Human land use must radically change, according to UN climate report

Last Thursday, the UN climate agency IPCC presented a new report on the interaction between climate change and human land use. The main conclusion of the report is that there will be a global food shortage between 2050 and 2100 due to climate change. Current human land use and food waste plays a crucial role in this. A radical shift in human land use is necessary, according to IPCC, if climate change is to be halted, food supplies secured and remaining biodiversity protected.

In the report, IPCC warns of major impacts on agriculture and the global food supply due to desertification, among other things. Climate change and unsustainable land use amplify each other's effect and cause deterioration of agricultural lands, threatening to reduce average food production per hectare. A single measure is not enough to address the entire problem. It is therefore necessary to look at the big picture: emissions from transportation, industry, the energy sector and making human land use more sustainable.

Solutions through healthy soil

According to the IPCC, humans intensively use 72% of the world's total available land area, a quarter of which is degraded land. This means that more agricultural land is needed to meet (increasing) food demand. This automatically leads to destruction of remaining natural areas. While these natural areas are precisely what is needed against climate change and to preserve biodiversity. The report also lists a number of solutions, such as reducing food demand through a more plant-based diet, less food waste and sustainable land use, preventing soil depletion.

A popular solution is to introduce biofuels. However, IPCC reports in the report that the growing demand for biofuels actually requires more agricultural land than humans are already using.

The Netherlands well on its way

According to WUR food technology professors Louise Fresco and Chris de Visser, the agricultural sector and agricultural education have already come up with several ways to increase food production in a sustainable way. The university is conducting a trial of strip farming. Different crops stand side by side in strips, making it less easy for diseases in crops to spread, as is the case with monoculture. Also because of roadside flowers, crops are better protected against diseases and pests, fewer pesticides are needed and biodiversity is stimulated. The yield per crop can be up to 25 percent higher than with monoculture. The disadvantage of strip farming is that it is currently still labor intensive. Deployment of drones or robots should change this in the future.

Countering food waste

A Dutch person throws away an average of 41 kilograms of food every year. By preventing food waste as much as possible and dealing cleverly with residual streams, both producers and consumers can already contribute. WUR estimates that 40 to 50 percent less food waste is feasible. This will require companies in the chain to cooperate with each other to come up with smart solutions. Many inspiring examples can be found in the Netherlands and in Limburg to combat waste. You can read all about it in the background article on Kiempunt.

Disagreement on right solutions

At the climate conference, countries are divided over the solution to the climate problem. Countries with large remaining forest areas are actually advocating a greater role for biofuels in international climate policy, while countries with drought and desertification are opposed to this. They mostly advocate reforestation.

The Netherlands ahead in sustainable farming

LLTB spokesman Roel Boots says farmers are already doing very well in terms of innovation and sustainability. "In the period 1990-2016, farmers are responsible for 19 percent less greenhouse gas emissions. In 2016, 81 percent of farmers were self-sufficient in energy. Farmers will continue to innovate, especially around soil conditions." The LLTB is funding the soil lectureship at HAS University of Applied Sciences. "The soil is the basis for farmers and horticulturists, which is why the LLTB and our members believe it is important to invest in it. The most efficient and sustainable farmers in the world are in the Netherlands. The whole world looks with respect at how our farmers and market gardeners do business."

At the same time, Hubert Mackus, deputy for agriculture, is positive about the steps Limburg farmers, horticulturists and other agri-food professionals are taking around sustainability and smart use of residual streams. "Farmers, food manufacturers, other industry, they see more and more opportunities to achieve new, sustainable solutions through cooperation and innovation. Every link in the chain is also a piece of the solution."

Sources: Limburger, Nu.nl, NOS, IPCC, LLTB