Agricultural output has increased over 160% since the 1960s, while the world’s population has more then doubled.
Farmers and agricultural producers have done a great job of meeting the challenge of
feeding the world, reducing poverty and in many cases contribute to sustaining biodiversity. However, tradeoffs in food production have degraded other ecosystem services.
If food production is to keep pace with population growth, without degrading the ecosystem services necessary to sustain it, changes must now ensue for the
widespread adoption and development of sustainable agricultural practices.
Policymakers and
consumers must do their part to
ensure that farmers and other agricultural producers have the right
incentives to adopt sustainable agricultural practices. Individually, education about the consequences of
food choices is one important step in the right direction. In the larger picture,
landscape level planning conserves biodiversity.
If humanity can create sustainable agricultural systems, preserving biodiversity and ecosystem services globally, we can feed the world and ensure resources are sustained for future generations.