Redefining Agricultural Yields - how to feed an additional 4 billion people by 2050

Global demand for crops is expected to double by 2050 as population grows and increasing affluence boosts demand for meat. Does that mean we'll need to cultivate twice as much land? Not if we're willing to shift from producing crops for animal feed and fuel to producing crops for human consumption. In this video, researcher Emily Cassidy of the University of Minnesota's Institute on the Environment shows that shifting crops from their current mix of uses to all food for direct human consumption could increase calorie availability from current cropland by 70 percent — enough to feed an additional 4 billion people.

The more animal products people consume, the less likely we are to feed future generations, according to a new study from the University of Minnesota’s Institute on the Environment. Globally, meat and dairy consumption is expected to increase by 68 and 57 percent, respectively, by 2030. Increased demand for animal products stems not only from population growth, but from increasing affluence among the world’s population, which has shifted from grain-based diets to animal-based diets (meat, dairy products, and eggs).

Production of animal products requires more land and resources than plant-based foods, and now 75 percent of all agricultural land is used for animal production. The negative consequences of consuming more animal products affect the environment and future food availability, as well as world health. Greater animal product consumption is associated with increased risk for heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.

Source: http://pcrm.org/health/medNews/western-diet-unsustainable-for-planet