ISSUE
Global population to reach 9.8 billion by 2050
Urbanisation and affluence increases alongside growing population, increasing demand for protein and the production of waste. The puts the sustainability of the agricultural systems under greater stress.
Intense Agricultural Demand
Growing population and demand for animal protein increases the pressure on feed crop production. There is acute pressure on global land and water resources with 30% of all arable land already used to grow animal feed and 25% of all sea caught fish used for fishmeal.
The animal feed industry contributes 7% to global carbon emissions and is a major cause of environmental degradation from unsustainable land management practices and the over harvesting of marine fish.
Global municipal solid waste projected to grow to 3.40 billion tonnes by 2050.
Approximately 60% of urban solid waste in India is organic, typically consisting of vegetable, food and other debris that degrade rapidly. In just Bengaluru, about 3,000 tonnes of organic waste is generated everyday.
Rotting organic waste emits methane which is 23 times as potent as CO2 as a greenhouse gas. It also contaminates soil, air and water systems and are breeding ground for diseases.