In: Operations Management
Sustainable food source for future
Increase in world population and lack of good and sustainable methods of farming has led to a situation currently in world, where we have to revisit and identify measure to adopt sustainable farming and food production processes to meet the basic demand for food items. Sustainability holds the agenda of providing food to everyone by considering the ecosystem linked to it. It should enable the stakeholders to protect the environment and ecological sources to produce good quality food for now and also for future. Various methods which can be used to implement a sustainable way of food productions can be listed as below;
Sustainable methods for food production:
1- More use of natural resources efficiently – We should consider the option of reducing non-renewable source of energies and focus on optimizing water usage that it can last long. An energy efficient food production and manufacturing processes will enable the producers to gain more from the nature and less wastage.
2- Consider the quality of natural resources for lone term – We should try to protect the natural resources such as water sources, soil, air etc. by reducing the usage of chemical pesticides, chemical fertilizers etc. Air pollution can be reduced by adopting various sustainable methods and impart more of organic farming methods for large scale production of crops.
3- Conserving of marine sources for long term – Marine products especially fish items should be conserved for long term as it is one of the major source of food for majority of population. By protecting the water resources the fish stocks can be increased. Try to implement sustainable methods of fishing and conserve coastal areas by considering the option of minimal pollution.
4- Use recyclable and environment friendly food packaging processes which will reduce wastage and pollution – such as reduction of plastic materials for food packaging.
5- Encourage seasonal food production – Depending on the seasonal crops of vegetable or fruits can improve the efficiency of food chain and reduction worldwide carbon foot print.
6- Crop rotation process for farming – In order to improve the quality of soil crop rotating processes can be adopted which will increase the nutrients in soil.
7- Encourage cooking at households – this will reduce wastage of food and improvement in health of population
8- Encourage innovative methods of farming such as terrace agriculture, organic farming etc.
9- Try to maintain an integrated livestock by incorporating crops and animal husbandry. It can be the best method of organic farming and animal wastes can be used as fertilizer for crops.
10- Governments can provide incentives for farmers and create new policies to help them.
11- Embrace diversity in farming and food production.
What can we do;
1- Use nonpolluting machines and fuels for food production processes as well as farming
2- Try to use renewable source of energy for power supply such as wind, solar energy etc.
3- Adopt economically efficient methods and processes for food production
4- Reduce wastage of food
5- Governments should conserve and help the food production industry and farmers
6- Awareness session around world by various organizations such as WHO, UN etc