“By 2050 or so, the world population is expected to reach nine billion, essentially adding two Chinas to the number of people alive today,” says Andrew Revkin, reporter for the NY Times. “Those billions will be seeking food, water and other resources on a planet where, scientists say, humans are already shaping climate and the web of life.”

Translation: We need to start changing our ways, or this planet is going down the tube.

How will we provide water and food resources for such a massive population?

Water: Only 3% of all the water on this planet is actually fresh, drinkable water. And pollutants, such as run off from landfills and unregulated groundwater sources, along with increased population density in certain areas of the country, could create a competition for water paramount to that of oil. We are already feeling the impact. The EPA has already found high levels of many prescription drugs in drinking water, and has created a list of 104 potentially dangerous new contaminants that could soon be monitored. Better techniques for water purification will need to be developed. Look for new nanotechnologies for the purification of water and the desalination of seawater.

“For example, nanoscale porous membranes could dramatically improve the efficiency and reduce the size and energy consumption of desalinisation plants. Nanoscale porous ceramic sponges can remove industrial contaminants such as mercury from waste streams and nanoscale biofilters will likely be able to remove bacteria, viruses, and prions. Nanoscale purification, disinfection, and measurement are expected to become the standard of municipal, industrial, and domestic water and wastewater treatment in the coming years, potentially offering less expensive, more effective, and smaller-scale purification plants.”

 

Food: The challenge is in producing enough food for such a population, without deforesting the entire planet, or using such massive amounts of fertilizers and pesticides that we further contaminate groundwater sources. Genetically modified fruits and vegetables (GMO modified) resistant to insects, and requiring no fertilizer, will need to become the norm. Seventy percent of the corn we now eat is already genetically modified. Organic farmers are already using GMO seeds.

The challenge will be to suppress unbridled cross pollination so that these modifications don’t go spiraling out of control. And the impact on the environment to the rest of the food chain over the long term is currently unknown. For example, the pollen from a prevalently used version of an insect resistant, genetically modificatied corn, also harms the larvae of monarch butterflies. We need to proceed slowly and monitor potential environmental impact closely.

We also may need to eat less meat. A steer needs to eat eight pounds of protein to provide one pound of meat.

One thing is for sure. We need to prepare. As the population increases, the land available to provide for each person decreases. How we plan now will have significant impact on the lives of our children.

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