Food for All Forever
The world is facing a major challenge in sustainably supplying food for 9 billion people in 2050. The ATV has provided suggestions for how to match the fast changing demand for food from a larger and more wealthy population; do so in ways that are environmentally, economically and socially sustainable; and ensure that the world’s poorest people are no longer hungry. The right technological solutions and massive investments in research combined with the right policy directions are in ATV’s opinion the key to success.
The report is based on the findings and discussions from a conference held in Copenhagen earlier this summer on June 29th 2010 hosted by ATV and CAETS (International Council of Academies of Engineering and Technical Sciences). ATV presents seven recommendations as to how we in the year 2050 are able to sustainably feed 9 billion people and thereby secure food for all forever. They are in short:
- Use appropriate technologies and opportunities offered by science
- Invest massively in infrastructure in rural areas
- Implement better policies to prevent trade distortion activities
- Make governments and international institutions live up to their responsibilities
- Reduce food waste dramatically
- Develop open sea aquacultures to increase production of algae, seaweed as well as fish
- Further study the concept of ‘full costing’
The first part of the report contains a policy brief followed by in depth descriptions of the seven recommendations. The second part contains facts and themes that were discussed at the conference. The report has been produced in close corporation with scientists, people from the food industry and from international organisations.