scholarly journals Canadian Greenhouse Operations and Their Potential to Enhance Domestic Food Security

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1229
Author(s):  
Gabriel LaPlante ◽  
Sonja Andrekovic ◽  
Robert G. Young ◽  
Jocelyn M. Kelly ◽  
Niki Bennett ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
International Trade ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Plant Pathogens ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Sustainable Food ◽  
Current State ◽  
Greenhouse Vegetable ◽  
Societal Challenge ◽  
Fresh Foods

Food security is a growing societal challenge. The pressure to feed a projected global population of 9.6 billion by 2050 will continue to be limited by decreasing arable land. The recent disruptions in international trade resulting from responses to the COVID-19 pandemic have highlighted the importance of regional self-reliance in food production. While Canada is highly self-reliant in food categories such as meat and dairy, the nation relies heavily on international imports to fulfill fresh vegetable demands. In potential future scenarios where international trade faces disruptions, Canadian food security could be at risk. By providing local sources of fresh foods year-round, the greenhouse vegetable industry holds strong potential to overcome future food supply shortages and could become a critical contributor to self-sustainable food production in Canada. Many challenges, however, surround the Canadian greenhouse industry. Some challenges include the persistence and spread of infectious plant pathogens and forecasted labour shortages. Opportunities to alleviate such challenges include introducing more diverse commodity groups and integrating innovative technologies to accelerate efficiency within the industry. In this commentary, we examine the current state of the Canadian greenhouse industry, explore potential challenges, and highlight opportunities that could promote food security across the nation.

scholarly journals Multitemporal Geospatial Evaluation of Urban Agriculture and (Non)-Sustainable Food Self-Provisioning in Milan, Italy

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1846 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Pulighe ◽  
Flavio Lupia
Keyword(s):  
Urban Agriculture ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Google Earth ◽  
Total Production ◽  
Ancillary Data ◽  
Sustainable Food ◽  
The City

Urban agriculture in Global North cities is strongly promoted as a sustainable solution to achieve different goals, such as food production, quality of life, and well-being. Although several attempts have been made to evaluate urban agriculture production, few studies have investigated food production in a multitemporal geospatial way and considered per capita population needs, gender, and age strata consumption. This study presents a spatiotemporal quantification of urban agriculture in the city of Milan (Italy) for assessing food self-provisioning potential. We utilized high-resolution Google Earth images and ancillary data to create a detailed cadaster of urban agriculture for the years 2007 and 2014. Based on four scenarios of food production and statistical data on vegetables and cereals consumption, we estimated current total production and requirements for the city dwellers. Our results showed that the actual extension of vegetable gardens (98 ha) and arable land (2539 ha) in the best scenario could satisfy approximately 63,700 and 321,000 consumers of vegetables and cereal products, respectively. Overall, current urban agriculture production is not able to meet vegetables and cereal consumption for more than 1.3 million city residents. Scenario estimates suggest rethinking land use promoting horticultural production to achieve more sustainable food systems.

scholarly journals Experiences and Lessons from Agri-Food System Transformation for Sustainable Food Security: A Review of China’s Practices

Foods ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 137
Author(s):  
Yujia Lu ◽  
Yongxun Zhang ◽  
Yu Hong ◽  
Lulu He ◽  
Yangfen Chen
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Food System ◽  
Security Studies ◽  
System Transformation ◽  
Sustainable Food ◽  
Healthy Diets ◽  
Emerging Issues ◽  
Production Technologies ◽  
Food Reserves

Food system transformation has been a widely discussed topic in international society over time. For the last few decades, China has made remarkable achievements in food production and has contributed greatly to the reduction in global hunger and poverty. Examining experiences and lessons from China’s food security practices over the years is helpful to promote a national food system transformation for China, as well as other developing countries. This study systematically reviews the literature on Chinese food security studies, with the aim of assessing China’s food security achievements and examining the remaining and emerging issues in the pursuit of food system transformation. The results show that China has continuously promoted food system transformation in land consolidation, agri-food production technologies, management and organization modes, food reserves, trade governance, and food consumption. These transformations ensure not only food availability, timeliness, and nutrition, but also in terms of the ecological, social, and economic sustainability, feasibility, and justice of food security. However, China is also confronting new challenges in food security, for example, malnutrition, environmental unsustainability, and reductions in diversified agri-food. In the future, China is expected to be committed to promoting healthy diets, sustainable agricultural production, climate change mitigation, and the reduction of food waste and loss to enhance its agri-food system’s resilience.

scholarly journals A system dynamics approach to food security: The case of Turkey

2022 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 22-30
Author(s):  
Muhammed Çelik ◽  
◽  
Zehra Vildan Serin ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Safety ◽  
System Dynamics ◽  
Food Consumption ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Fertility Rate ◽  
Case Scenario ◽  
Sustainable Food ◽  
Productivity Rate ◽  
Per Capita

Predicting a sustainable food safety policy for the near future is among Turkey's priority problems. In this context, this study aims to predict Turkey's sustainable food safety policies. For this reason, the system dynamics model, which is a dynamic cycle-based method with stock and flow diagrams, is used in this paper. This study supposed the six different scenarios for 2020 and 2050. Data were selected as population, productivity rate, arable land fertility rate, and annual food consumption (per capita). The purpose of creating these scenarios; To determine the most appropriate policy to ensure food safety in Turkey. In the first scenario, we assumed that the current situation continues. In the second scenario, the average productivity rate was increased by 1.5%. The third scenario assumes that annual per capita food consumption rises to 1.2 tonnes per year. In the fourth scenario, the total fertility rate is accelerated by 2%. In the fifth scenario, we assumed that the arable land loss rate decreased by 1/3. Finally, we assumed that the sixth scenario covers all the second, third, fourth, and fifth scenarios and that 2 points reduce food losses. In conclusion, the findings show that food security responds positively in scenarios 2 and 6. However, in other scenarios, food security is negatively affected. The findings show that the sixth scenario is the best-case scenario. To ensure food security, it is necessary to reduce arable land losses and food waste. Training farmers and control of the food supply chain will be beneficial for sustainable food security in Turkey. We recommend that policymakers consider these recommendations.

Population and Global Food Security

2017 ◽  
pp. 40-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Supriya Tiwari ◽  
Barkha Vaish ◽  
Pooja Singh
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Global Climate Change ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Population Increase ◽  
Global Food Security ◽  
Near Future ◽  
Global Food

Global food security is one if the major issues that needs utmost attention of the scientific community in near future. The growing food demand of the society is putting enormous pressure on the resources over which the food supply of the civilization depends. The two major components affecting the global food security are population and global climate change. The rate at which the population of the World is increasing, the food production needs to be doubled to meet the growing requirements. Consequences of global climate change not only reduce the productivity of major staple crops, but also cause destruction of the arable land that can be used for agricultural purposes. The present chapter discusses the effects of population increase and climate change upon food production, which will play a significant role in food security around the globe in near future.

Population and Global Food Security

2018 ◽  
pp. 41-64
Author(s):  
Supriya Tiwari ◽  
Barkha Vaish ◽  
Pooja Singh
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Global Climate Change ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Population Increase ◽  
Global Food Security ◽  
Near Future ◽  
Global Food

Global food security is one if the major issues that needs utmost attention of the scientific community in near future. The growing food demand of the society is putting enormous pressure on the resources over which the food supply of the civilization depends. The two major components affecting the global food security are population and global climate change. The rate at which the population of the World is increasing, the food production needs to be doubled to meet the growing requirements. Consequences of global climate change not only reduce the productivity of major staple crops, but also cause destruction of the arable land that can be used for agricultural purposes. The present chapter discusses the effects of population increase and climate change upon food production, which will play a significant role in food security around the globe in near future.

scholarly journals Sustainable Intensification of Global Agronomic Output

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 30
Author(s):  
Niels Dybro ◽  
Alan Christopher Hansen
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
World Population ◽  
Current State ◽  
The World ◽  
Production Area ◽  
Total Crop ◽  
Yield Trends ◽  
High Level

Agribusinesses are investigating sustainable ways to meet the predicted increased demand for food production due to an increasing world population and higher living standards. Therefore, there is a strong need to increase agronomic output. This paper will review the current state of agricultural production of the main annual top-five staple grain crops grown around the world, their current yields and harvested area averages and trends. It concludes with a discussion of which changes are needed to increase the yield in lower yielding areas of the world. Finally, there is an assessment of what level of yield increases that could be attained provided the proposed changes are made and its predicted impact on food security by 2050.The current yield trends and trends for harvested area, when extrapolated out to 2050, indicate crop production will increase 106%. This includes an expansion of the total crop production area by 31%. This increase of cropping area can be achieved by increased utilization of available, uncropped land suitable for crop production, increased double cropping, and relay intercropping, allowing for multiple crops in a calendar year.In order to double crop production by 2050, it is necessary to focus on growing crops where the conditions make it possible, adopt the best sustainable crop production practices and implement them as intensively as possible everywhere, and consider improved crop production machine system options to reduce risk of soil compaction, which can reduce crop yields.With proposed changes across the world, it will be possible to exceed a doubling of food production by 2050 relative to 2005 levels, providing a reasonable high level of food security, absent wars and widespread natural disasters.

scholarly journals Antioxidants in Potatoes: A Functional View on One of the Major Food Crops Worldwide

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (9) ◽  
pp. 2446
Author(s):  
Hanjo Hellmann ◽  
Aymeric Goyer ◽  
Duroy A. Navarre
Keyword(s):  
Food Production ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
World Population ◽  
Food Crops ◽  
Potato Tubers ◽  
Sustainable Food ◽  
Sustainable Food Production ◽  
Major Food ◽  
Health Promoting ◽  
Future Potential

With a growing world population, accelerating climate changes, and limited arable land, it is critical to focus on plant-based resources for sustainable food production. In addition, plants are a cornucopia for secondary metabolites, of which many have robust antioxidative capacities and are beneficial for human health. Potato is one of the major food crops worldwide, and is recognized by the United Nations as an excellent food source for an increasing world population. Potato tubers are rich in a plethora of antioxidants with an array of health-promoting effects. This review article provides a detailed overview about the biosynthesis, chemical and health-promoting properties of the most abundant antioxidants in potato tubers, including several vitamins, carotenoids and phenylpropanoids. The dietary contribution of diverse commercial and primitive cultivars are detailed and document that potato contributes much more than just complex carbohydrates to the diet. Finally, the review provides insights into the current and future potential of potato-based systems as tools and resources for healthy and sustainable food production.

scholarly journals African Orphan Crops under Abiotic Stresses: Challenges and Opportunities

Scientifica ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zerihun Tadele
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Abiotic Stresses ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
World Population ◽  
World Food ◽  
Orphan Crops ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Growing Conditions ◽  
World Food Security

A changing climate, a growing world population, and a reduction in arable land devoted to food production are all problems facing the world food security. The development of crops that can yield under uncertain and extreme climatic and soil growing conditions can play a key role in mitigating these problems. Major crops such as maize, rice, and wheat are responsible for a large proportion of global food production but many understudied crops (commonly known as “orphan crops”) including millets, cassava, and cowpea feed millions of people in Asia, Africa, and South America and are already adapted to the local environments in which they are grown. The application of modern genetic and genomic tools to the breeding of these crops can provide enormous opportunities for ensuring world food security but is only in its infancy. In this review, the diversity and types of understudied crops will be introduced, and the beneficial traits of these crops as well as their role in the socioeconomics of Africa will be discussed. In addition, the response of orphan crops to diverse types of abiotic stresses is investigated. A review of the current tools and their application to the breeding of enhanced orphan crops will also be described. Finally, few examples of global efforts on tackling major abiotic constraints in Africa are presented.

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