BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 19. It is necessary to increase food production by 50 percent compared to current levels, regional FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization)representative for Europe and Central Asia Viorel Gutu said at the event "Accelerating action on climate change through regional cooperation on water, energy, food, and ecosystems," Trend reports.
“We face five urgent and interconnected crises that we may face between now and 2050, with food and agriculture at the center of these challenges.
First, the food security crisis. Some 730 million people currently suffer from hunger. It is expected that the world population will reach nearly 10 billion by 2050, and we are still far from achieving the second Sustainable Development Goal (SDG). To feed everyone, food production needs to increase by 50 percent from current levels,” Gutu said.
Secondly, he noted the climate crisis. Agricultural systems are extremely vulnerable to climate change, while at the same time, they are responsible for about 30 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.
“Third, the water crisis. Approximately 70 percent of global freshwater withdrawals are related to agriculture. Irrigation water use is expected to increase by 10 percent, and this could rise to 30 percent in the future, requiring significant energy inputs.
The fourth crisis is an energy crisis. Agri-food systems consume about 30 percent of all energy used, and global energy consumption is projected to increase to 50 percent. Hydropower now produces more electricity than all other renewable sources combined and will play an important role in the transition to sustainable energy systems. Food supplies compete with the water and energy needs of other sectors and systems.
Finally, the fifth crisis is the crisis of nature. Agriculture is a significant driver of biodiversity loss and land degradation, even though its sustainability depends on healthy ecosystems and fertile land,” the FAO representative said.
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