The trends in Global Agricultural Land use have originated depending upon the problem we are facing and have to counter it.
Several global trends are influencing food security, and the overall sustainability of food and agricultural systems.
Income growth in low- and middle-income countries would hasten a dietary transition towards higher consumption of meat, fruits and vegetables, relative to that of cereals, requiring commensurate shifts in output and adding pressure on natural resources.Economic growth and population dynamicsThe decline in the share of agriculture in total production and employment is taking place at different speeds and poses different challenges across regions.
However, the needed acceleration in productivity growth is hampered by the degradation of natural resources, the loss of biodiversity, and the spread of transboundary pests and diseases of plants and animals, some of which are becoming resistant to antimicrobials.Climate change affects disproportionately food-insecure regions, jeopardizing crop and livestock production, fish stocks and fisheries.Satisfying increased demands on agriculture with existing farming practices is likely to lead to more intense competition for natural resources, increased greenhouse gas emissions, and further deforestation and land degradation.Hunger and extreme povertyYet, around 700 million people, most of them living in rural areas, are still extremely poor today.
Under a ‘business-as-usual’ scenario, without additional efforts to promote pro-poor development, some 653 million people would still be undernourished in 2030.
Even where poverty has been reduced, pervasive inequalities remain, hindering poverty eradication.Critical parts of food systems are becoming more capital-intensive, vertically integrated and concentrated in fewer hands.This is happening from input provisioning to food distribution.