In the last 40 years the population of the developing world has doubled to 5.1 billion. At present, 60 percent of these people are classed as rural; of whom around 85 percent are agricultural. That is 2.85 billion people. 

From 2020 onwards the population in the developing world will continue to grow while the rural population will remain static, meaning more people to feed using the same resources.

Agriculture is the largest consumer of water and the main source of nitrate and ammonia pollution in water.  It is a major contributor to the phosphate pollution of waterways and to the release of the powerful greenhouse gases (GHGs) methane and nitrous oxide into the atmosphere all contributing greatly to climate change.

Agriculture is also the biggest reason for deforestation. Whilst small plot farmers live beneath the poverty line, it will be impossible to convince them to not replace natural forests with the new plantations they need for survival.

Despite increases in world agricultural productivity over the last few decades, global undernourishment is still on the rise, reaching 821 million people in 2017 (FAO et al. 2018).  Climate change is hitting the hardest where large numbers of poor people live. 

Climate change models suggest warming of 1 to 2 degrees by 2050 from the pre-industrial level (IPCC 2018) and the FAO estimates a 3–10% decline in average global cereal yields for every 1-degree Celsius increase.  Agricultural productivity is already lower in poorer countries making it hard for them to complete globally.  Climate change exacerbates the unequal situation.

Increasingly, it is recognised that agriculture and forestry can also have positive externalities such as the provision of environmental services and amenities.  For example through water storage and purification, carbon sequestration and the maintenance of rural landscapes. Moreover, research-driven agricultural programmes are proven to save vast areas of natural forest and grassland, which would have otherwise been developed in the absence of higher crop, meat and milk yields.

So what makes the difference? Access to the latest information on irrigation techniques, fertilisation, pest control, greater utilisation of land and weather predictions are just some of what makes a real difference. Also, efficient access to local market places and trading via trading tools. Not only will this drive up the yield on the crops to feed more with the same but can arrest environmental damage and start to reverse the negative impact on climate change. 

Access to the information via internet connectivity is an underlying foundation that we need in place to systemically address poverty, natural resources and climate change. It is easy to have a positive impact on this situation. Learn more here.