Future Food Supply Challenges

Have you ever worried or at least concerned about how we are going to feed the ever-growing world population?

The current world population of 7.6 billion is expected to reach 8.6 billion in 2030, 9.8 billion in 2050 and 11.2 billion in 2100, according to a new United Nations report.

On top of population growth, climate changes will negatively impact food production with extreme weather conditions causing disasters such as droughts, floods, heat waves, wildfires, and storms.

I don't know about you - I am concerned even though I am sure I will be dead when food supply becomes a real problem. However, I love my children. Therefore, I am thinking more of my children's generation and their children' generation.

The question is what our generation can do to mitigate the potential food shortage crisis?

Solutions offered by the government and corporations are controlling population even by force (e.g. forced abortion in China) and unsustainably increasing food production at the expense of our Terra Mater (Mother Earth). For example, using harmful chemicals and GMOs to increase food production without taking the environmental cost such as destroying natural ecosystems, wildlife, and causing pollutions into consideration.

Let us forget about expecting government and corporations driven by lust for power and greed to fix their fundamental issues (i.e. lust for power and greed), then to fix this problem. The question for you and me is: in the spirit of self-governance, what can we do as individuals and communities to mitigate potential future food shortage crisis?

I would like to quote two sources which give me hope in dealing with the issues of population and food supply.

God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth ... ~Genesis 1:28

The greatest change we need to make is from consumption to production, even if on a small scale, in our own gardens. If only 10% of us do this, there is enough for everyone. ~Bill Mollison

I believe our Creator God and what He says in the Bible. When He commanded the man to be fruitful, to multiply, and to replenish, He knows what He is saying and will certainly provide for us. He gave the man the garden of Eden, which I believe supplying all food for the man. By mimicking natural ecosystem to grow food, I believe we can have our food needs met even with growing population.

By the way, the man was vegetarian or even vegan in the beginning until after the Flood in Genesis 9:2-3. Therefore, I encourage people to eat less meat, which takes up more natural resources to grow, and only meat from a sustainable source or practice. To be a good example, I don't eat meat regularly but only small portions on some special occasions. As a matter of fact, I am totally fine without eating meat at all even with BBQ aroma always present around my house from my neighbors' grills.

I have a small garden and use it to grow food for my family. I thought I needed a much larger area. However, amazingly I can grow perennial leafy greens and starchy energy food on a small scale to supply for 10 families.

In conclusion, I would like to encourage you to grow your own food if you haven't already been doing it even on a small scale. Or you really don't have any space at all, find a community food garden or use someone's backyard. If you really don't want to or can't grow your own food for any reasons, buy food locally from family farmers.

Longevity spinach, a perennial leafy green from my garden

I have documented how I grow my own food here on the platform. Please check my previous blogs. If you have any questions, simply ask. I will be more than happy to answer your answers. Thank you!