The United Nations Environment Programme released a major report this week on the impact of the recent surge in food prices, a rapidly growing population, and declining agricultural yields due to environmental degradation. It is very clear that the solution to 21st century food problems is not to simply rely on technology and increased use of pesticides, fertilizers, and chemicals. Included among the findings of the report is the fact that agricultural yields through organic farming methods are higher than through industrial farming. It criticizes the use of cereal and grain as animal feed, connecting that in part to rising food costs. And importantly, it points out that climate change is a key factor in 21st century food security, as water scarcities, invasive pests and weeds entering new ecosystems, and increased drought put additional pressure on the already-stressed world food system.

A press release about the report can be found here and the complete report is here.