How Will We Feed Our Children's Children?
- Shyenne U
- 12 hours ago
- 2 min read
As populations rise, we are approaching the global limit on food production. The question of feeding our children’s children extends beyond the dinner table- it's about the future of our planet, our food systems, and the generations that will inherit them. The answer to this question lies in changing the way we produce, distribute, and consume food. In this blog, I will discuss this week's findings on the necessary steps we, as a species, need to take to ensure food security for our children’s children.
In 2018, the World Resources Institute published an article titled “How to Sustainably Feed 10 Billion People by 2050, in 21 Charts”. You can check it out here. It is a valuable resource for several reasons. First, the authors recognize that achieving sustainable food production requires multiple systematic changes happening at once. Although the road ahead isn’t an easy one, with dedication and innovation, it is possible. The second thing I really appreciated about the article is that they break down these changes into a digestible “five-course menu,” providing a framework for understanding the challenges that lie ahead.
According to the article, “WRI research on how to create a sustainable food future has identified 22 solutions that need to be simultaneously applied…” (Ranganathan et al., 2018). These proposed changes include reducing food waste, improving crop breeding, adapting agricultural systems to climate change, and promoting healthier, more sustainable diets. Each section of the article incorporates graphs and maps that summarize and support their findings. Overall, the information presented by the WRI is well organized and encourages the readers to reflect on several aspects of global food sustainability.
While the article provided valuable insights, it also left me curious about a few aspects of food sustainability that I want to further research. First, what organizations are already completing research in sustainable food production? On that same note, what solutions are currently being tested for the areas of concern?
Sources:
Ranganathan, J., Waite, R., Searchinger, T., & Hanson, C. (2018, December 5). How to sustainably feed 10 billion people by 2050, in 21 charts. World Resources Institute. https://www.wri.org/insights/how-sustainably-feed-10-billion-people-2050-21-charts
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