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Feeding the World: Ecosystem Services, Food Production and Sustainability . Elena M. Bennett Associate Professor, McGill University. The Triple Threat. 1 billion hungry (1 in 7) Agriculture a the single biggest cause of environmental degradation - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Feeding the World: Ecosystem Services, Food Production and
Sustainability
Elena M. BennettAssociate Professor, McGill University
The Triple Threat
• 1 billion hungry (1 in 7)• Agriculture a the single biggest cause of
environmental degradation• Anticipated doubling of food production
needed by 2050
Dual ChallengeThe dual challenge of feeding 10 billion people while maintaining a healthy environment will be one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century.
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment 2005
Over the past 50 years, humans have changed ecosystems more rapidly and extensively than in any comparable period of time in human history…
to meet growing demands for food, fresh water, fiber, and energy.
These changes have brought gains in human well-being, but at growing costs to both people and nature
Temperate Grasslands & Woodlands
Temperate Broadleaf Forest
Tropical Dry Forest
Tropical Grasslands
Tropical Coniferous Forest
Mediterranean Forests
Tropical Moist Forest
0 50 100
Percent of habitat (biome) remaining
Habitat Loss to 1990
Source: Millennium Ecosystem Assessment
The Balance Sheet
CropsLivestockAquacultureCarbon sequestration
Capture fisheriesWild foodsWood fuelGenetic resourcesBiochemicalsFresh WaterAir quality regulationRegional & local climate
regulationErosion regulationWater purificationPest regulationPollinationNatural Hazard regulationSpiritual & religious Aesthetic values
TimberFiberWater regulationDisease regulationRecreation & ecotourism
Enhanced Degraded Mixed
Bottom Line: 60% of Ecosystem Services are Degraded
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment 2005
Commonly proposed solutions …
… and why they wont work
1. Increase area2. Increase yields
1.3 – 2.6 billion additional hectares needed
1. Increase area2. Increase yields
What can we do about it?
• Acknowledge the problem.
• Invest in revolutionary agricultural solutions.
• Bridge the artificial divide between production agriculture and environmental conservation.
JA Foley. 2009. Yale Environment 360.
Cassidy et al. 2013
Revolutionary Solutions
Reduce the amount of new area or increased yields required by reducing meat consumption.
In the US, 67% of calories produced are fed to animals!
Revolutionary solutions:Increase crop yields strategically
Invest in getting better crop yields in Africa where yields are 1/6 of what they are in climatically similar areas of the world.
West et al. PNAS 2010
Bridge the Divide: Think in terms of all the ecosystem services provided by agricultural
systems
Pay farmers for the value of all of the services they provide: biodiversity, places to recreate, a
landscape we enjoy, clean water, etc.
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FOOD
PEST REGULATION
DEER HUNTING
AESTHETIC BEAUTY
MAPLE SYRUP
WATER QUALITY REGULATION
WOOD
NATURE APPRECIATION
CARBON STORAGE
CLIMATE REGULATION