Projections suggest that by 2050 almost 90 percent of those under 24 years old will live in low- and middle-income countries. The stability of not only these countries but of the entire world depends on the ability of youth to find meaningful employment in their communities. Without the right investments in the rural areas that many of these young people live, youth migration will continue to rise.
Hunger and all forms of malnutrition will not end by 2030 unless all the factors that undermine food security and nutrition are addressed. Experts say that education can reduce the amount of meat consumed and increase the use of alternative protein sources such as insects. According to the FAO, there are already more than 1,900 edible insect species on Earth.
Agriculture is unique as an economic sector because it is wholly dependent on the health of its host assets—in this case the water and soil, along with biodiversity on both agricultural lands and in surrounding natural areas. This is why we need to scale up the shift to healthy agricultural systems - to reverse this downgrading of assets, to restore the health of agricultural areas and with that their capacity to increase production.
A pilot project in El Salvador and Colombia will help farmers receive vital information such as weather forecasts and early warnings via their smartphones, as well as online training and equipment to help improve water usage. The project is similar to another smartphone intervention in Chile that led to a 20 percent reduction in water usage.
Homeowners are re-outfitting their homes to grow the freshest produce possible, even in winter. Hydroponics, a soil-free way of growing plants, appeals to homeowners who like the idea of gardening but would rather avoid the dirt, especially indoors, despite potential downsides of bright lights at odd hours, noisy hums, and clunky-looking contraptions.