The Greater Manchester Skeptics Society are looking
for 40 facts about food security and food production to be presented as part of
their event “The Future of Food”. The event explored the common ground between
scientists and activists regarding our ability to feed a growing population in
years to come. Together with the talks and discussions on the 23rd
October, these facts will cover a great range of issues, from local food
production in Manchester to the loss of key food sources worldwide.
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Fact #1: Crickets need 12 times less feed than cattle to produce the same amount of protein.
According to a report for the
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, more than 1,900
species of insects have been used as food, as part of the diet of 2 billion
people. Insects have many environmental benefits compared to traditional
livestock. They require less water and less land to be cleared for farming and
emit fewer greenhouse gases. Being cold-blooded, they are also more efficient
at turning feed into body mass.
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Image classified as in
the public domain
NordGen/Dag Terje Filip Endresen
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Fact #2: The Svalbard Global Seed Vault contains around 860,000 samples, protecting these crop varieties for the future.
One of many seed banks around the world, the Svalbard Global
Seed Vault was built in 2008 and was designed to withstand disasters such
nuclear war. Each variety of a crop may be suited to different climates or
resilient against particular pests, and can be used by scientists to breed
stronger crops. The first request for seeds was made by the International
Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas, after the crisis in Syria
forced it to relocate.
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Image classified as in the public domain
Danilo Cedrone (United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization)
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Fact #3: Nearly 3 billion people rely on fish as a major source of protein.
According to the World Wildlife Fund’s “Living
Blue Planet” report, nearly 3 billion people receive at least 20% of their
protein intake from fish. Average consumption of fish per capita has nearly
doubled since the 1960s. As it stands, 29% of the world’s fish stocks are
classified as overfished and 61% as fully exploited, meaning that there is no
way to increase the amount of fish caught. Increasingly, species are being
caught which have longer life spans and take longer to reach maturity, meaning
that it takes longer for populations to recover.
If you have a fact to contribute, send it to events@gmss.uk or tweet using the hashtag
#futureoffood. If possible, include a link to the source of the information.
The Future of Food event will be at the Museum of Science
and Industry on Friday 23rd October, starting at 7pm. For more
details, visit the Manchester
Science Festival website.
By Vicky Stiles, Greater Manchester Skeptics Society
By Vicky Stiles, Greater Manchester Skeptics Society
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