Today, around the globe, food production, transformation, distribution, over-consumption and waste threaten wildlife, their habitats and our valuable ecosystems.
By 2050, the world’s population will reach nine billion, the global middle class will grow from two to almost six billion and the consequent demand for food may at least double. So how can we produce enough and good quality food for all these people without destroying the Planet, and jeopardize our future?
It is possible and we have no choice. We need to act now to drastically reduce our footprint and in a few decades, revolutionize our production and consumption patterns so that they can flourish within the limits of our Planet´s natural resources.
The global food system fits within the Planet, enabling food security and nutrition for all present and future generations.
Find out about WWF´s other global goals and key drivers of environmental problems.
- 7.3 billion people consume 1.5 times what the earth’s natural resources can supply
- 2 billion people are undernourished (among which 800 million suffer chronic hunger)
- 2 billion are over-weighted (650 million people are suffering from obesity)
- At least 40 percent of all our food is lost or wasted
By improving efficiency and productivity while reducing waste and shifting our consumption patterns, we can produce enough food for everyone by 2050 on roughly the same amount of land we actually use, and also ensure and restore key environmental services.
Food production can be improved, forests protected and restored and emissions caused by land use for raising crop and livestock can be cut if we adopt a comprehensive landscape approach to soil and water management.
Irresponsible practices are pushing our ocean systems to the point of collapse. Improved management can help reverse this decline and restore ocean health. A healthy ocean means healthy people, food security, regional stability and a flourishing ‘blue economy’.
People are key to sustain the ocean. Through projects that respond to people’s needs – for food, jobs, well-being – we can revive this complex but priceless resource which we all depend on.
Sustainable production of commodities and food systems are the basis for a better business model. More sustainable supply chains, more efficient means of production, better risk management and more responsible consumption are in everyone’s best interest.
WWF supports better production practices and credible sustainability standards for important food crops such as soy, palm oil, sugarcane, farmed as well as wild-caught fish and livestock, and promotes responsible supply chain solutions for food companies. By engaging with companies and consumers, we can advance sustainable production and consumption, reduce their impact and preserve the planet’s rich biodiversity and ecosystem services for future generations.
Producers and consumers heavily influence food production but so, too, can governments, banks and lending institutions. However, the laws that govern food production and food-related investments often neglect its environmental impacts. To create a truly sustainable food system, we need to enlist policy-makers and investors who have a stake in food production and distribution.
WWF engages with governments to promote food industry regulations that take environmental and social values into account, and with investors and banks to help them get a better understanding and provide a framework of how to incorporate and account for natural and social capital.
Providing guidance based on leading industry practice, The 2050 Criteria is a field guide for investors to access mainstream agricultural, forest, and seafood commodities in a better way. It provides a framework to identify responsible practices in key soft commodity sectors.
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How can we ensure all people have access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food, that is produced, transformed, distributed and consumed in a way that maintains environmental integrity, and consequently, the future of our food security and nutrition?
Better consumption
We all must work together to produce and consume more wisely.WWF encourages policies that promote sustainable and efficient food production and consumption. We help businesses understand how they can contribute to a more sustainable brand. We also create awareness with consumers, from shopping wisely to reducing waste.
Ideally, we’d like to get to the point where all food is guaranteed to be sustainable. In the meantime, there are many ways you can choose planet-friendly food and reduce your own footprint on our Planet.
Find out how.
