Quick view: can we feed the planet and still hit net zero?
Portfolio manager Tal Lomnitzer highlights the key approaches to achieve sustainable agriculture, and the significant investment opportunity.
3 minute read
Key takeaways:
- Emissions from global food systems equate to around one-third of the worldwide total, and of this, almost 40% comes from agricultural production.
- Breakthrough solutions across the agricultural value chain include initiatives focused on decreasing food waste, making the most of already scarce resources and advancing innovation in sustainable agriculture.
- In the US alone, sustainable agriculture has attracted investments of US$2.4 trillion.
In an urgent bid to address the agriculture sector’s carbon footprint, while balancing the needs of feeding the global population, a wave of innovative solutions and technologies are quickly emerging.
Two billion more people to feed between now and 2050
With population growth showing no signs of abating, the race is on to meet the demand for food without adding to the already significant emissions footprint of the global agricultural sector.
Breakthrough solutions across the agricultural value chain are attracting significant investment, with initiatives focused on decreasing food waste, making the most of already scarce resources and advancing innovation in sustainable agriculture.
In the US alone, sustainable agriculture has attracted US$2.4 trillion in assets under management.1
Decarbonising global food systems
The urgency to reduce emissions is laid bare by the enormity of the sector’s growing emissions profile. Emissions from global food systems equate to around one-third of the worldwide total, and of this, almost 40% comes from agricultural production. Direct emissions from cattle and dairy are collectively greater than any single country, excluding China.2
The chart depicts the number of kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) needed to produce a single kilogram of food by category. While beef is incredibly emissions-intensive, this issue and others like it are being tackled by agricultural innovation and changing practices. Meanwhile, increased production of alternative proteins, greater availability of fresh produce and changing diets to reduce meat consumption are helping to address the total emissions related to food production.
Greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity of various foods, (kg of CO2e per kg of protein)
Source: McKinsey & Company, Agriculture and climate change, Reducing emissions through improved farming practices. April 2020. Data: Greenhouse gas emissions from pig and chicken supply chains: A global life cycle assessment, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Rome; Greenhouse gas emissions from ruminant supply chains: A global life cycle assessment, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAQ) Rome; McKinsey analysis.
Without any material changes to current practices, agricultural emissions are predicted to increase by 15-20% by 2050 due to a swelling global population and per capita growth in food consumption of between 8-12%.3
Reimagining agricultural practices
Reducing food system emissions will require change on various fronts. When it comes to agriculture specifically, optimising the animal feed mix, crop rotation strategies, regenerative farming and improving fertilising practices are just a few ways that can help.
Additionally, an explosion of new agricultural technology or ‘agtech’ innovations are already making a material difference, including:
- Better plant genetics to increase crop resilience.
- Using big data, Internet of Things (IoT ) and artificial intelligence (AI) technology to monitor soil moisture and nutrient composition.
- The use of drones to deliver precision fertiliser or pesticide programmes.
- Robotics/autonomous equipment to aid seeding, fertiliser and chemical application and crop harvesting.
- The value of global ‘agtech’ is expanding rapidly. Valued at US$9.11 billion in 2020, it is expected to reach US$32.50 billion by 2027.4
We see a significant role for agriculture in the achievement of net zero and a great opportunity for companies that facilitate and embrace the change.
1 Farming for the Future, PWC. March 2022.
2 Agriculture and Climate Change, McKinsey.
3 The future of food and agriculture – The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations
4.Agtech market review – Global Banking and Finance Review.
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3 minute read
- Emissions from global food systems equate to around one-third of the worldwide total, and of this, almost 40% comes from agricultural production.
- Breakthrough solutions across the agricultural value chain include initiatives focused on decreasing food waste, making the most of already scarce resources and advancing innovation in sustainable agriculture.
- In the US alone, sustainable agriculture has attracted investments of US$2.4 trillion.