CORDIS Express: solving the future food conundrum
We’ve often been told how 2050 would be a turning point for humanity: either we stubbornly persist in applying old consumption patterns to a new context, or we finally compromise to ensure that 9.6 billion people can live on Earth without completely draining its resources. This is not a science-fiction scenario: experts generally agree that we would need much more than one planet to keep living as we do now. Either that, or the blue planet will eventually turn into a lifeless desert. The first signs are already visible: fish stocks in our seas have gone down dramatically, notably pushing the European Commission to apply TACs (Total allowable catches) and quotas. Forests home to precious ecosystems are being destroyed at a dangerous pace, biodiversity has shrunk by 52% since 1970, and one third of the world’s arable land has been lost through erosion and soil degradation since 1960. Concretely, this means we have to change the way we produce, conserve and consume food, and even the nature of the food itself. The change is already in effect from a scientific point of view: some researchers are already working on replacing animal products with synthetized copies or creating stronger and more nutritive food crops. Insects’ and seaweed’s potential for feeding humans has been heavily documented, and this month 3D printed food has moved from fantasy to reality with the announcement of the first commercially-available food printer. This edition of Express focuses on some of the latest scientific advances made by European scientists in this vital field of research. - Clear communication is key for the success of personalised nutrition(opens in new window) - EU researchers develop tools to promote novel food potential(opens in new window) - High-tech: a key ingredient for the future of Europe's food industry(opens in new window) - Innovative textiles to boost EU seaweed farming(opens in new window) - Bio-based smart packaging materials(opens in new window) - The genetics of stress resistance in tomato(opens in new window) - Second International Conference on Food Security and Nutrition (ICFSN 2015)(opens in new window)
Countries
Belgium