An Additional 70-80 Million Hectares Of Cropland Will Be Required In Just Seven Years To Sustain The World’s Demand For Food, Feed, Fuel And Natural Capital

An additional 70-80 million hectares of cropland, about the size of all of Brazil’s cropland, will be required in just seven years to sustain the world’s demand for food, feed, fuel and natural capital. A new report Striking the Balance: by global consultants McKinsey and Co notes that most of the demand is driven by feedstock, food and fuel. McKinsey anticipates that producing feed for livestock production could account for around 70% of all incremental cropland needs by 2030. McKinsey partner Amandla Ombaka says 60% of the earth’s habitable land is already in use by humans and the appetite for land – particularly for food and fuel – is putting pressure on arable land. She says the answer is conversion of degraded land, stronger yield growth and efficiencies from increased trade.