Humanity’s food systems are already making a big impact on our planet’s ecosystem. Agriculture accounts for 80% of global deforestation and 70% of fresh water use. And earlier this month, the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a report detailing how the impact of climate change on our food systems will intensify as the earth’s population continues to grow.
Agricultural supply chains must adapt to keep up with this consumption and consumers’ increasing demand for sustainability. However, developing a cohesive approach is difficult. It can be even harder to get buy-in from key stakeholders across an organization. In order to make this shift happen, organizations must commit to change-oriented thinking, clear communication and environmental best practices.
Here are three key insights Mindsailing pulled from the IPCC report, and what they mean for agricultural organizations navigating this dramatic change cycle.
If the earth warms by 1.5 degrees, 178 million people are projected to suffer from lack of water and desertification by 2050.
And in a 2-degree warming scenario, that number increases to 220 million people worldwide. This sort of change would put the world’s food security at risk.
A situation this dire requires immediate response across agricultural supply chains. However, an organization’s leadership is often unable or unwilling to admit where they stand in the current cycle of change. That’s why it can prove difficult to shift an organization’s mindset from “should” to “must.”
Working with an innovation agency help move these conversations forward, while developing a communication strategy to align goals across your organization.
Related Content: Get more of our agriculture insights on communication tactics that connect.
Humans have utilized between a quarter and one-third of all land for food, feed, fiber, timber, and energy.
What’s more, the Earth’s total land surface is only about 52 million square miles. That means we only get 52 million miles to produce all of the energy and food we need. That makes supply chain efficiency an essential element for any agriculture organization.
In order to achieve an effective supply chain, agricultural organizations need to commit to sustainable best practices and innovative technology.
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The world has seen a reduction of 35 trillion calories every year.
That equates to about 1% of food calories lost, or removing food calories for about 50 million people. This kind of loss places an even greater emphasis on increasing supply chain efficiency and combatting waste at every step, from the farm to the consumer.
Related Content: Read more about the benefits of transparent, sustainable and socially responsible supply chains.
While reports like the IPCC’s are discouraging, they can also serve as a rallying cry. Because a map exists to navigate these currents of change in the agriculture industry. It takes organization-wide commitment, a consistent communications plan, and a rock-solid dedication to the latest sustainability best practices. Only then can true cultural transformation occur.
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