This document discusses solutions for sustainably feeding over 9 billion people by 2050. It notes that reducing food loss and waste could close around 22% of the "food gap." Specifically, cutting the rate of food loss and waste in half by 2050 could reduce needed calorie production increases. Shifting diets towards healthier, more efficient options like plant-based proteins and achieving replacement level fertility worldwide also feature prominently in the sustainable food future solutions discussed. Achieving replacement level fertility, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, could significantly reduce projected population growth.
3. HOW CAN THE WORLD FEED MORE THAN
9 BILLION PEOPLE IN 2050 IN A MANNER THAT
ADVANCES DEVELOPMENT AND REDUCES
PRESSURE ON THE ENVIRONMENT?
4. Source: WRI analysis based on Alexandratos, N., and J. Bruinsma. 2012. World agriculture towards
2030/2050: The 2012 revision. Rome: FAO.
The world needs to close the food gap
5. Source: World Bank. 2012. World Development Indicators. Accessible at:
<http://databank.worldbank.org/Data/Home.aspx> (accessed December 13, 2012).
The world needs agriculture to support economic
development
6. The world needs to reduce agriculture’s impact on
the environment
Share of global impact (percent in 2010)
Source: WRI analysis based on IEA (2012); EIA (2012); EPA (2012); Houghton
(2008); FAO (2011); FAO (2012); Foley et al. (2005).
70
70
100% = 3862 km3 H2O
24
37
100% = 49 Gt CO2e 100% = 13.3 bn ha
WATER
WITHDRAWAL
GREENHOUSE GAS
EMISSIONS
EARTH’S LANDMASS
(EX-ANTARCTICA)
7. Source: Data: Ramankutty, N., A. T. Evan, C. Monfreda, and J. A. Foley. “Farming the planet: 1.
Geographic distribution of global agricultural lands in the year 2000.” Glob. Biogeochem. Cycles 22:
GB1003, doi:1010.1029/2007GB002952. Map: Navin Ramankutty, Dept. of Geography, McGill University.
Croplands and pasture occupy half of the world’s
vegetated land
Distribution of croplands and pastures (2000)
.
Note: “Vegetated lands” excludes permanent ice cover, deserts, and inland water bodies.
8. 37 percent of Earth’s landmass (ex-Antarctica) is
used for food production
(100% = 13.3 billion hectares)
Source: FAO. 2011. The State of the World’s Land and Water Resources for Food and Agriculture.
Rome: FAO.
* Permanent ice cover, desert, etc. When excluding deserts, ice, and inland water bodies, nearly 50 percent of land is used to grow food.
Note: Figures may not equal 100% due to rounding
9. Even if all food produced in 2009 were evenly distributed
to all people in 2050, the world would still need 974 more
calories per person per day
Source: WRI analysis based on FAO. 2012. “FAOSTAT.” Rome: FAO; United Nations, Department of
Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (UNDESA). 2013. World Population Prospects: The
2012 Revision. New York: United Nations. Medium fertility scenario.
Note: Data reflects food for direct human consumption. It excludes food crops grown for animal feed and biofuels. See endnotes for
assumptions used to generate the global average daily energy requirement per person.
10. One way to (unsustainably) feed the planet . . .
Photo source: PM Magazin.
11. A menu of solutions is required to sustainably
close the food gap
Global annual crop production (kcal trillion)*
Source: WRI analysis based on Bruinsma, J. 2009. The Resource Outlook to 2050: By how much do
land, water and crop yields need to increase by 2050? Rome: FAO; Alexandratos, N., and J.
Bruinsma. 2012. World agriculture towards 2030/2050: The 2012 revision. Rome: FAO.
* Includes all crops intended for direct human consumption, animal feed, industrial uses, seeds, and biofuels
Illustrative
12. Menu for a sustainable food future
Contributes to feeding everyone in 2050 while
satisfying (or not negatively impacting) a number
of criteria:
Poverty alleviation
Gender
Ecosystems
Climate
Water
Photo source: Andrew So.
13. Menu for a sustainable food future (preliminary)
Consumption Reduce food loss and waste
Shift to healthier diets
Achieve replacement level fertility
Reduce biofuel demand for food crops
Production Sustainably increase crop yields
Boost yields through attentive crop breeding
Improve soil and water management
Expand onto low-carbon degraded lands
Sustainably increase “livestock” productivity
Increase productivity of pasture and grazing lands
Reduce then stabilize wild fish catch
Increase productivity of aquaculture
Production
methods
Improve livestock feeding efficiency
Increase the efficiency of fertilizer use
Manage rice paddies to reduce emissions
Photo source: Andrew So. .
14. Reduce food loss and wasteMenu item: Reduce food loss and waste
Photo Source: WRAP.
15. 32%
24% of global food supply by energy content (calories)
of global food supply by weight
Source: WRI analysis based on FAO. 2011. Global food losses and food waste—extent, causes and
prevention. Rome: FAO.
A significant share of food intended for human
consumption is lost or wasted between the farm and the
fork
16. US$1600/year for an American family of four
£680/year for the average household in the UK
US$32 billion worth of food lost or wasted in China each year
The economic impact of food loss and waste is large
Source: WRAP. n.d. “Solutions to prevent household food waste.” ; WRAP. 2011. “New estimates for
household food and drink waste in the UK.”; Zhou, W. 2013. “Food Waste and Recycling in China: A
Growing Trend?”
17. Source: WRI analysis based on FAO. 2011. Global food losses and food waste—extent, causes and
prevention. Rome: FAO.
Note: Numbers may not sum to 100 due to rounding.
Where food is lost or wasted along the value chain
varies by region
(Percent of kcal lost or wasted)
18. Photo sources, from left: Luke Chan; OZinOH; Fonseca-CIMMYT; Rick; JillWillRun.
Source: WRI analysis based on FAO. 2011. Global food losses and food waste—extent, causes and
prevention. Rome: FAO.
Food is lost or wasted along the entire value chain
19. Source: WRI analysis based on FAO. 2011. Global food losses and food waste—extent, causes and
prevention. Rome: FAO.
Food loss “near the farm” is more prevalent in developing
countries while food waste “near the fork” is more
prevalent in developed countries
100% = 1.5 quadrillion kcal
20. Source: WRI analysis based on FAO. 2011. Global food losses and food waste—extent, causes and
prevention. Rome: FAO.
Of total food loss and waste, cereals account for the
most in terms of calories, while fruits and vegetables
account for the most by mass
21. Source: WRI analysis based on FAO. 2011. Global food losses and food waste—extent, causes and
prevention. Rome: FAO.
Roots and tubers are the food category with the most
lost and waste relative to total production
(Percent of kcal produced per category)
Note: Values displayed are of waste as a percent of food supply, defined here as the sum of the “Food” and “Processing” columns of
the FAO Food Balance Sheet.
22. Source: WRI analysis based on FAO. 2011. Global food losses and food waste—extent, causes and
prevention. Rome: FAO.
About half of the world’s food loss and waste occurs
in Asia
(100% = 1.5 quadrillion kcal)
Note: Number may not sum to 100 due to rounding.
23. Source: WRI analysis based on FAO. 2011. Global food losses and food waste—extent, causes and
prevention. Rome: FAO.
North America and Oceania have the highest per capita
food loss and waste
Kcal/capita/day
24. Source: WRI analysis based on FAO. 2011. Global food losses and food waste—extent, causes and
prevention. Rome: FAO.
North America and Oceania have the highest per capita
food loss and waste, primarily occurring at consumption
Kcal/capita/day
Note: Numbers may not sum to 100 due to rounding.
25. Greenhouse gas emissions Land use
The environmental impact of food loss and waste is large
Source: Kummu, M., H. de Moel, M. Porkka, S. Siebert, O. Varis, and P. J. Ward. 2012. “Lost food, wasted
resources: Global food supply chain losses and their impacts on freshwater, cropland, and fertiliser use.”
Science of the Total Environment 438: 477-489.
26. A range of approaches exists for reducing food loss
and waste along the value chain
(Not exhaustive)
Source: Lipinski et al. 2013 Reducing Food Loss and Waste. Washington, DC: World Resources
Institute.
29. Source: Grace, J., U. Ugbe, and A. Sanni. 2012. “Innovations in the Cowpea Sector of Northern
Nigeria: Research Into Use Nigeria.” Presentation.
PICS bags generate cost savings compared to
traditional insecticide use in Nigeria
Naira (local currency)
32. Source: Nielsen, S. J. and B. Popkin. 2003. “Patterns and Trends in Food Portion Sizes, 1977-1998.”
Journal of the American Medical Association: 289 (4): 450-453.
Portion sizes in the United States are increasing over time
(Kcal per portion)
34. Cutting in half the rate of food loss and waste by 2050
would reduce the food gap by ~22%
Global annual crop production (kcal trillion)*
Source: WRI analysis based on Bruinsma, J. 2009. The Resource Outlook to 2050: By how much do land,
water and crop yields need to increase by 2050? Rome: FAO; Alexandratos, N., and J. Bruinsma. 2012.
World agriculture towards 2030/2050: The 2012 revision. Rome: FAO.
Available
food
(2006)
Baseline
available
food needed
(2050)
9,500
16,000
* Includes all crops intended for direct human consumption, animal feed, industrial uses, seeds, and biofuels
Reduce rate
of food loss
and waste by
50%
1,400
38. Recommendation 3:
Increase investment in postharvest loss
research in developing countries
Photo source: International Rice Research Institute (IRRI).
42. Source: WRI analysis based on Alexandratos, N., and J. Bruinsma. 2012. World agriculture towards
2030/2050: The 2012 revision. Rome: FAO.
FAO projects that per capita consumption of livestock
will grow for most regions by 2050
43. Beef is a far less efficient source of calories and
protein than milk and other meats
Percent or “units of edible output per 100 units of feed or grass input”
Source: Terrestrial animal products: Wirsenius et al. (2010) (extra unpublished tables), Wirsenius (2000).
Finfish and shrimp: WRI analysis based on USDA (2013), NRC (2011), Tacon and Metian (2008),
Wirsenius (2000), and FAO (1989).
Note: “Edible output” refers to the calorie and protein content of bone-free carcass.
44. Source: GLEAM in Gerber, P. J., H. Steinfeld, B. Henderson, A. Mottet, C. Opio, J. Dijkman, A. Falcucci,
and G. Tempio. 2013. Tackling climate change through livestock: A global assessment of emissions and
mitigation opportunities. Rome: FAO.
Beef production generates 6 times more greenhouse
gas emissions per unit of protein than pork, chicken,
and egg production
Kilograms of CO2e per kilogram of protein
45. Photo Source: EU Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection.
Menu item: Achieve replacement level fertility
46. The world’s population is projected to grow from
7 billion (2012) to 9.6 billion (2050)
Population (in billions)
Note: “SSA” = Sub-Saharan Africa, including Sudan. “LAC” = Latin America and Caribbean. “N America” = North America. “N Africa” =
Rest of Africa.
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (UNDESA).
2013. World Population Prospects: The 2012 Revision. New York: United Nations. Total population
by major area, region, and country. Medium fertility scenario.
47. Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (UNDESA).
2013. World Population Prospects: The 2012 Revision. New York: United Nations. Medium fertility
scenario.
Half of projected population growth from 2012–2050 will
be in Sub-Saharan Africa
Percent, 100% = 2.5 billion people
Note: Figures may not equal 100% due to rounding. Europe is projected to decline by 21 million people (less than 1 percent decrease)
while Australia and Oceania projected to grow by 17 million people (less than 1 percent increase) between 2012 and 2050.
48. All regions except Sub-Saharan Africa are projected to
reach replacement level fertility by 2050
Total fertility rate
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (UNDESA).
2013. World Population Prospects: The 2012 Revision. New York: United Nations. Total fertility by
major area, region, and country. Medium fertility scenario.
Note: “SSA” = Sub-Saharan Africa, including Sudan. “LAC” = Latin America and Caribbean. “N America” = North America. “N Africa”
= Rest of Africa.
49. Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest total fertility rates
Total fertility rate (2005–2010)
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (UNDESA).
2013. World Population Prospects: The 2012 Revision. New York: United Nations.
50. Sub-Saharan Africa has the lowest share of women with
at least a lower secondary education
Percent of women ages 20–39 with at least a lower secondary education
(2005–2010)
Source: Harper, S. 2012. “People and the planet.” University of Oxford. Presentation at The Royal
Society, London, April 2012.
51. Source: World Bank. 2012. Databank: “Contraceptive prevalence (% of women ages 15-49).” Data
retrieved April 2, 2013, from World Development Indicators Online (WDI) database.
Sub-Saharan Africa has the lowest share of women
using contraception
Percent of women ages 15–49 using contraception (2005–2010)
52. Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest child mortality rates
Mortality of children under age 5 per 1,000 live births (2005–2010)
Source: World Bank. 2012. Databank: “Mortality rate, under-5 (per 1,000 live births).” Data retrieved April
2, 2013, from World Development Indicators Online (WDI) database.
53. Photo Source: Travis Lupick.
Approach 1: Ensure girls get at least a secondary
education
54. Photo Source: Travis Lupick.
Approach 2: Increase access to reproductive health
services, including family planning
55. Photo Source: UK Department for International Development (DFID).
Approach 3: Reduce infant and child mortality
56. Source: World Bank. 2012. Databank: “Fertility rate, total (births per woman).” Data retrieved
November 30, 2012, from World Development Indicators Online (WDI) database.
Total fertility rates can decline rapidly
Total fertility rate
57. Achieving replacement level fertility can bring
about a “demographic dividend”
Source: WRI analysis based on Bruinsma, J. 2009. The Resource Outlook to 2050: By how much do land,
water and crop yields need to increase by 2050? Rome: FAO; Alexandratos, N., and J. Bruinsma. 2012.
World agriculture towards 2030/2050: The 2012 revision. Rome: FAO.
Singapore
Hong Kong
South Korea
Taiwan
60. Menu item: Limit transportation biofuel demand for food
crops
Photo Source: Ace Diets.
61. 32 percent of current global crop energy would be
needed to produce just 10 percent of transportation fuel
in 2050 with the present biofuel mix
Percent
Source: Heimlich, R. and T. Searchinger. Forthcoming. Calculating Crop Demands for Liquid Biofuels.
Washington, DC: World Resources Institute.
62. Menu for a sustainable food future (preliminary)
Consumption Reduce food loss and waste
Shift to healthier diets
Achieve replacement level fertility
Reduce biofuel demand for food crops
Production Sustainably increase crop yields
Boost yields through attentive crop breeding
Improve soil and water management
Expand onto low-carbon degraded lands
Sustainably increase “livestock” productivity
Increase productivity of pasture and grazing lands
Reduce then stabilize wild fish catch
Increase productivity of aquaculture
Production
methods
Improve livestock feeding efficiency
Increase the efficiency of fertilizer use
Manage rice paddies to reduce emissions
Photo source: Andrew So..
63. Most studies project net adverse impacts on crop yields
due to climate change
(3° C warmer world)
Source: World Bank. 2010. World Development Report 2010: Development and Climate Change.
Washington, DC: World Bank.
64. Note: Areas in gray contain no croplands.
Source: World Resources Institute and The Coca-Cola Company. 2011. "Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas Global
Maps 1.0." Accessible at <http://wri.org/aqueduct>. Cropped areas from Ramankutty, N., A. T. Evan, C.
Monfreda, and J. A. Foley. 2008. “Farming the planet: 1. Geographic distribution of global agricultural lands
in the year 2000.” Glob. Biogeochem. Cycles 22: GB1003, doi:1010.1029/2007GB002952.
Water stress will increase in many agricultural areas by
2025 due to growing water use and higher temperatures
(Based on IPCC Scenario A1B)
65. Different analysts project different changes in
agricultural land area by 2050 under a “business as
usual” scenario
* Data not available or not discussed in the respective study.
Source: GLOBIOM analysis prepared by Schneider et al. 2011. “Impacts of population growth, economic development, and technical change on global food
production and consumption.” Agricultural Systems 104 (2): 204–215; FAO projection from Alexandratos, N., and J. Bruinsma. 2012. World agriculture towards
2030/2050: The 2012 revision. Rome: FAO; OECD projection prepared by the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency and reported in OECD. 2011.
Environmental Outlook to 2050: Climate Change. (pre-release version) Paris: OECD.
66. The primary source of agricultural growth has shifted from
input increases to efficiency gains
Rate of output growth (% per year)
Source: Fuglie, K. 2012. "Productivity Growth and Technology Capital in the Global Agricultural Economy.”
In K. Fuglie, S. L. Wang, and V. E. Ball, eds. Productivity Growth in Agriculture: An International
Perspective. Oxfordshire, UK: CAB International.
67. Photo: Ace Diets
Menu item: Boost yields through attentive crop breeding
Photo Source: Morten Bentzon Sorenson.
68. The promise of the “other GM” . . .
Photo Source: Wikipedia.
69. Menu item: Improve land and water management practices
Photo Source: Chris Reij.
70. Source: Hengl , T., and H. Reuter. 2009. “Topsoil organic carbon based on the HWSD [Data file].” ISRIC
World Soil Information. Accessible at: <http://worldgrids.org/duku.php?id=wiki:tochws>. Retrieved May 5,
2013.
Soils organic matter concentrations vary greatly around
the world
Topsoil organic carbon (percent mass fraction)
71. Source: Henao, J., and C. A. Baanante. 2006. “Agricultural production and soil nutrient mining in Africa:
implications for resource conservation and policy development.” Technical Bulletin T-72. Muscle Shoals,
Alabama: International Center for Soil Fertility and Agricultural Development. Cited in A. Noble. 2012. The
Slumbering Giant: land and water degradation. Canberra, Australia: Crawford Fund Proceedings.
Several regions in Africa have relatively high rates of
nutrient depletion on agricultural lands
Annual nutrient depletion, kg NPK/ha/year
72. Sub-Saharan Africa uses much less fertilizer per hectare
than any other region
Kilograms per hectare
Source: IFDC. 2013. “APPI Gross Margin Survey: FDP’s Yield and Financial Benefits
Proven,” in IFDC Report Vol. 38 No. 2. Accessible at: <www.ifdc.org>.
73. Cereal yields in Sub-Saharan Africa are much lower
than other regions
Metric tons per hectare
Source: Derived from FAO. 2012. “FAOSTAT.” Rome: FAO; graph by IFDC.
74. From 1961–2001, food production increases in
Sub-Saharan Africa were achieved mainly by expanding
the area of cropland
Note: Baseline data in 1961 is given the value of 100; subsequent data for yield and area are in units of percent change relative to 1961.
Source: Henao, J., and C. A. Baanante. 2006. “Agricultural production and soil nutrient mining in Africa:
implications for resource conservation and policy development.” Technical Bulletin T-72. Muscle Shoals,
Alabama: International Center for Soil Fertility and Agricultural Development. Cited in A. Noble. 2012. The
Slumbering Giant: land and water degradation. Canberra, Australia: Crawford Fund Proceedings.
75. Conservation agriculture is widely used in many
continents, but not in Africa
Source: Shitumbanuma, V. 2012. “Analyses of Crop Trials Under Faidherbia albida.” Lusaka, Zambia:
Conservation Farming Unit, University of Zambia.
76. Conservation agriculture with intercropping of
Faidherbia albida trees (agroforestry) in Malawi
Photo Source: W. T. Bunderson.
78. Source: Shitumbanuma, V. 2012. “Analyses of Crop Trials Under Faidherbia albida.” Lusaka, Zambia:
Conservation Farming Unit, University of Zambia.
Maize yields in Zambia are higher under Faidherbia trees
Kilograms per hectare
Note: Average maize grain yields from trial sites under and outside canopies of mature Faidherbia albida trees across regions in Zambia.
80. A combination of water harvesting practices increases
grain yields more than one practice (Burkina Faso)
Kilograms per hectare
Source: Sawadogo, H. 2008. Impact des aménagements de conservation des eaux et des sols sur les
systèmes de production, les rendements et la fertilité des sols au Nord du Plateau Central du Burkina Faso.
Ouagadougou and Amsterdam: Etude Sahel Burkina Faso, CILDSS and VU University Amsterdam.
Note: These two groups of villages are located on the northern central plateau of Burkina Faso. “BAU” = business as usual.
81. Conservation agriculture increased maize yields in Malawi
in 2011, and combining it with agroforestry (intercropping
of Faidherbia trees) increased yields even further
Metric tons per hectare
Source: Bunderson, W. T. 2012. “Faidherbia albida: the Malawi experience.” Lilongwe, Malawi: Total
LandCare.
82. Source: Mazvimavi, D., Z. Hoko, L. Jonker, I. Nhapi, and A. Senzanje. 2008. “Integrated Water Resources
Management: From Concept to Practice.” Editorial. Journal of the Physics and Chemistry of the Earth 33:
609–613.
Water harvesting combined with conservation agriculture
increases gross margins for farmers in Zimbabwe
Gross margins, US$ per hectare
Note: Data from nine districts in Zimbabwe, across rainfall zones.
84. Source: Sawadogo, H. 2013. “Effects of microdosing and soil and water conservation techniques on
securing crop yields in northwestern Burkina Faso.” Working Paper prepared for the Institut de
l’Environnement et de Recherches Agricoles (Burkina Faso).
Micro-dosing further increases sorghum yields beyond
other land and water management practices (Burkina
Faso, 2009–11)
Kilograms per hectare
85. Source: IFDC. 2011. “Strategic Alliance for Agricultural Development in Africa (SAADA) End of Project
Report.” Accessible at: <www.ifdc.org.>
ISFM contributed to yield increases of three major
crops for farmers in West Africa, 2006–10
Kilograms per hectare
Note: No 2006 data was available for maize.
86. Revenues increased significantly for farmers adopting
ISFM in West Africa, 2006–10
US$ per hectare
Note: No 2006 data was available or groundnuts. Data converted from CFA francs using a conversion rate
of 1 CFA franc = .0021 US Dollar.
Source: IFDC. 2011. “Strategic Alliance for Agricultural Development in Africa (SAADA) End of Project
Report.” Accessible at: <www.ifdc.org.>
87. Source: IFDC. 2012. “Catalyze Accelerated Agricultural Intensification for Social and Environmental
Stability.” Project Summary. Accessible at: <www.ifdc.org>.
Farmers in Central Africa benefited greatly from
increased crop yields and revenues following the
adoption of ISFM practices
Annual benefits
88. Source: WRI analysis using the following datasets: Protected areas: IUCN and UNEP. 2013. The
World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA). Cambridge, UK: UNEP-WCMC. Croplands: Fritz, S. and
L. See. 2013. Global Hybrid Cropland. Laxenburg, Austria: IIASA and IFPRI. Precipitation isohyets:
FAO/UNEP Desertification and Mapping Project. 1986. Africa Mean Annual Rainfall. Geneva,
Switzerland: UNEP/GRID.
Agroforestry and water harvesting could be scaled up on
more than 300 million hectares in sub-Saharan Africa
90. Success in scaling up improved land and water
management requires attention to gender
• Women are responsible for 80
percent of agricultural work
• Labor inputs of women exceed
those of men by 10-12 hours a
week
• 95 percent of external resources
(seeds, tools) are channeled to
men
• Women often do not have the
same rights and management
authority as men
• Add photo to illustrate
importance of gender
Source: De Sarkar, S. 2011. “Gendering joint forest management.” IUCN Arbor Vitae Issue 43: 10.
Photo Source: Chris Reij.
96. Source: Bruinsma, J. 2009. The Resource Outlook to 2050: By how much do land, water and crop yields
need to increase by 2050? Rome: FAO.
What some call “potential for cropland expansion” is
often forest and savanna
Million hectares
97. Source: Gingold, B. et al. 2012. How to Identify Degraded Land for Sustainable Palm Oil in Indonesia.
Washington, DC: World Resources Institute.
There is a need to map low-carbon areas potentially
suitable for oil palm
98. Menu item: Increase pastureland productivity
Photo Source: Carlos Ramalhete.
99. 90%
80% increase for dairy
increase for beef
Source: Searchinger et al. 2013
Global absolute demand for beef and dairy is projected to
skyrocket between 2006 and 2050
100. Ruminants mostly eat grasses and only a relatively small
amount of grain-based feeds
Percent, 100% = 6705 Tg dry matter (global, 2010)
Ruminant meat
15%
15%
9%
16%
Ruminant dairy
Non-ruminants
(pigs, poultry, etc.)
Soybean, starchy roots, & other edible crops
Grass: cropland pasture
Food industry by-products & waste
Non-agricultural herbage & browse
Cereal grains
Grass: forage crops (hay & silage)
Crop residues
Grass: permanent pasture & browse
Total (percent)
Total
(percent)
Note: Numbers may not add to 100 due to rounding. Soybean and other oil meals are included in “Food industry by-products” while whole soybeans
are included in “Soybeans, starchy roots and other edible crops”.
Source: Wirsenius, S., et al. 2010. How much land is needed for global food production under scenarios
of dietary changes and livestock productivity increases in 2030? Agr. Syst.
Feed type
29
5
1
12
2
7
2
58
15
4
6
2
1
28
1
1
7
4
1
14
44
10
2
18
11
7
7
1
100
101. Selected approaches for improving pasture and
grazing land productivity
• Improve ruminant health care
• Improve breeds
• Rotate grazing
• Plant better grasses and legumes
• Incorporate supplements
• Integrate silvopastoral practices
Photo Source: Luis Solarte/CIPAV.
102. Menu item: Reduce and then stabilize wild fish catch
Photo Source: NOAA.
103. Photo Source: WorldFish Bangladesh Office.
Menu item: Improve productivity and
environmental performance of aquaculture
104. The world needs to close an “animal protein gap”
Global annual animal protein availability, million tons
Source: WRI analysis based on Alexandratos and Bruinsma (2012).
105. Fish are important for food and nutrition security
Supply of animal-based protein (2009), percent (100% = 31 g / capita / day)
Source: FAO (2012).
106. But the wild fish catch has peaked…
Million tons
Note: “Wild catch” includes finfish, mollusks, crustaceans, and other aquatic animals
from marine and freshwater ecosystems. It excludes all aquaculture.
Source: FAO (2014).
107. …even while fishing effort continues to rise
Percentage of marine fish stocks assessed
Source: FAO (2014).
108. Aquaculture has emerged to meet fish demand
Million tons
Sources: FAO (2012a), FAO (2012b), FAO (2013), FAO (2014).
110. Nearly 90 percent of aquaculture production
is in Asia
Tons (2012)
Source: FAO (2014).
111. Aquaculture production must more than double
by 2050 to satisfy projected fish demand
Million tons
Sources: Production data 1961–2010: FAO (2014a), FAO (2014b). Aquaculture
production projections 2011–2050: Authors’ calculations assuming a linear growth rate
of 2 Mt per year.
112. Aquaculture growth could close 14 percent of the
“animal protein gap”
Global annual animal protein availability, million tons
Source: WRI analysis based on Alexandratos and Bruinsma (2012).
113. Aquaculture growth to 140 Mt in 2050 could
contribute to economic development
Source: Authors’ calculations based on FAO (2014) and World Bank, FAO, and IFPRI (2013).
Photo: WorldFish/Mike Lusmore/Duckrabbit.
$308BFarm gate value / year
114. Aquaculture growth to 140 Mt in 2050 could
contribute to economic development
Source: Authors’ calculations based on FAO (2014).
Photo: WorldFish/Mike Lusmore/Duckrabbit.
176Mlivelihoods
115. Farmed fish convert feed to food efficiently
Percent or “units of edible output per 100 units of feed input”
Sources: Terrestrial animal products: Wirsenius et al. (2010), Wirsenius (2000). Finfish and shrimp: WRI
analysis based on USDA (2013), NRC (2011), Tacon and Metian (2008), Wirsenius (2000), and FAO (1989).
Note: “Edible output” refers to the calorie and protein content of bone-free carcass.
117. Sustainable aquaculture growth entails…
Photo: WorldFish/Sakil.
Increasing farmed fish
production per unit of:
• Land
• Water
• Feed
• Energy
Minimizing:
• Water pollution
• Fish diseases
• Fish escapes
118. The aquaculture industry has reduced the share of
fishmeal in farmed fish diets
Percent
Source: Tacon and Metian. 2008. “Global overview on the use of fish meal and fish oil in industrially
compounded aquafeeds: Trends and Future Prospects.” Aquaculture 285: 146–158; Tacon et al.
2011. Demand and supply of feed ingredients for farmed fish and crustaceans. FAO Fisheries and
Aquaculture Technical Paper 564. Rome: FAO.
Note: Fishmeal use varies within and between countries; the figures presented are global means. Data represent observations between
1995-2008, and projections for 2009-2020.
119. The aquaculture industry will need to further reduce the
share of fishmeal and fish oil in farmed fish diets to
prevent hitting limits in global supply of these ingredients
Million tons
Source: FAO (2012) (Fishery and Aquaculture Statistics); FAO (2012) (Food Outlook November 2012);
OECD/FAO (2012); Seafish (2011); Tacon et al. (2011); Tacon and Metian (2008); WRI analysis.
Note: Assumes the following to 2050: a linear growth in aquaculture production to 140 Mt, the same species mix as projected
in 2020, and the same shares of fishmeal and fish oil in farmed fish diets as projected in 2020.
120. Menu for a sustainable food future (preliminary)
Consumption Reduce food loss and waste
Shift to healthier diets
Achieve replacement level fertility
Reduce biofuel demand for food crops
Production Sustainably increase crop yields
Boost yields through attentive crop breeding
Improve soil and water management
Expand onto low-carbon degraded lands
Sustainably increase “livestock” productivity
Increase productivity of pasture and grazing lands
Reduce then stabilize wild fish catch
Increase productivity of aquaculture
Production
methods
Improve livestock feeding efficiency
Increase the efficiency of fertilizer use
Manage rice paddies to reduce emissions
Photo source: Andrew So.
121. Source: WRI analysis based on UNEP (2012), FAO (2012e), EIA (2012), IEA (2012),
and Houghton (2008) with adjustments.
From where do direct agricultural production greenhouse
gas emissions come (2010)?
Note: Figures may not equal 100% due to rounding.
* LULUCF = Land Use, Land Use Change, and Forestry.
** Includes emissions from on-farm energy consumption as well as from manufacturing of farm tractors, irrigation pumps, other machinery,
and key inputs such as fertilizer. It excludes emissions from the transport of food.
*** Excludes emissions from agricultural energy sources described above.
122. “Business as usual” (BAU) agriculture emissions
would comprise 70 percent of allowable emissions to
achieve a 2°C warmer world
Gt CO2e per year
Sources: WRI analysis based on IEA (2012), EIA (2012), EPA (2012), Houghton (2008), and OECD
(2012).
123. Source: FAO. 2012. Global forest land -use change 1990-2005. Rome: FAO.
Gross forest losses are far greater than net forest
losses because agricultural lands are shifting
Thousands of hectares per year
124. Menu item: Improve efficiency of ruminant livestock
• More digestible and higher protein
feeds
• Higher quality forage
• Improved breeds
Photo Source: Eduardo Amorim
125. Menu item: Make fertilization more efficient
• Practices
Improved application timing
Subsurface placement
Improved technical training
• Incentives
Decoupling training and sales
Subsidy reforms
• Technology innovations
Photo Source: CIMMYT.
126. Menu item: Manage rice paddies to reduce emissions
• Alternate flooding and drying
• Potassium inputs
• Water-saving rice varieties
• Etc…
Photo Source: World Bank.