A recent report says that many of the world’s farms have hit their maximum yields for several staple crops.
A recent report says that many of the world’s farms have hit their maximum yields for several staple crops.
Thus, keeping up with the food demands of a growing population will be difficult, if not impossible unless big-impact efforts are undertaken.
While projections show that agricultural output will continue to increase, they are based on historical data rather than existing conditions.
In reality, about a third of the growing areas for corn, wheat, and rice will be unable to produce greater quantities, and in some cases harvest quantities are expected to decline.
Much of the reason is that advances in farming techniques, fertilizers and crop strains, can only yield so much. A lack of viable land is also restricting possible farming regions from being developed.
There are precious few geographical areas that offer adequate water, temperatures, and sunlight, and those that haven’t already been capitalized upon come with serious concerns attached.
Untapped environments in which crops could flourish include wetlands, grasslands, and rainforests, but clearing them for agricultural use emits large quantities of greenhouse gasses.
Several African locales could also handle the agricultural expansion, however massive improvements in fertilizer access and area infrastructures, as well as government stability would have to occur before they could contribute to the world’s growing needs.