Senior Environmental Specialist at the GEF.
The key to achieving global food security, according to Bakarr, is to increase the yield of current agricultural lands, but in a manner that ensures the natural resources are sustainable and resilient in a changing world.
Greener agriculture
A warmer climate will have a direct effect upon the agricultural industry. Consequently food production not only needs to be sustainable but also “climate-smart,” to both reduce emissions while also increasing resilience to changing weather patterns.
“Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) presents an opportunity for the food security needs to be addressed in an integrated manner with mitigation and adaptation benefits,” Bakarr highlighted.
And such an opportunity would have benefits which stretch far beyond pure food production. Higher levels of sustainability and more effective use of resources will increase carbon absorption, improve the health of the land and soil, better manage watersheds and preserve biodiversity in agricultural areas.
“Climate-smart agriculture revolves around 3 pillars,” said Alberto Sandoval, Senior Natural Resources Climate Change at the FAO. “It can increase revenue and production; it promotes more resilient ecosystems and increases storage or reduces emissions.”
Around 2.6 billion people depend on the productivity of the land to survive, of whom the majority are among the poorest in the world and as such, among the most vulnerable to a changing climate and the food crises that this provokes.
Size isn’t everything
Traditionally, more intensive agriculture production has been seen as the solution to food security. Agricultural intensification was the hallmark of the Asian Green Revolution, and Bakarr warns there is a risk of history repeating itself as leaders in Africa also call for more intense agricultural practices. In Asia, while an estimated 18-27 million hectares were saved from being brought into production, the excessive withdrawal of water and overuse of fertilizer ultimately created major problems, some of which did not emerge for nearly four decades.
Today, 27% of the population in sub-Saharan Africa is undernourished, and as farmers look to boost crop yields in a region with some of the lowest yields in the world, it is vital that the region’s vital ecosystems are also safeguarded.
This will start at a grassroots level. Across Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, smallholder farms underpin food security for billions, supplying around 80% of their food, according to IFAD.
“As part of GEF-6, the GEF will finance an integrated pilot program to foster sustainability and resilience for food security in this region. Working with smallholder farmers, the GEF program will promote practices to boost food security while also safeguarding the environment,.” highlighted Gustavo Fonseca, Director of Programs at the GEF].
“For over two decades, the GEF has invested in a wide range of projects demonstrating links between ecosystem services and food security,” highlighted Fonseca. “From promoting sustainable land and water resources management in production systems to in situ conservation of crop genetic resources, the GEF has established a strong foundation to influence transformational change for food security globally,” he continued.
In total, the GEF has invested over US$1 billion in close to 200 projects directly with a further US$6 billion raised in co-financing.