This topic emerged through a screening of emerging issues in science, technology and society in the context of the FET CSA OBSERVE.

http://www.horizon-observatory.eu/radar-en/index.php

The big picture

Feeding the world without transgressing the earth’s carrying capacity is one of the key challenges of the future that is also deeply related to other challenges such as water, energy, housing and health. OBSERVE findings highlight different aspects: 

Food systems

In the near future we have to produce 70% more food than today without harming the environment. Furthermore the decrease in variety in plant and animal based food (e.g. rice/apples) is making food systems more susceptible to pests and diseases. Globally, dependency on grain imports is on the rise. Production of meat and fish is rising steeply. Technical approaches to food production such as smart floating farms, high-tech urban farming (e.g. vertical aquaponic growing system) and artificial food abound. Another angle is the reduction of food waste. At the same time there is a growing threat from foodborne diseases. Research addressing infection or intoxication caused by pathogenic factors entering into human bodies through food is one of the most dynamic fields in agricultural, plant and animal sciences. Source: Aggregated from several;

Synthetic food

In the face of a looming food crisis artificial substitutes are developed such as a food powder that provides 100% of an adult’s daily nutrients. Some experts expect that within 10 years synthetic biology will be able to produce different kinds of food, including meat and drinks at lower costs than today. By manipulating genes, brand-new foods can be created with new properties or flavours. Agricultural biofactories which use glass or plastic vats (bioreactors), and needs only sun or sugar, algae and nutrients, can be located anywhere. Source: Aggregated from several;

Automated indoor farming

A company in Japan is building an indoor lettuce farm that will be completely tended by robots and computers. The company expects the factory to open in 2017, and the fully automated farming process could make the lettuce cheaper and better for the environ-ment. For now, the Wall Street Journal reports that the company is still working on a machine that can plant the seeds, and their process still requires human eyes to de-termine whether a seedling has sprouted. Source:Wall Street Journal;

Human animal relationship

The relationship between animals and human beings is changing. Firstly, there is a kind of technical domestication apparent in developments like remotely controlled bugs (biodrones), fish-guiding robots or genetically altered pets. With science increasingly pointing to animal culture and self awareness there is debate on (human) rights for animals and ever more people adopt vegetarism and veganism. Source: Aggregated from several;

The work to be done

Establishment of sustainable food systems involves combinations of social and technological innovation tailored to diverse local contexts in a collaboration of several disciplines. Several of the solutions being debated carry disruptive potential and require fresh thinking both in terms of technologies and social and cultural practices.