FarmFriday brings this very interesting article from Green Inc.,  about the new challenges facing farmers as they  struggle to feed an ever-growing global population amidst the specter of climate change.  Its interesting to note also that Deutsche Bank has a “climate change advice division” – kinda neat don’t you think so? read on…
How will the world meet the growing energy and food demands of a population projected to approach nine billion in 2050? And how can it do so in a sustainable manner, despite the prospect of climate change?
Two frequently cited solutions — raising productivity through large investment in fertilizers, irrigation and mechanization, and extending farming to degraded, abandoned or pasture lands — would still leave food and energy supplies falling short of demand, according to a study released on Thursday by the climate change advice division of Deutsche Bank.
Such measures are also likely to exacerbate water constraints and increase carbon emissions. Irrigation, for example, uses water; the production of fertilizer creates greenhouse gases; and mechanized equipment currently uses fossil fuels.
To overcome these constraints, the bankers say that it will be necessary to explore alternative approaches to present-day agribusiness practices. Such alternatives would include radical shifts in land use, genetically modified crops and organic farming.
continue reading about the challenge of farming for 9 bilion people….