Food in 2050

Foods available in 35 years would be different from those available today (Bne, 2013 p 156). Part of what people are accustomed to eating would become scarce, and the new diet could result in an additional half-million deaths each year. A recent Oxford University study forecasts agricultural and climate projections until 2050 and speculates on the types of foods that can be expected to evolve in the hot new world (Gardner, 2014 p 112).
There will be fewer calories available per person. The perplexing concern, though, is where the calories will eventually end up. Part of the decrease will occur in the production of meat. However, the significant part of it will happen in vegetables and fruits, thereby reducing the current portion by 4 percent. Studies reveal that diet will significantly impact the world with a diet-and-weight associated disease that will cause additional 500,000 deaths (McKeon, 2015). Many studies have observed how the future temperature swings and droughts will compel the world to increased crop failure followed by famine. Cereal crops would mainly be the best choice not only because it is common but due to its tendency to survive well during droughts. Hence it is normal that fruits and vegetables would replace them within the short term. However, in the extended time, the diet would become disastrous. Unlike a usual famine, more losses will be reported in higher-income nations. The world is moving towards a drier, hotter future and the transitioning years will be challenging as the process of speculating about methods of growing food during the new climate, continues. This paper aims to explore the kinds of food that will be available in 2050, their impact on society and possible actions to solve the food crisis, especially as populations increase and there is need to increase production of food.
Impact of Technology
The R&D division of Maxus media agency projects five trends of technology that will affect food in future (Herring, 2012 p 78). Their report indicates that food grown in laboratories will progress in developing their creation and storage will be altered by 3-D printers and nano-packaging. In the apparatus world, those made to train consumers on matters like GMOs and food waste will emerge while the rest will be integrated into appliances of the kitchen (Herring, 2012 p 91). In the food service, bars and restaurants will adopt technology to enhance customer service. Researchers and entrepreneurs are using technology to develop new systems of food which may address some challenges of food in future. Scientists are working in vitro meat to decrease the application of farm animals in the production of meat. Through engineering skills, food is de-construed into its constituent nutrients. First, a list of vital nutrients is identified after which they are combined to form a drink called Soylent. Other products impending include 3-D printed foods, algae-based foods, and insects (Herring, 2012 p 101).
Impact of Environment
Agriculture will require advancing considerably to feed the population in future. There are indications that land use and fertilizer have a negative correlation hence the need for a more precise assessment of both of them (Rosin, 2013). The increase of water use about overall production and consumption will become problematic unless measures are taken drastically to address the issue. Increased wastage and increased consumption of products from animals across developed countries contribute majorly to the overall world demand. Aspirations of the developing countries to such a process are a crucial element in the rise of needs in diet, an increase in population occurs in those countries. In developing a food system that is more sustainable, a one-solution perspective will fail, and solutions should integrate both options of supply and demand. Answers to the side of a market should focus on wastage and the consumption of animal products. On the side of supply, there will be an increase in production due to better feeding efficiency and technological development. Providing food for the population in future, which is required to improve standards of living globally, will need a combined effort.
Political Impact
According to a recent report change in climate threatens three major world crops (Miller,2013 p 65). Scientists are cautioning that increase on global warming could cause a difference in the world’s conventional food staples and where they will be grown. It is predicted that the production of rice, wheat, and maize will reduce in many developing nations, compelling farmers to focus more on foods that are resistant to flooding, drought, and heat. If the projection is accurate, more pressure will be placed on a universe already experiencing a possible crisis regarding food security. A report confirmed by the United Nations (UN) indicates that production of three significant calories sources will decline by 2050 due to a rise in temperature ("United Nations Development Programme (UNDP):Africa Human Development Report 2012: Towards A Food Secure Future." , 2013 p 172). It is forecasted that in developing nations, wheat will decrease by 13 percent, while rice production could drop by 15 percent whereas maize production in Africa could cut by nearly 20 percent (Rosin, 2012 p 59). However, scientist proposes other crops which could become alternatives. These include bean or pulse with a high content of protein, lentils, millet, starchy vegetable and yam for its versatile nature. Nonetheless, studies indicate that even these are bound to be impacted by high temperatures.
Another report by a study program named Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), which focuses on food security, agriculture and climate change, also describes how production in food contributes to the to the extent of emissions of greenhouse gas("CGIAR Programme On Climate Change, Agriculture And Food Security.", 2011). It approximates that the systems involved in developing foods led to over 19 percent of world emissions in 2008.These included refrigeration, transport, storage and forest clearance. In turn, global warming is directly influencing food production, forming a vicious circle.
Economic Impact
The drastic increase in population alongside increasing incomes in developing nations will lead to a higher demand for food (Gardner, 2014). Farmers across the world will require improving production of crops. Nonetheless, the social and ecological trade-off of creating additional land for farming is usually high, especially in the tropics. Many other aspects including lack of investment, urbanization and climate change will further challenge the production of adequate food. Even if specific areas increase their production and traders decrease the imbalance between demand and supply, doubling the production of food in 2050 will undoubtedly be a key challenge. Governments and Businesses will require to combine efforts to produce more, promote innovation, and enhance supply chains integration for a sustainable world food balance.
Social Impact
If no significant changes will happen by 2050, there is a likelihood of an emergence of two systems of class-food (Herring, 2012 p 69). One category will consume low cost industrialized food produced at the expense of natural resources and workers. The other will eat expensive produced food made locally and sustainably in home gardens. The latter category is preferred and can be achieved through political and advocacy agreement. Cooking of food in future may not change much. However, there may be more creative ways of shopping and the types of cooking materials to be used. Most people will prefer to do shopping for their food online.
Possible Future Food
By 2050, the world population is estimated to be 2.5 billion. To feed all these people, Scientists suggest a diet of lab-grown meat, insects, and algae (Masotti et al, 2017 p 109). The UN indicates that there will need to double food production while the government recommends the adoption of modern technology to prevent waste (McKeon, 2015). However, whichever way, there already exists a population of one billion that is chronically hungry. Also virgin land is scarce, climate change is threatening, waters are overfished, and many parts of the world are experiencing growing shortages in water. Water, farm and food technologists will be required to search for ways to improve new crops in areas that until today were impossible or hard to perform. It may require a complete rethink regarding the use of water and land. Hence the introduction of a modern generation of bright ideas, novel foods, and organic farmers. These are some of the possible future foods
Algae
The notion of algae farms will free up vast spaces for additional food production. Algae are primary, single-cell organisms which grow very fast at sea within polluted water as well as in areas which are not conducive to growing food crops (McKeon, 2015). Scientists assert that under optimum conditions, algae large-scale farms an acre can yield over 5,000 gallons of oil, compared to merely 350 gallons of other fuels grown with crops such as maize (Miller, 2013 p 103). Additionally, algae is a fertilizer and an essential food for millions of animals. Algae form the basis of the chain of food. However, they are currently consumed in China and Japan as seaweeds. They are believed to be the origin of all life hence must form the future.
Artificial Meat
Cultured or synthetic meat is developed from stem cells within giant vats. The product resembles chicken even though it has never seen life. Scientists believe that the search for substitutes of meat is vital since the eating habits of the Wester are today expanding to other fast-growing economies including China, intensifying the pressure on farmers and the government to create additional farmland by clearing more forests (Masotti et al, 2017 p 112). Research indicates that artificial meat is considered in environmental stakes because there is less use of land energy and water. Additionally, few ethical protests have emerged, mainly because large-scale factory farm production of animals and application of antibiotics and hormones is already regarded questionable.
Insects
Beetles, ants, worms, wasps, spiders, grasshoppers and locusts do not form part of significant menus in the US or Europe (Christou, 2013 p 116). However, nearly 1400 species are consumed across Asia, Latin America and Africa. Today with the increasing prices of food and global shortages of land, insect farms could soon be set up in Britain and US. Besides being rich in proteins, bugs have low cholesterol and fat while their iron and calcium content is high (Rosin,202 p 89) et al. Furthermore, insect farming consumes little space. Environmentally, they are better than traditional farms
Other foods expected to feature on future menus include quinoa, emmer wheat, minor millets, peach palm. Giant swamp taro, and sea buckthorn (Rosin et al 2012 p 95).
Conclusion
The world may lack adequate food to feed its population the next 35 years because the food available now may lacking by then. With the world population predicted to hit 9 billion in 2050, the need for food will possibly exceed the production of food if the current output rate remains constant. This situation calls for action. There are proposals for a change in diet by scientists. Some agencies suggest that food production should be doubled while the government recommends the adoption of modern technology to prevent waste. Consumers, corporations and world policymakers must place the world food balance on top of the agenda. Global business leaders who are active in the supply chain need to discuss the need for changes in policy better. Developed nations need to incentivize investments across areas with the highest possibility for development. The world food security will depend on these things.










Work Cited
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