Our Hungry Planet

Abstract

The recipe for an increasingly hungry planet is simple. Take a human population of 6.6 billion, and let it increase at a rate of about 75 million annually. Pollute the biosphere to produce accelerated climate change, and consume an increasing amount of fossil fuels annually without switching to nonpolluting forms of renewable energy. Divert grain crops to the manufacture of biofuels, increase grain prices and food shortages, and you have the perfect recipe for a hungry planet. Remember, only rice, wheat and corn stand between humans and starvation, and over 40 conflicted countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe are already facing disastrous food shortages. What’s worse, the prices of some grains worldwide have increased over 100% in the past year alone. Resource shortages are intertwined with complex events such as civil strife, displacement of human populations and refugee movements. Additionally, droughts, extreme weather conditions such as floods and cyclones increase in frequency and severity as a result of current human activities. Finally, governmental and private corruption, civil wars and other conflicts contribute to poverty. The consequence is that food production lags behind population growth causing continually increasing food prices, even though many people around the world cannot afford the current prices. In reality, this means that millions more people will face the risk of insufficiency and starvation than is currently the case. The United Nation estimates that about 73 million people in 78 countries depend on the United Nations World Food Programme to avoid starvation. Moreover, there is also an increasing demand for food in China and India, countries that are experiencing immense economic growth. Even worse, in India and most under-developed countries, the human population is increasing out of control. This uncontrolled reproduction deprives poorer women worldwide of their freedom of choice and sacrifices our hope for a state of well being for future generations. The worldwide shortage of food is also caused by farmland being developed for housing. There is only so much plant genetics can do improve the quality and quantity of food crops, and we may have already reached the limits of genetic engineering potential. Our worldwide grain reserves are now down to the lowest level in 30 years. The hopes of a “green revolution” need to be abandoned, and in its place, we need a rational approach that recognizes the limits of our planet. Agriculture requires immense amounts of water, and drought conditions are increasingly occurring in numerous parts of the world where desertification continues its progression. What can we do today to help solve the food shortages that plague us now and will be increasingly problematic in the future? Some Water Air Soil Pollut (2010) 205 (Suppl 1):S71–S72 DOI 10.1007/s11270-008-9737-5