GLOBAL CHALLENGES
Towards a sustainable future
Global Challenges
How do we sustainably increase the global production of food? According to the World Resources Institute, there are three very large gaps that we need to bridge to produce enough safe and healthy food by 2050.
The food gap: the difference between the amount of food produced in 2010 and the amount needed to meet demand in 2050. This is estimated at 7,400 trillion calories, which is 56 percent more crop calories than produced in 2010.
The land gap: the difference between the global agricultural land area in 2010 and the area required in 2050, assuming crop and pasture yields continue to grow at past rates. Estimated at 593 million hectares, an area nearly twice the size of India.
The greenhouse gas emissions gap: the difference between the annual emissions likely to come from agriculture and land use change in 2050. Estimated to be 15 gigatons of carbon dioxide equivalent.
Local impact
On a global scale, the gaps that we need to bridge are huge. They seem almost insurmountable. But when you focus on those activities that generate the highest local impact they are not. We believe in local impact. But we also know that global presence brings about global responsibility.
That is why we have developed our global sustainability programme around our business units. The markets they operate in differ greatly, as do the issues that are important in their local communities. The programme focuses on local commitment: facilitating and challenging business units to define goals and ambitions that meet the expectations of local stakeholders and create shared value in their supply chains.
“Every day, we work towards creating better access to safe and healthy food for a growing world population. We do so by providing our customers with the products and services they need to look after their animals and manage the sustainable development of their businesses.”
Co en Koen de Heus
CEO
