The implementation of national food self-sufficiency targets to improve food supply and food security can have unintended environmental consequences. The target may put pressure on farmers to increase food production, which may lead to a significant increase in fertiliser use to meet the target. This would lead to pollution of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems with negative impacts on biodiversity.
National food targets may increase pollution
The implementation of national food self-sufficiency targets to improve food supply and food security can have unintended environmental consequences. The target may put pressure on farmers to increase food production, which may lead to a significant increase in fertiliser use to meet the target. This would lead to pollution of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems with negative impacts on biodiversity.
Nº 12
- N/D
- Changing Food Consumption
- Promotion of Chemical Fertilizers
National food targets may increase pollution
With a significant demand for food to feed its growing population, China faces the challenge of increasing food production by seventy per cent by 2050. To meet this challenge, the country is pursuing strategies to increase food self-sufficiency, while at the same time relying on substantial imports from the global market. However, this heavy reliance on imports has contributed to significant food price inflation in recent years. In addition, these efforts have had negative environmental consequences. One notable issue is the increasing severity of non-point source (NPS) pollution in China since the 1990s. Research suggests that this is due to the overuse of nitrogen fertilisers and pesticides, which in turn is due to inadequate agricultural extension services and the rapid expansion of intensive livestock production with inadequate waste management practices.
- Frustrated the efforts to address the initial problem
- Cascading (far-reaching effects following each other)
Sun, B., Zhang, L., Yang, L., Zhang, F., Norse, D., & Zhu, Z. (2012). Agricultural non-point source pollution in China: causes and mitigation measures. Ambio, 41, 370-379.
Ghose, B. (2014). Food security and food self-sufficiency in China: from past to 2050 . Food and Energy Security, 86–95. doi: 10.1002/fes3.48.
Sun, B., Zhang, L., Yang, L., Zhang, F., Norse, D., & Zhu, Z. (2012). Agricultural non-point source pollution in China: causes and mitigation measures. Ambio, 41, 370-379.
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