Introduction to Agriculture and the Global Food System
“However much food we produce, we always seem to want more.” This quote by economist Thomas Robert Malthus sets the scene for this introductory video on agriculture. Watch Oliver Knight as he guides us on what agriculture is, the context of agriculture and its main drivers.
Overview
Agriculture is defined as the active production of useful plants or animals in ecosystems that have been created by people. The agricultural industry is the biggest and perhaps the most important sector in the world, keeping 300-350 million people employed and food stocked on shelves. It is also responsible for 30% of global emissions from farm to fork. Agriculture’s main drivers - maximising output, maintaining price stability and generating ever-cheaper food - have affected the climate significantly.
Key learning objectives:
Learn what agriculture is
Identify the 3 main drivers of agriculture
Understand how these 3 main drivers have led to significant climate costs
Summary
Expert
Oliver Knight
Oliver Knight is a former banker and strategy consultant who now runs a company working to accelerate the impact of environmental research. It involves taking leading global research to the market related to improving the environment, enhancing land use and accelerating the transition to net zero emissions.
