Food
We all need to eat. But the way we produce and consume food is putting an impossible strain on the planet. And with the world’s population set to grow from 7 billion today to more than 9 billion by 2050, it’s clear that our food system needs to change – urgently.
The good news is that there are huge opportunities to feed the world in a way that works with nature, not against it. Do things differently and we can stop forests turning into fields, keep rivers flowing, restore soil fertility and reverse the loss of the variety of life on Earth – all the while ensuring there’s enough nutritious food for every person, now and in the future.
The good news is that there are huge opportunities to feed the world in a way that works with nature, not against it. Do things differently and we can stop forests turning into fields, keep rivers flowing, restore soil fertility and reverse the loss of the variety of life on Earth – all the while ensuring there’s enough nutritious food for every person, now and in the future.
'We must work pragmatically to transform the food system at the scale, and with the urgency, required to operate within the planet’s boundaries, sustaining all life on Earth, including our own'
Eating up the Earth
Food production is the single biggest threat to nature today.
The agri-food industry remains the main cause of deforestation and other habitat loss, with a third of all land already used for crops and livestock. It uses 69% of all freshwater and has led to 89% of all fish stocks being fished to critical levels. It is responsible for around a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions. And around one-third of all food produced never makes it into people’s mouths – it is either lost in the supply chain or thrown away.
The warning signs are clear: extreme temperatures and erratic rainfall brought on by climate change, water scarcity, collapsed fish stocks, exhausted and eroded soils, alarming declines in pollinating insects. If these environmental crises continue, it will become impossible to feed a growing global population.
The warning signs are clear: extreme temperatures and erratic rainfall brought on by climate change, water scarcity, collapsed fish stocks, exhausted and eroded soils, alarming declines in pollinating insects. If these environmental crises continue, it will become impossible to feed a growing global population.
Freshwater use coming from agriculture is contributing to an 81% decline in freshwater species
Win-win for people and nature
We can make the food system work for people and nature.
If food is consumed more healthily and distributed more fairly and efficiently, we can feed everyone without destroying yet more nature – and improve public health by addressing both malnourishment and overeating.
By improving production efficiency and restoring and reusing farmland, we can keep forests standing and reduce the impact on rivers – helping to restore wildlife populations and protect the livelihoods of many millions of people.
And, finally, we can make a real difference to climate change and protect life on our planet.
By improving production efficiency and restoring and reusing farmland, we can keep forests standing and reduce the impact on rivers – helping to restore wildlife populations and protect the livelihoods of many millions of people.
And, finally, we can make a real difference to climate change and protect life on our planet.
Our global ambition
Our goal is to create sustainable food systems that safeguard the variety of life on Earth while ensuring food security, now and in the future.
We will work with others to achieve these goals by 2030:
We will work with others to achieve these goals by 2030:
- Half of area used for agriculture and aquaculture is sustainably managed, with no new areas being converted.
- Global food waste is halved and post-harvest loss is reduced.
- Half of food consumption is in line with World Health Organisation/Food and Agriculture Organization dietary guidelines in target countries.
Planet to plate: what we're doing
We are working with people around the world to achieve this, focusing on three areas:
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