How are we going to deal with the world's growing population?

environmental science student here to educate about why and how we should increase crop yield

[espmstudent]

Using new genetic modifying technology to increase crop diversity

This final blog post will be a sort of continuation of the last two. It will integrate concepts of genetic modification and plant cultural diversity.

 A recent breakthrough was made by plant geneticists at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in New York which could change how crops are genetically modified. Using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, genes can be edited and modified using an easier and more precise technique. This gene editing technology uses the CRISPR “scissors” to target specific genes more accurately and quickly to weed out unwanted genes. Previous gene editing techniques required small, gradual changes in plant genes over multiple plant generation. This new technique claims to be able to speed up this process while keeping results consistent. This the could further be a help because, according to Ingenious Targeting Laboratory, “...the main problem [with plant breeding] was the lack of enough genetic variety for breeders to use in most species of crops”. With this new ability to genetically modify plants using a time-efficient method while keeping results consistent, famers will be able to have crop diversity which will help fight disease. 

Source:

Ingenious Targeting Laboratory, New CRISPR/Cas9 Application To Increase Crop Yields. https://www.genetargeting.com/newsletters/crisprcas9-increase-crop-yields/ (accessed April 1, 2019)

[espmstudent]

Are GMOs really that scary?

According to an article from Cornell’s Alliance for Science, GMO crops have been revolutionary in increasing crop yields. GMO crops have been and still are a controversial issue, but the impact that they have had on modern crop cultures is undeniable. However, there has been some opposition to this idea. A recent article from the National Academy of Sciences of the United States concluded that GM crops have no impact on crop yields. While some GM crops will have no big impact on crop yield, they could have an impact on other things like anti-browning or drought and disease resistance. Because of these unique traits, it will reduce crop loss.

Genetically modified crops can have traits that help them fight disease, use energy and water more efficiently, reduce maturity time, and increase crop yield. This technique has been around for quite some time but consumers are afraid of the word GMO because they associate it with plants grown in a lab or pumped full of chemicals. It seems like every day, there is a new recall of produce. From tomatoes to clementines to romaine lettuce, there are constantly problems in produce production. In fact, there was a recent recall in crop that were planted on farms that use Roundup. Roundup is a herbicide and has been in the news for years, but it was recently shown to cause cancer. The recall spans from sweet corn to sunflower butter, but I don't think it is getting as much screen time as GMO crops are getting. There is currently a culture of fake news and GMO crops have been taking the brunt of it. There is really no need to be afraid of the word GMO when there are food recalls happening every day and we could risk cancer from just being uninformed at the grocery store. GMO crops are all around us and they are more efficient and more hardy than nonGMO crops.

Sources:

Corero, D. Cornell Alliance for Science, GMO crops have been increasing yield for 20 years, with more progress ahead. https://allianceforscience.cornell.edu/blog/2018/02/gmo-crops-increasing-yield-20-years-progress-ahead/ (accessed March 28, 2019)

The Sentinel, Recall Roundup: Corn, sunflower butter, caramels and tampons recalled. https://cumberlink.com/news/local/recall-roundup-corn-sunflower-butter-caramels-and-tampons-recalled/article_99c0c97b-d1eb-5a34-9a5b-c23a5ba7ebd6.html (accessed March 28, 2019)

Levin Papantonio Law, Monsanto Roundup Lawsuits - Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Injuries. https://www.levinlaw.com/monsanto-roundup-lawsuit-cancer-link (accessed March 28, 2019)

[espmstudent]

Diversifying crop culture to fight disease

Sometimes the answer to increasing crop yield seems just under our noses. Farmers in China have started using an innovative new strategy to increase crop yield “without using chemical treatments or spending a single extra penny”. This experimental new technique is planting two different types of rice instead of one. This has helped immensely with the prominence of rice blast in their paddies. According to Dr. Christopher Mundt, a population biologist from Oregon State University, “I wasn't surprised that the system worked, but I was surprised that it worked so well.” This new technique has helped fight rice blast, because the crops are not a monoculture so if not all the crops are affected even if the blast completely wipes out one type of rice. This has helped with the farmers’ bottom line because they no longer have a huge need for the fungicides that they use. 

This project was highly successful because, not only did the type of rice that doesn't usually succumb to the blast survived, but it blocked some of the spores from the other type of rice. The rice that is susceptible to the fungus is a highly enjoyed sticky rice and the fungus has been devastating to the crop. As more farmers start using this technique, it is even more effective, as the spores from other farms don't blow over into the neighboring rice paddies because the not-susceptible rice is blocking it with great efficiency. 

This technique could potentially be used on different crops, and the scientists are hopeful that it will be a great new technique that can increase crop yield without hurting the environment or the pockets of farmers.

Source:

Kaesuk Yoon, C. New York Times, Simple Method Found to Increase Crop Yields Vastly. https://www.nytimes.com/2000/08/22/science/simple-method-found-to-increase-crop-yields-vastly.html (accessed March 26, 2019)

[espmstudent]

Hacking photosynthesis to increase crop yield.

Researchers from Boyce Thompson Institute and Cornell University have been doing trials on corn and tobacco crops to try to increase the efficiency of photosynthesis. They have found that increasing the amount of an enzyme called RuBisCO can help make photosynthesis run faster, with fewer bumps in the road. According to plant biologist David Stern, “Every metabolic process- like photosynthesis- has the equivalent of traffic lights or speed bumps. RuBisCO is often the limiting factor in photosynthesis. With increased RuBisCO though, this well-known speed bump is lowered, leading to improved photosynthetic efficiency.” RuBisCO’s scientific name is Ribulose-1,5-biphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase but that is quite a mouthful so I will use RuBisCO. It is widely accepted that photosynthesis is inefficient. During photosynthesis, plant will create unnecessary glycolic acid and will use energy to try to get rid of it. This defect is called light breathing. Increasing the amount of RuBisCO will help convert energy to sugar, so it will help plants during energy conversion to not create as much glycolic acid. During their first trials, the plants just created more glycolic acid, as they were transferring more energy. One way to fix this would be to make the plants more selective in the source of carbon that they will use during photosynthesis, but that would slow down its growth rate. Another way would be to boost the plant’s own immune response so that it would block the creation of glycolic acid, which is a big speed bumps in photosynthesis.

This technique is still in the testing phase, but it could be a great way to increase crop yield. Hopefully, it will become more mainstream, once the troubleshooting phase is finished and will be affordable for small-family farmers and available for farmers in countries all over the world.

Sources:

Friedlander, B. Improving Crop Yield by Turbocharging Photosynthesis https://www.technologynetworks.com/applied-sciences/news/improving-crop-yield-by-turbocharging-photosynthesis-310219 (accessed March 12, 2019)

Bourzac, K. Realizing Increased Photosynthetic Efficiency for sustainable increases in crop yield. Improve photosynthesis and increase crop yield https://ripe.illinois.edu/news/improve-photosynthesis-and-increase-crop-yield (accessed March 12, 2019)

[espmstudent]

Plastic mulching

Another great farming strategy is plastic mulching. Plastic mulching is a technique used in a similar way to fertilizer that is used in a similar way to fertilizer that is used to increase soil temperature, intensify sunlight, preserve soil moisture, and reduce weed growth. I’m sure you've seen examples of plastic mulching before. It looks like a black plastic bag underneath crops or flowers or whatever is planted in your neighbor’s garden. This practice is very important for farmers in poorer parts of the world, because the plastic can be used between crop rotations. As mentioned before, it preserves soil moisture, which is a great thing because droughts have been a problem all over the world, from Eastern Africa to western US. Plastic mulching has been shown to increase cash crop and grain yield by up to 60%. 

However, plastic mulching can also lead to soil degradation by increasing carbon and nitrogen metabolism. This practice also leaves lots of plastic waste. But the long-lasting effects of this technique on the ecosystem have yet to be monitored. Plastic mulching could be a viable route to increase crop yield.

Sources:

Wenqing, H., Zhen, L., Enke, L., Quin, L., Dongbao, S., Changrong, Y. World Agriculture, The benefits and challenge of plastic film mulching in China. http://www.world-agriculture.net/article/the-benefits-and-challenge-of-plastic-film-mulching-in-china (accessed March 5, 2019)

 Steinmetz, Zacharias; Wollman, Claudia; Schaefer, Miriam; Buchmann, Christian; Jan, David; Tröger, Josephine; Muñoz, Katherine; Frör, Oliver; Schaumann, Gabriele Ellen. Sci. of the Total Env. Plastic mulching in agriculture. Trading short-term agronomic benefits for long-term soil degradation? 2016 550, 690-705.

[espmstudent]

Precision Farming

Another farming strategy to help combat overpopulation is precision farming. Precision farming is another technological farming strategy that uses sensors, GPS, and drones with cameras to be able to monitor crops. Using precision farming will help you be able to monitor stem size, leaf shape and size, and overall plant health. You will be able to get real-time updates so you don't have to fertilize or water plots of land that don't need it. This will help conserve water and cut down on nutrient runoff from over fertilization that could lead to eutrophication in nearby water sources.

This farming strategy has so many pros to it, but there are also cons. Not all famers have to money to purchase and maintain the gadget needed to use precision farming. This way of farming is quite exclusive, as smaller family farms and farms in poorer parts of the world would not be able to use this strategy.  Some farmers don’t have cellphones to monitor their crops or even reliable wifi and electricity.

This farming strategy is a great way to increase crop yield without hurting nearby ecosystems and would help cut down on water use, but it is not available to everyone.

Sources:

Ling, Geoffrey; Bextine, Blake. Precision Farming Increases Crop Yields.

[espmstudent]

Will AI be the new farmers?

Microsoft AI has created a program that helps farmers plant crops to get the highest yield and troubleshoot potential problems. This program allows famers to figure out the optimum sowing date, predict pest attacks, and even create price models. The best part about this is that it can be controlled by a cellphone! 

This program has helped farmers in India increase crop yield by 30% without any evident environmental impacts. I’m sure we’ve all seen that Microsoft commercial with the dramatic music and that one rapper trying to tell us that we should start using AI. I’m also sure that you didn't take it very seriously, at least I didn't at first. Microsoft partnered up with a company called The Yield, which hopes to increase crop yield. They are an award-winning ag-tech company that hopes to improve decision-making on farms.

Two big companies like these teaming up to fight overpopulation and world hunger could be a big deal for ag-tech, AI, and the world. We’ll just have to wait and see if they live up to the hype.

Sources:

The Yield. https://www.theyield.com (accessed February 18, 2019)

Nagpal, J. Digital Agriculture: Farmers in India are using AI to increase crop yields. https://news.microsoft.com/en-in/features/ai-agriculture-icrisat-upl-india/ (accessed February 18, 2019)

Pretty, J. Could we feed the world without causing further environmental damage?https://www.theguardian.com/society/2001/jan/17/guardiansocietysupplement1(accessed February 18, 2019)

Sustainability For All, Causes and Consequences of Overpopulation. https://www.activesustainability.com/sustainable-development/causes-consequences-overpopulation/ (accessed February 18, 2019)

[espmstudent]

Why increasing crop yield is important.

The world population is expected to grow to 296 billion in 2050 if fertility remains constant. That, however, will probably never happen because fertility has been steadily declining. But the world is already struggling due to symptoms caused by overpopulation. There are geopolitical conflicts happening all over that world, from disputes over oil in the Middle East to disputes over mineral deposits in northern Africa. 

There are many possible solutions to solve this. The solution I will focus on is increasing crop yields. I am not just talking about using intensive farming to feed people in the short run and worry about the rest later. I am talking about finding efficient, environmentally-friendly, cost-effective ways to increase crop yield.

Sources:

MPH Online, The Effect of Overpopulation on Public Health. https://www.mphonline.org/overpopulation-public-health/ (accessed February 12, 2019)

Environmental Literacy Council,Conflict & Natural Resources. https://enviroliteracy.org/land-use/conflict-natural-resources/ (accessed February 12, 2019)

[espmstudent]

Was overpopulation inevitable?

Overpopulation is often spoken about like something that will happen in the far-away future but the world is already showing signs of overpopulation. There are food shortages happening worldwide. In fact, 1 in 3 people are suffering from hunger or undernourishment. Overpopulation also makes way for easily spread diseases, as airborne illnesses have an easier time spreading when people are in close contact. In just the year 2012, there were 8.6 million reported cases of tuberculosis. There are also geopolitical tensions over land and resources. This problem has been a long time coming, as the 18th century scholar, Thomas Malthus, even predicted it. You may have heard of things being referred to as Malthusian, meaning that things seem bleak and gray, but Malthus had a very important point. He hypothesized that since population growth happens exponentially and food production growth happens arithmetically, that there would come a time when people would be at risk of starvation. This idea was right, but he pictured things in black and white, not factoring in the fact that we would have more advanced farming strategies and technologies. There are hundreds of new techniques that could help curb the effects of overpopulation to avoid a worldwide hunger crisis.

Sources:

MPH Online, The Effect of Overpopulation on Public Health. https://www.mphonline.org/overpopulation-public-health/ (accessed February 6, 2019)

Environmental Literacy Council,Conflict & Natural Resources. https://enviroliteracy.org/land-use/conflict-natural-resources/ (accessed February 6, 2019)

Sustainability For All. Malthus, Food Production, and Population Growth. https://www.activesustainability.com/sustainable-development/malthus-food-production-population-growth/ (accessed February 6, 2019)

[espmstudent]

We live in an overpopulated world.

Overpopulation is defined as “the condition of having a population so dense as to cause environmental deterioration, an impaired quality of life, or a population crash” by Merriam- Webster. Due to this definition one would expect overpopulation to be some huge, world-ending disaster but as far as I can tell, armageddon isn't here yet. So why should we worry about this issue? 

Let’s move backwards and first figure out the circumstances that led up to this problem. One cause is the decrease in infant mortality. In 1900, there were 165 deaths per 1,000 births but today that number has declined to 7. Another cause is the great strides made in advancing medicine. Finally, lack of access to family-planning and support services in third world countries has increased birth rate immensely. 

All of these circumstances and more are the reason that the world population is currently at 7.7 million, with that number increasing at a rate of 82 million people per day. We need to find a viable solution to this problem, and soon, because the world population is expected to jump to 10 billion by 2056 at the latest. That is in only 37 years, less than half of the average lifespan. 

Sources:

Merriam-Webster Dictionary. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overpopulation (accessed February 4, 2019)

World-o-Meters, Current World Population. http://www.worldometers.info/world-population/ (accessed February 4, 2019)

MPH Online, The Effect of Overpopulation on Public Health. https://www.mphonline.org/overpopulation-public-health/ (accessed February 4, 2019)