452 The importance of animals to food security and agricultural sustainability

Abstract

Abstract Worldwide nearly a billion people are estimated to be malnourished, including 140 million children under age 5, leading to permanent impairment of their physical and cognitive development (WHO; http://www.unscn.org/layout/modules/resources/files/rwns5.pdf). In addition, 1 in 9 humans worldwide do not have regular access to clean, healthy drinking water, and 1 in 4 use a drinking water source contaminated with feces [WHO (World Health Organization); https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/drinking-water]. Providing adequate food and water will become an even bigger challenge during the remainder of this century given the projected nearly 50% increase in the world’s population [from its current 7.6 to 11.2 billion by 2100; Garland, Science 346:234–7, 2014 and World Population Prospects, UN, 2015 (the U.S. is projected to experience a similar increase in population; https://www.census.gov/data/tables/2014/demo/popproj/2014-summary-tables.html)]. These problems are why the top 2 of the United Nation’s 17 current “Sustainable Development Goals” are to “End poverty in all its forms everywhere” (Goal 1) and to “End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture” (Goal 2). Because most arable land worldwide is already in use, and water and energy also are limiting, increased production of food will require a substantial increase in efficiency (Reynolds et al., Journal of Nutrition 145:1377–9, 2015). This talk will discuss how animal-sourced foods, when consumed in appropriate amounts as part of a balanced diet, provide essential nutrients for humans and are important to a healthy diet. In addition, we will discuss how animals are critical to continuation of the “Green Revolution,” which will be key to the sustainability of agricultural systems. In addition, addressing various potential problems associated with production of food animals, including water availability and quality, greenhouse gas emissions, animal welfare, overgrazing, food waste, and complexity of the food system(s), will require highly motivated and well-trained animal scientists.