Science & Technology

Are we headed for a vegetarian future ?

By T.K. Randall
August 27, 2012 ·  173 comments

Image Credit: sxc.hu As the population heads towards 9 billion, leading experts have warned that turning vegetarian may be the only way to avoid a massive food crisis within the next four decades. The price of wheat and corn has increased by over 50% due to droughts in the US and Russia, contributing to a potential food crisis within as little as five years.

"The will not be enough water available on current croplands to produce food for the expected 9 billion population in 2050 if we follow current trends and changes towards diets common in western nations," said Malik Falkenmark in a report from the Stockholm International Water Institute. Developing countries that rely on food imports from other parts of the world stand to be impacted the most by the increase in costs.[!gad]As the population heads towards 9 billion, leading experts have warned that turning vegetarian may be the only way to avoid a massive food crisis within the next four decades. The price of wheat and corn has increased by over 50% due to droughts in the US and Russia, contributing to a potential food crisis within as little as five years.

"The will not be enough water available on current croplands to produce food for the expected 9 billion population in 2050 if we follow current trends and changes towards diets common in western nations," said Malik Falkenmark in a report from the Stockholm International Water Institute. Developing countries that rely on food imports from other parts of the world stand to be impacted the most by the increase in costs.

Source: Guardian Unlimited | Comments (173)

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