Population increase, changing diets and global warming: guaranteeing access to food for all human beings in the decades to come is a key issue, which science has taken up.
There were over 7 billion people on earth in 2011 according to United Nations. In 2050, we should be 9.7 billion and exceed 11 billion in 2100. More inhabitants on the planet means more mouths to feed in a tense climatic context. Science is looking for solutions to overcome these difficulties. In France, INRAE researchers are studying new techniques to guarantee access to a balanced diet for all. In The echoesPhilippe Mauguin, director of the Institute, offers a few leads.
Less waste in the North, less losses in the South
According to the scientist, the need for additional cultivated land could increase by 15%, compared to 2010, by 2050. “In this perspective, research focuses on reducing post-harvest losses in developing countries and food waste in developed countries”, he explains. Studies are working to improve wheat productivity, reduce the use of antibiotics in cattle breeding and make vegetable proteins more attractive. Good for health, they are also good for the environment: “Ihe development of legumes such as alfalfa or faba bean is also a priority for our farms, in order to reduce our dependence on proteins and the import of soybeans which contributes to the deforestation of the Amazon..”
Projects already launched
To concretize their ideas and ensure that the solutions are sustainable, the researchers test them with the actors concerned: the farmers. In Dijon, INRAE works with the metropolis to help them induce plant proteins and reduce pesticides. In the West of France, the projects focus on reducing the carbon footprint of livestock sectors and better respect for animal welfare. For Philippe Mauguin, working with farmers is obvious: “I do not believe in the development of large-scale production of synthetic meat, the ecological balance of which is disputed. We need farms for sustainable agriculture in our territories.”
And the insects?
To fight against food insecurity, everyone has their own method. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) advocates for better consideration of our resources. In one report of 2013, it insisted on the role of forest products in the fight against hunger. By forest products, she means not only mushrooms, honey and seeds, but also insects. “They are a major and easily accessible source of nutritious and protein-rich food from forests”clarifies the text.
About two billion people consume it on the planet. Rich in proteins and lipids, they could play a key role in reducing famines. Their breeding would also be less costly ecologically: “On average, insects consume only 2 kg of food to produce 1 kg of insect meat. Livestock, at the other end of the spectrum, require 8 kg of feed to produce 1 kg of meat.” There would be more than a million known species of insects in the world, an infinity of possibilities for the meals of the future!
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