Production Inefficiencies
Despite the integration of incredible technological developments such as machine automation, the process of food production is still highly inefficient. Currently, irrigation in major crop fields utilise centre-pivot sprinklers which spray water into the air. Much of this water evaporates, while most droplets that do land end up on the leaves and stem of the plant, instead of the roots where the water can be utilised. Instead, drip irrigation, where water is periodically dripped onto the roots of the plants, should be used, using 40% less water to adequately hydrate crops. This technique also helps to reduce the reliance on fertilisers. Another inefficient practice is the tilling of
soil, which increases erosion and carbon emissions. Special planting equipment
that places seeds into narrow surface slots on untilled soil can be used to
reduce labour, irrigation, and energy. Gradual slopes on land causes unequal
water distribution and uneven collection of runoff. If fields are
laser-levelled, less water and fertiliser would be required
Figure 11 is a line graph which shows the development of maize (corn) yields from 1980-2007 in different continents throughout the globe. Although slightly biased due to the United States' focus on producing maize, contrasted with Asia's focus on producing corn, the effects of efficient agrilcultural practices can be seen. Africa only produces one third to a quarter of the maize that North America is able to produce from the same amount of land. This large gap in the maize yields are mosty because known technologis - ways of increasing the efficiency of farming - are not being applied. This is a result of a lack of access to information, extension services and technical and managerial skills.
Figure 11 is a line graph which shows the development of maize (corn) yields from 1980-2007 in different continents throughout the globe. Although slightly biased due to the United States' focus on producing maize, contrasted with Asia's focus on producing corn, the effects of efficient agrilcultural practices can be seen. Africa only produces one third to a quarter of the maize that North America is able to produce from the same amount of land. This large gap in the maize yields are mosty because known technologis - ways of increasing the efficiency of farming - are not being applied. This is a result of a lack of access to information, extension services and technical and managerial skills.
Figure 11: Development of maize yields (1980-2007) Source: UNFAO
Another contributing factor towards Africa's low levels of maize production is the soil degradation cycle, illustrated in Figure 5. This cycle shows how soil degradation and nutrient depletion, as a result of many factors, can result in a decline in agronomic and biomass productivity, and a decline in environmental quality. Both of these then can lead to food insecurity, malnutrition and hunger. All of these factors then result in the depletion of soil organic matter, with this factor also exacerbating the effects of the other factors on each other.
As explained in the Phosphorus Reliance page, soils in agricultural land are becoming increasingly dependent on fertilisers, which contain the rapidly depleting resource phosphorus. This could eventually lead to soil degradation and nutrient depletion, and a worse case scenario could involve the soil degradation cycle affecting all agricultural lands in the world. A simplified diagram of this cycle can be seen in Figure 12. This would ultimately lead to a significant decrease in the efficiency of crop yields, affecting the world's ability to achieve food security.
As explained in the Phosphorus Reliance page, soils in agricultural land are becoming increasingly dependent on fertilisers, which contain the rapidly depleting resource phosphorus. This could eventually lead to soil degradation and nutrient depletion, and a worse case scenario could involve the soil degradation cycle affecting all agricultural lands in the world. A simplified diagram of this cycle can be seen in Figure 12. This would ultimately lead to a significant decrease in the efficiency of crop yields, affecting the world's ability to achieve food security.
Figure 12: Soil Degradation Flow-chart Africa
Source: Lal, R (2004). Soil Carbon Sequetration Impacts on Global Climate Change and Food Security. Sciencemag.
Animals convert plant matter into meat highly inefficiently, with cattle converting 5-10% of plant energy into beef, and chicken 10-15%. This is further highlighted in water required to raise these animals is also very wasteful. A kilogram of grain-fed beef requires 15.4 cubic metres of water, lamb 10.4, while grains like rice, barley, wheat and corn only need between 2.5 and 0.71 cubic metres of water per kilogram.and for meat is increasing, forecast to double by 2050, creating a highly unsustainable practice that will severely affect the world's ability to continuously feed its population. On average, a vegan indirectly consumes about 2.2 cubic metres of water per day less than someone on the average American diet.
Figure 13: Water requirements for different food forms Souce: UNFAO
The table on the right highlights the extremely inefficient use of the world's already scarce levels of fresh water. Meat products cost substantially higher levels of virtual water, with beef - the most water-intensive meat - costing 7 times more water than rice - the most water-intensive grain. This inefficiency is made even more clear when green vegetables are compared to meat, with even the least water-inteisive meat, chicken, requiring 22 times more water than green vegetables.