Feeding the World: Ecosystem Services, Food Production and Sustainability Elena M. Bennett Associate Professor, McGill University

The Triple Threat 1 billion hungry (1 in 7) Agriculture a the single biggest cause of environmental degradation Anticipated doubling of food production needed by 2050

Dual Challenge The dual challenge of feeding 10 billion people while maintaining a healthy environment will be one of the greatest challenges of the 21 st century.

Millennium Ecosystem Assessment 2005 Over the past 50 years, humans have changed ecosystems more rapidly and extensively than in any comparable period of time in human history… to meet growing demands for food, fresh water, fiber, and energy. These changes have brought gains in human well-being, but at growing costs to both people and nature

Temperate Grasslands & Woodlands Temperate Broadleaf Forest Tropical Dry Forest Tropical Grasslands Tropical Coniferous Forest Mediterranean Forests Tropical Moist Forest Percent of habitat (biome) remaining Habitat Loss to 1990 Source: Millennium Ecosystem Assessment

Percent Increase in Nitrogen Flows in Rivers Source: Millennium Ecosystem Assessment

85% of consumptive use of water is for agriculture

Agriculture: the source of 1/3 of greenhouse gas emissions

The Balance Sheet Crops Livestock Aquaculture Carbon sequestration Capture fisheries Wild foods Wood fuel Genetic resources Biochemicals Fresh Water Air quality regulation Regional & local climate regulation Erosion regulation Water purification Pest regulation Pollination Natural Hazard regulation Spiritual & religious Aesthetic values Timber Fiber Water regulation Disease regulation Recreation & ecotourism EnhancedDegradedMixed Bottom Line: 60% of Ecosystem Services are Degraded Millennium Ecosystem Assessment 2005

Commonly proposed solutions … … and why they wont work 1. Increase area 2. Increase yields 1.3 – 2.6 billion additional hectares needed 1. Increase area 2. Increase yields

What can we do about it? Acknowledge the problem. Invest in revolutionary agricultural solutions. Bridge the artificial divide between production agriculture and environmental conservation. JA Foley Yale Environment 360.

Cassidy et al Revolutionary Solutions Reduce the amount of new area or increased yields required by reducing meat consumption. In the US, 67% of calories produced are fed to animals!

Revolutionary solutions: Increase crop yields strategically Invest in getting better crop yields in Africa where yields are 1/6 of what they are in climatically similar areas of the world. West et al. PNAS 2010

Bridge the Divide: Think in terms of all the ecosystem services provided by agricultural systems Pay farmers for the value of all of the services they provide: biodiversity, places to recreate, a landscape we enjoy, clean water, etc.

` F OOD P EST R EGULATION D EER H UNTING A ESTHETIC B EAUTY M APLE S YRUP W ATER Q UALITY R EGULATION W OOD N ATURE A PPRECIATION C ARBON S TORAGE C LIMATE R EGULATION