Chapter 2 2. Can the earth still feed us?

We can fly a spaceship into space, we can create intelligent robots to change the world, why can't we solve the most basic problem of eating? ——Because we only have one earth! The universe is vast and vast, but human beings only have a small earth.So, can the earth under our feet feed us?This depends on the growth of population and the protection of earth resources and environment. Of the 149 million square kilometers of land on Earth, only 1/4 is suitable for farming and 1/4 is suitable for grazing.Specifically, there are only 1.38 billion hectares of arable land, 100 million hectares of orchards, and 3.3 billion hectares of pastures.So far, the land that can be reclaimed has been reclaimed almost. If it continues to be reclaimed without restriction, it will destroy the forests and vegetation on the earth, destroy the ecological balance, and cause more serious consequences.The earth's arable land is limited, and it is doomed that the production of food is also limited.Of course, the development of science and technology can increase the unit yield and synthesize food.However, it is estimated that the various efforts made by scientists through science and technology can only increase land production by 4 to 8 times and ocean production by 2 to 3 times at best.And if the world's population continues to grow at the current rate of proliferation, no science and technology can provide enough food for human beings.

For a long time, people have had an illusion that nature is an inexhaustible and inexhaustible source.Modern science shows that nature's resources are also limited.The energy needed by the human body depends on green plants to convert solar energy into chemical energy, which is stored in organic matter, and then can be utilized by the human body in the form of food.According to the estimation of ecologists, the net production energy of plants in the world is about 660×10 kcal per year, but due to various reasons, humans can only get about 1% of it.As the energy for human to maintain normal survival, each person needs to consume at least 8×10 calories a year.Calculated in this way, the maximum number of people that can be supported on the earth is about 8 billion.According to the "1998 World Population Estimates and Prospects Report" issued by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs on October 28, 1998, by the middle of 1998, the world's total population had reached 5.9 billion.

I hope that the scientists' calculations are wrong, but at least one thing is certain, the ability of the earth to produce food is limited, and the number of people the earth can support is limited.Now from South Asia and Africa, haven't we already felt the earth's overwhelmed gasp? From September 5 to 13, 1994, world leaders gathered in Cairo to attend the International Conference on Population and Development held by the United Nations.The information disclosed at the meeting made leaders of various countries feel heavy pressure.Now, 3 babies are born on the earth every second, 181 new citizens are added every minute, 10,800 newborns are added every hour, 260,000 per day, 7.8 million per month, and the population of the earth increases by 93 million every year!If it develops at this rate, the world population will reach 7.92 billion by 2015, 11 billion by 2025, and 46 billion by 2076.A communiqué issued by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations stated that "for the world, population changes mean that food production needs to increase by 75% by 2050." The United Nations estimates that from 1995 to 2050, the world's population will increase by 72%. To feed their populations by 2050, Latin American and Caribbean countries must increase food production by 80%, Asian countries by 69% and North American countries by 30%.Obviously, this is by no means an easy task.Therefore, the Cairo Conference warned the leaders of all countries that the choice of human beings on the population issue will determine their own destiny and future, and what we do today will determine the fate of people in the next century.

The rapid growth of population has made the problem of eating, which is already tense for human beings, even more severe.The problem of ensuring food for the existing population is enough to cause headaches for governments of all countries. In 1995, the world's total grain output reached 2.04 billion tons, basically the same as 10 years ago, but the population increased significantly, so that in 1995, the world's per capita grain was 379.7 kg, a decrease of 13% compared with 1985. In 1996 and 1997, the decline continued, and the world's grain reserves were far below the 60-day minimum required by the United Nations.

In 1950, a new international organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO for short), was born with the purpose of eradicating famine worldwide and promoting "food security" in the world. In 1961, the United Nations and the Food and Agriculture Organization jointly established the World Food Program, which specializes in food aid.In the European Community, food and other agricultural products are regarded as strategic materials equivalent to armaments; in Japan, the government spends huge sums of money to purchase domestic food to ensure national food reserves; Specially rewards those who have made outstanding contributions to eradicating human hunger.Yuan Longping, a well-known rice expert in my country and the "father of hybrid rice" in the world, once won this honor.

In order to arouse the world's public to pay more attention to the long-standing world food problems, strive to develop world food and agricultural production, and actively fight against hunger and malnutrition, in 1979, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization set the date of its establishment—October 16, as "World Food Day" (WFD).Its purpose is to raise awareness of the seriousness of the food situation among people at all levels of society - from the head of government and senior officials, down to the general public, so that discussions can be initiated and various measures taken. The most basic theme of "World Food Day" is "Food First" and "Food Security".

The food issue has become the most concerned issue in the world!