The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations projects that in order to feed the human population in 2050, a mere 34 years away, our world food production will need to increase by 70%. A sensible solution to the anticipated food shortage is through the use of available modern technologies. One of the biggest controversies surrounding modern agriculture today is whether or not it is “sustainable” for years and generations to come. One of my favorite quotes comes from The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s executive director of global sustainability, Kim Stackhouse-Lawson, she states that “sustainability is a word that is often hijacked, it doesn’t mean totally organic. It’s about doing more with less and making continuous improvement…” While I do believe that there is a place in the market for organic and naturally raised products and that they’re very important to offer to consumers, I want them to know that organic and naturally raised products are no safer nor are they more sustainable than conventionally raised products.
The degradation and harm to the soil
from tilling, pesticides and intensification from
year to year has been brought
to light within recent years. There are several solutions in order to combat
the deleterious effects on soil integrity in which are growing in popularity. No-till
farming and the use of cover crops has been increasingly popular and proven to
be beneficial to the land when implemented properly over time. No-till farming is
just as it sounds, it simply involves a lack of plowing, which allows the soil composition
to remain intact and can actually lead to higher crop yields over time in
comparison with conventionally raised tilled crops. Another popular movement is
that of cover crops. Cover cropping involves growing an alternative harvest in
between the growing season of the major crop produced on the land. Examples of
popular cover crops include kale, rape, and wheat, these cover crops suppresses
soil diseases and pests as well as weeds, promote active organic matter to the
soil and improve soil stability. The sustainable nature of livestock production
has been debated along with crop production sustainability, and as a result, the
growth of all-naturally raised, grass-fed, and organic has been highly sought
after by consumers. One thing many don’t consider is the time disadvantage it
takes to produce niche market livestock, and thus an overall loss in
efficiency. For example, the average age at harvest of a conventionally raised
beef steer is around 16 months of age versus an average age of 21+ months of age
for a grass-fed beef steer. The several months of difference between the two
differing production systems is critical in terms of efficiency and all that
surrounds it. The longer livestock take to reach market weights, the more cost
you have into production with the same amount of product in the end, which in
theory results in more carbon footprint per animal as well as not maximizing
your potentials or in Kim Stackhouse-Lawson’s words, lacking to do more with
less and thus not making continuous improvements. 
All in all, the
argument that modern agriculture lacks in sustainability is too casually
thrown around without consideration to the bold changes that are happening
every day in order to better the food production system. In order to account
for the exponentially growing human population, we need modern production practices
to be understood and accepted by consumers. Food production has the ability to
reach the gigantic leap necessary to feed the world in 2050, but it will
require the use of more modern agriculture and less niche markets due to the
lag in niche market production in comparison with conventionally raised
products.
year to year has been brought
to light within recent years. There are several solutions in order to combat
the deleterious effects on soil integrity in which are growing in popularity. No-till
farming and the use of cover crops has been increasingly popular and proven to
be beneficial to the land when implemented properly over time. No-till farming is
just as it sounds, it simply involves a lack of plowing, which allows the soil composition
to remain intact and can actually lead to higher crop yields over time in
comparison with conventionally raised tilled crops. Another popular movement is
that of cover crops. Cover cropping involves growing an alternative harvest in
between the growing season of the major crop produced on the land. Examples of
popular cover crops include kale, rape, and wheat, these cover crops suppresses
soil diseases and pests as well as weeds, promote active organic matter to the
soil and improve soil stability. The sustainable nature of livestock production
has been debated along with crop production sustainability, and as a result, the
growth of all-naturally raised, grass-fed, and organic has been highly sought
after by consumers. One thing many don’t consider is the time disadvantage it
takes to produce niche market livestock, and thus an overall loss in
efficiency. For example, the average age at harvest of a conventionally raised
beef steer is around 16 months of age versus an average age of 21+ months of age
for a grass-fed beef steer. The several months of difference between the two
differing production systems is critical in terms of efficiency and all that
surrounds it. The longer livestock take to reach market weights, the more cost
you have into production with the same amount of product in the end, which in
theory results in more carbon footprint per animal as well as not maximizing
your potentials or in Kim Stackhouse-Lawson’s words, lacking to do more with
less and thus not making continuous improvements. 
https://www.populationinstitute.org/resources/populationonline/issue/1/8/
http://www.agweb.com/article/wanted-sustainable-beef-suppliers-naa-greg-henderson/
http://covercrops.cals.cornell.edu/soil-health.php
https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/articles/489-no-till-movement-in-us-continues-to-grow
