Reducing Energy Consumption, while Protecting the Environment - Energy and Climate: How to Achieve a Successful Energy Transition - page 62

New agricultural production modes

Toprovide the foodneededby theworld s 9billion inhabitants expectedby

2050, it would be necessary to double the present agricultural production.
The green agricultural revolution, which began after the Second World
War, has led to a strong increase in agricultural production, thus helping to
avoid famines in numerous regions worldwide and especially in Asia. How-
ever, this revolution has been accomplished by using high amounts of energy,
fertilisers and pesticides. Similar to what has occurred in other economic
sectors, this has had a negative impact upon the environment and has
increased the dependence of agricultural production upon energy supplies.
Therefore, new agricultural production modes have to be developed. A
first pathway consists of applying a more intense selection of plant
varieties, genetic engineering methods and new chemical products in
order to increase productivity further.
In order to reduce the consumption of energy and the impact upon the
environment, alternative more ecology-friendly methods are also being
investigated. These methods aim at the optimisation of the ecosystem and
avoid ploughing up the ground. The objective is to increase productivity,
while ensuring better energy conservation, by using new cultivation
methods involving reduced external inputs, combined with new rotation
and irrigation methods [48].
The use of geneticallymodified organisms (GMOs) should be examined
in the most objective way. It would be unfortunate to discard without a
thorough investigation new options which might satisfy the food needs of
the world s population in a better way, by consuming less energy or by

using the available resources (especially water) better.
In this area also, rather than looking for a unique solution, whichwould
provide answers to a whole set of raised questions, it seems preferable to
favour a pragmatic approach, taking into account the real needs of the
population and environment protection.
Sustainable agriculture can help also to supply a more healthy food. In
developing countries, it generates new jobs. It is essential to protect such
sustainable agriculture in competition with products derived from energy
intensive agriculture by taking into account such factors within the
international trading mechanisms.
Consumption habits are also very important. The average cereal
consumption per inhabitant in the USA is four times higher than in
Japan (800 kg/year against 200 kg/year). This is mainly due to a much
higher consumption of meat. However, life expectancy in Japan exceeds
that in the USA by 8 years [7]. This does not mean that consumption