Raphael ThysWith growing pressures from a rising world population, global warming, inequality in access to food, and changing views on sustainability, the food we eat will undergo major changes in the future.
Whatever your favorite dishes may be today, chances are they will look quite different in 20 to 30 years. Overall, the culinary landscape is predicted to undergo major changes in the decades ahead – not only because our habits and attitudes towards food are changing.
By 2050, the global population is expected to hit 10 billion people. This means that – to feed everyone – it will take 56 per cent more food than is produced in the world today, according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Unfortunately, there is not enough agricultural land available to provide larger future populations with the kind of diet people are eating in most countries today. This suggests that the crops we cultivate, and the food we eat today, will undergo significant changes.
Why we will need to eat differently
The key reasons which are necessitating a fundamental shift in how we think about food can be summarised as:
- population growth
- effects of global warming
- inequality in access to food
Even though global poverty has seen a sharp decline over the past decades, there are still far too many people living hungry in the world. To make matters worse, global warming is "very likely to affect global, regional, and local food security by disrupting food availability, decreasing access to food, and making utilisation more difficult", predicts the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
All of these factors mean that in the years to come, mankind will be looking at alternate crops that can be grown with a smaller carbon footprint, in sufficient quantities, and which will have high nutritional value.
From lab-grown meat, edible insects, seaweed, a stronger shift towards plant-based foods, to massive changes in food production and agriculture, the next decades will see a considerable shift in what food we put on our plates.
Eating differently
In a future that will require tackling multiple challenges at once, consumers will not be left without options. After all, eating fulfills emotional and social needs in addition to providing nourishment. Food culture is an integral part of most societies, and most people will probably not want to change it.
So here is what's in store for food menus:
So, does the future of food look high-tech and flavorless? Not necessarily, as it is set to be healthier, sometimes tastier, and probably more sustainable. Overall, these alternatives are predicted to be better for the planet and for biodiversity. Food will certainly be produced and consumed quite differently in the coming decades.
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