Von B und C Hahn und Zimmermann Rathausplatz 3 CH-3011 Bern T +41 (0)31 331 28 70 [email protected]www.von-b-und-c.net Kommunikationsdesign Informationsgrafik Designforschung Journalismus vs. Kunst – Wie viel Kreativität verträgt die Grafik? – MAZ, Luzern 17. September 2014
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Journalismus vs. Kunst – Wie viel Kreativität verträgt … · Kulturwirtschaft Berlin Form ... Räumliches Controlling des Kantons Zürich ... der Suche nach Risikokapital für
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Von B und CHahn und ZimmermannRathausplatz 3CH-3011 Bern
Institutions etc. 54 Create Berlin e.V. 55 Designerdock Headquarters Limited 56 DMY Berlin 57 IDZ / Internationales Design Zentrum
Berlin e.V. 58 Initiative Kultur- und Kreativwirtschaft der
Bundesregierung, Regionalbüro Berlin im Haus der Deutschen Wirtschaft
59 Senatsverwaltung für Wirtschaft, Technologie und Frauen
60 TCC Technologie Coaching Center,Kreativ Coaching Center
Museums 61 Bauhaus-Archiv / Museum für Gestaltung 62 Kunstbibliothek 63 Kunstgewerbemuseum 64 Museum der Dinge / Werkbundarchiv 65 Sammlung Boros, Bunker 66 Sammlung industrielle Gestaltung,
Stiftung Haus der Geschichte der Bundesrepublik Deutschland
67 Schaudepot Buchstabenmuseum
Design galleries 68 Appel Design Gallery 69 Clemens Tissi 70 Designtransfer / UdK Berlin 71 Galerie Arndt & Partner 72 Galerie Ulrich Fiedler 73 Galerie Urban Art Info 74 Hans-Peter Jochum 75 Helmrinderknecht 76 Jackson Design GmbH 77 Karena Schuessler Gallery 78 Neugerriemschneider. 79 Pigasus – Polish Poster Gallery 80 Pool Gallery
Hotels 81 Hotel Casa Camper Berlin 82 Hotel Sarotti-Höfe 83 Michelberger Hotel
Studios 1 Alessio Leonardi 2 Berlin Haushoch 3 Beta Tank 4 Buero Botsch Berlin 5 Bureau Mario Lombardo 6 Designerdeutsch 7 Edenspiekermann Berlin 8 Ett la Benn 9 Fons Hickmann m23 10 FontShop 11 Formfjord 12 Hella Jongerius / Jongeriuslab 13 Hort / Eike König 14 Jerszy Seymour 15 Juli Gudehus 16 Jürgen Mayer H. 17 Lambl / Homburger 18 Llot Llov 19 LucasFonts GmbH 20 Lulu 21 Markus Weissbeck Surface Gesellschaft
für Gestaltung 22 Meiré & Meiré 23 MetaDesign 24 Nadine Schemmann / Plastic Pirate 25 Noshe Andreas Gehrke 26 Oliver Wiegener / Ice Cream For Free™ 27 Sarah Illenberger 28 Sonice Development 29 Studio Aisslinger 30 Studio Hausen
Coworking spaces 31 Aqua Carrè Berlin 32 Betahaus 33 Co.up 34 ÏMA Design Village 35 Impakt berlin 36 Made 37 Raumstation Coworking 38 Studio 70 Coworking Space
Shops 39 Andreas Murkudis 40 Kaufhaus des Westens 41 Modulor 42 Neues Modulor Haus (ab 2011) 43 Space Hall 44 Stilwerk Berlin 45 twinkle*twinkle
Bookstores, publisher 46 25 books, Hannes Wanderer 47 Buchhandlung Walther König
an der Museumsinsel 48 Bücherbogen am Savignyplatz 49 do you read me?! Magazine und Lektüre
der Gegenwart 50 Motto Berlin 51 Nicolai Verlag Berlin 52 Pro qm 53 Robert Klanten / Die Gestalten Verlag
Disruptive Technologie – das rufen sie alle. Zumindest fast alle, die Forschungsgeld für Grundlagenforschung beantragen. Die auf der Suche nach Risikokapital für ein Start-up sind. Die Kunden mit einem Produkt der angeblich ganz neuen Art umwerben. Der Durchbruch ist überall. Im Genom, im ultraleichten Verbundstoff, im mobilen Endgerät mit revolutionärer Benutzerober fläche. Wenn er noch nicht da ist, dann steht er unmittelbar bevor. Zum Nutzen des Einzelnen, der Gesellschaft, der Menschheit.
Neue Techniken kommen als Großmäuler auf die Welt. Sie versprechen viel. Ob der Behauptung auch der Beweis folgt, wer-den die Erfinder in der Regel erst mit grauen Haaren erfahren. Das war schon immer so. Vermutlich muss es so sein. Ein Problem der Gegenwart ist allerdings: Die Frequenz der disruptiven
Wie nützt das Neue? Revolutionäre Technik bringt die Welt voran. Stimmt. Aber leider deutlich seltener als behauptet.
Text: Thomas Ramge Grafik: Von B und C, Hahn und Zimmermann
Anteile der Branchen an den gesamten Forschungs- und Entwicklungsausgaben weltweit (Quelle: Booz & Company)
Index zur Innovationsfähigkeit der führenden Industrieländer im Jahr 2012Kontinente: Europa, Asien, Nordamerika, Australien, Afrika, Südamerika (Quelle: BDI, Deutsche Telekom Stiftung)
durch unsere Adern tauchen, um irgendwo im Körper irgend-etwas zu reparieren. Windschutzscheiben, an denen dank Mikro-struktur Wasser schneller abläuft, sind wohl eher als inkrementel-ler Fortschritt zu sehen. Auf dem Gipfel überzogener Erwartungen des aktuellen Gartner’s Hype Cycle stehen gerade 3-D-Druck, Hybrid Cloud Computing und Social-Media-Ana lyse. Big Data
hat nach Einschätzung der Gartner-Analysten bei den Erwartun-gen noch Luft nach oben.
5. Das Alte und das Neue
„Innovation hat immer eine bestimmte Historizität“, sagt Marion Weissenberger-Eibl. Der Satz hängt in der Luft ihres Büros im Fraunhofer-Institut für System- und Innovationsforschung. Die Professorin und Beraterin der Bundeskanzlerin holt etwas weiter aus, um ihn zu erden. Das Datenkompressionsverfahren MP3 kam zur richtigen Zeit. Unabhängig von der viel diskutierten Frage, wer es erfunden hat und wer damit Geld verdient, verklei-nerte MP3 die Dateigrößen von Musiktiteln, sodass sie auf be-zahlbare Flash-Speicher passten und bei der verfügbaren Daten-Übertragungsgeschwindigkeit schnell im Internet heruntergeladen werden konnten. Heute wäre MP3 als Technik gar nicht mehr so wichtig. Denn auch die Datenmengen von Musik in CD-Qualität passen auf Flash-Speicher und sind im Netz transportfähig. MP3 hat sich clever und zum richtigen Zeitpunkt in unseren Alltag gemogelt, ist aber voraussichtlich kein Standard für die Ewigkeit, sondern unterliegt dem immer wiederkehrenden Zyklus der In-novation. Sein Nutzen nimmt ab. Etwas Neues mit höherem Nutzen wird kommen. Woher? Wir wissen es nicht. Weissen-berger-Eibl bringt es auf die Formel: „Es gibt keine natürliche Erbfolge der Innovation.“ Der Kugelschreiber wurde nicht von einem Füllfederhalterhersteller erfunden, sondern von einem ehe-maligen Versicherungsmakler und Rennfahrer.
Wirklich Neues entsteht meist an den Schnittstellen der Tech-nologien und Disziplinen. Zum Beispiel an den Berührungspunk-ten von IT, Biologie und klassischen Ingenieurswissenschaften. Sie unterwandern alle möglichen Felder von Alltag, Arbeit und Wertschöpfung. Sie machen das Leben des Einzelnen einfacher und mehren den Wohlstand vieler. Sie schaffen das, wenn sie sich nach den Phasen der Ernüchterung in frühen Entwicklungssta-dien als lernfähig erweisen. Und wenn ihre Erfinder und Entwick-ler sich darüber austauschen, wo die neue Technik Mehrwert bringen könnte. Oft kommen die Innovationen gar nicht laut auf die Welt, sondern verstecken sich zunächst hinter den Großspre-chern. Leise Kandidaten wären die Sensorik oder die synthetische Biologie.
Armin Grunwald sagt: „Wir sind zu Hype-Junkies verkom-men.“ Kaum habe eine Technik die Erwartungen an sie nicht er-füllt, gierten wir nach der nächsten. „Die Schere zwischen Hype und technischem Fortschritt geht immer weiter auseinander.“ Den gleichen Eindruck hatte schon ein anderer kluger Beobach-ter des Zeitgeists vor rund drei Jahrzehnten. Der Philosoph Odo Marquard, ein Konservativer, ein Lobbyist der Bewahrung der Gegenwart. Marquard war der Überzeugung: Das Neue muss beweisen, dass es besser ist als das Alte. Nicht umgekehrt.
Die Toilette ist dafür das beste Beispiel. --
Ranking der 20 Unternehmen mit den höchsten Ausgaben für Forschung und Entwicklung im Jahr 2011 (in Milliarden US-Dollar)Branchen: Gesundheit, Datenverarbeitung /Elektronik, Auto(Quelle: Bloomberg; Booz & Company)
NovartisRochePfizerMicrosoftSamsung ElectronicsMerckIntelGeneral MotorsNokiaVolkswagenJohnson & JohnsonSanofiPanasonicHonda MotorGlaxoSmithKlineIBMCisco Systems
Entwicklung des Clusters Kommunikation, Medien, Kreativwirtschaft Berlin von 2000–2007 Development of the Berlin cluster communication, media, creative industries from 2000 –2007
Design
Books/Press
Information/Communication
Information/ Communication
Books/Press
Software/Games
Design
Advertising
Architecture
Film/Broadcast
Fine Arts
Performing Arts
Music
Software/Games
Film/Broadcast
MusicFine Arts
Advertising
Architecture
Others
Others
Performing Arts
6.3 %
8 %
7.3 %
4.8 %
9.8 %
11.3 %
9.3 % 8.1 %
2007 20.5 %
10.9 %
14.6 %
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
Umsatz /Sales1 2 3 4 5 6 7 80
Anzahl Unternehmen /Number of companies
Anzahl Unternehmen/ Number of companies
Umsatz/ Sales
Die Prozentangabe (%) entspricht dem Anteil Unternehmen am Cluster /The percentage (%) corresponds to the share of companies in the cluster.
Zunahme gegenüber Vorjahr / Increase on previous yearAbnahme gegenüber Vorjahr /Decrease on previous year
in Mrd. Euro, gerundet / to the nearest billion euros
50 Internetcommunities mit Launchjahr und UserzahlQuelle: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_social_networking_websites (Stand: 06.03.09)Visualisierung: Hahn und Zimmermann
50 Internetcommunities mit Launchjahr und UserzahlQuelle: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_social_networking_websites (Stand: 06.03.09)Visualisierung: Hahn und Zimmermann
problem is the lack of incentives, as long as water can be accessed at low, or even no cost. Governments can do their part to encourage the agricultural sector to adopt modern, water-efficient irrigation. In our view, putting a price on water and more effectively controlling its use both offer promises that might induce farmers to better manage water resources, by providing an economic benefit to switching to newer technologies. The mounting pressure to provide adequate water is likely to encourage reforms in this direction in the future.
Water distribution and treatment infrastructureClearly, water infrastructure in much of the developing world is still unsatisfactory, despite considerable improvements achieved in recent years regarding access to drinking water and proper sanitation. Given the relatively low per capita water consumption levels in the developing versus the developed world to date, the pressure on the existing infrastructure will grow, with water usage expected to rise as economic growth in these regions progresses. More supplies of fresh water must be secured. As a consequence, there will also be more waste water to be deal with. Thus, one could reasonably assume that investment in basic water infrastructure is at very least not going to decline in the years ahead. Releasing water untreated, as often happens these days, inflicts severe long-term damage on the environment, not to mention posing a risk to human health and the future sustainability of the water supply.
River systems in selected areas of the world already are showing signs of a severe deterioration in the quality of their water. In China, for example, no less than 71% of water in its seven largest rivers is labeled as grade 4-5, meaning it is undrinkable. But not only in emerging countries is there a strong need to invest in water infrastructure. The developed world also has considerable gaps to close, given that reinvestment in existing facilities have been neglected in the past years. As a consequence, replacement costs loom in the future as the equipment reaches the end of its useful life.
More crop per drop
Agricultural activity consumes 70% of the demand for fresh water worldwide. Asia, with more than two thirds of global irrigated land, depends heavily on irrigation, especially due to its rice production. While global water scarcity is becoming a serious threat to large areas that represent key growing regions, at the same time, the demand for water by industry and households also is on the rise. Farmers will thus face tough pressure to use water more efficiently. Overall, irrigation infrastructure still has a long ways to go, given that large amounts of water never reach the plants for which the water is intended. Technologies to get “more crop per drop’ are at least, in theory, available. Drip irrigation and improved sprinkler infrastructure can significantly reduce the amounts of water needed. One major impediment however, at least in the developing world, is that farmers have little access to financing they need for capital investments to apply these technologies. Another
Quality of drinking water: US Environmental Protection Agency
39
2020
1980
South AmericaNorth America Europe
Sub-South AfricaRest of AsiaChina India
532
467
440440
326
184 180
68 %
32 %
Excellent
19 %
11 %
Good
12 %
3 %
Fair
13 %
3 %
Poor
23 %
2 %
Very poor
Life elapsed
5 %
9 %
Increase 2005–2030
Industry
DomesticAgriculture
3939
2020
1980
South AmericaNorth America Europe
Sub-South AfricaRest of AsiaChina India
532
467
440440
326
184 180
68 %
32 %
Excellent
19 %
11 %
Good
12 %
3 %
Fair
13 %
3 %
Poor
23 %
2 %
Very poor
Life elapsed
5 %
9 %
Increase 2005–2030
Industry
DomesticAgriculture
Looking for new sources of waterBesides becoming more efficient in how we use water, especially in agriculture, there are opportunities on the supply side that can mitigate the impacts of the widening gap between water’s availability and consumption demand. Desalination of saltwater is one way to increase the supply of fresh water. Global desalination capacity has grown quite significantly in recent decades, and is expected to continue the upward trend, especially in the regions of the Middle East and Northern Africa. Even though production costs per litre of desalinated water have massively declined, it still remains a relatively expensive and energy-intensive technology. Desalination thus has to compete with other options to improve water supply. One such option is treatment and direct re-use of waste water. Beyond drinking water, and specific industrial applications where highest-quality water is critical, we can substantially reduce pressure on natural water resources if we re-use treated, lower-quality water for certain applications, where suitable.
“Desalination of saltwater is one way to increase the supply of fresh water.”
Potential options for this are numerous, especially in industry but also in households. We do not need drinking water to flush the toilet. Expansions in treatment capacities and corresponding access to infrastructure are required to harness these technologies. However, as with agricultural irrigation, the key to success will be to give consumers of fresh water real incentives, meaning cost savings, to lead them to invest in equipment to reuse water. Such incentives could include, for example, stricter regulations governing how water is consumed, and/or how it is priced.
Annual water demand: 2030 Water Resources Group
2020
1980
South AmericaNorth America Europe
Sub-South AfricaRest of AsiaChina India
532 bn m3
300
338 320243
8972181
89
28
117
68100
124
40 9280
2312
21
178
54
467 bn m3
440 bn m3440 bn m3
326 bn m3
184 bn m3 180 bn m3
68 %
32 %
Excellent
Excellent
19 %
11 %
Good
Good
12 %
3 %
Fair
Fair
13 %
3 %
Poor
Poor
23 %
2 %
Very poor
Very poor
Life elapsed
Life elapsed
5 %
9 %
Water demand in bn m3
Industry
Domestic
Agriculture
Increase in annual water demand (2005–2030)
problem is the lack of incentives, as long as water can be accessed at low, or even no cost. Governments can do their part to encourage the agricultural sector to adopt modern, water-efficient irrigation. In our view, putting a price on water and more effectively controlling its use both offer promises that might induce farmers to better manage water resources, by providing an economic benefit to switching to newer technologies. The mounting pressure to provide adequate water is likely to encourage reforms in this direction in the future.
Water distribution and treatment infrastructureClearly, water infrastructure in much of the developing world is still unsatisfactory, despite considerable improvements achieved in recent years regarding access to drinking water and proper sanitation. Given the relatively low per capita water consumption levels in the developing versus the developed world to date, the pressure on the existing infrastructure will grow, with water usage expected to rise as economic growth in these regions progresses. More supplies of fresh water must be secured. As a consequence, there will also be more waste water to be deal with. Thus, one could reasonably assume that investment in basic water infrastructure is at very least not going to decline in the years ahead. Releasing water untreated, as often happens these days, inflicts severe long-term damage on the environment, not to mention posing a risk to human health and the future sustainability of the water supply.
River systems in selected areas of the world already are showing signs of a severe deterioration in the quality of their water. In China, for example, no less than 71% of water in its seven largest rivers is labeled as grade 4-5, meaning it is undrinkable. But not only in emerging countries is there a strong need to invest in water infrastructure. The developed world also has considerable gaps to close, given that reinvestment in existing facilities have been neglected in the past years. As a consequence, replacement costs loom in the future as the equipment reaches the end of its useful life.
More crop per drop
Agricultural activity consumes 70% of the demand for fresh water worldwide. Asia, with more than two thirds of global irrigated land, depends heavily on irrigation, especially due to its rice production. While global water scarcity is becoming a serious threat to large areas that represent key growing regions, at the same time, the demand for water by industry and households also is on the rise. Farmers will thus face tough pressure to use water more efficiently. Overall, irrigation infrastructure still has a long ways to go, given that large amounts of water never reach the plants for which the water is intended. Technologies to get ‘more crop per drop’ are at least, in theory, available. Drip irrigation and improved sprinkler infrastructure can significantly reduce the amounts of water needed. One major impediment, however, at least in the developing world is that farmers have little access to financing they need for capital investments to apply these technologies. Another
Looking for new sources of waterBesides becoming more efficient in how we use water, especially in agriculture, there are opportunities on the supply side that can mitigate the impacts of the widening gap between water’s availability and consumption demand. Desalination of saltwater is one way to increase the supply of fresh water. Global desalination capacity has grown quite significantly in recent decades, and is expected to continue the upward trend, especially in the regions of the Middle East and Northern Africa. Even though production costs per litre of desalinated water have massively declined, it still remains a relatively expensive and energy-intensive technology. Desalination thus has to compete with other options to improve water supply. One such option is treatment and direct re-use of waste water. Beyond drinking water, and specific industrial applications where highest-quality water is critical, we can substantially reduce pressure on natural water resources if we re-use treated, lower-quality water for certain applications, where suitable.
“Desalination of saltwater is one way to increase the supply of fresh water.”
Potential options for this are numerous, especially in industry but also in households. We do not need drinking water to flush the toilet. Expansions in treatment capacities and corresponding access to infrastructure are required to harness these technologies. However, as with agricultural irrigation, the key to success will be to give consumers of fresh water real incentives, meaning cost savings, to lead them to invest in equipment to reuse water. Such incentives could include, for example, stricter regulations governing how water is consumed, and/or how it is priced.
Quality of US drinking water infrastructure Source: US Environmental Protection Agency, 2002
38
Are green investments sustainable?
problem is the lack of incentives, as long as water can be accessed at low, or even no cost. Governments can do their part to encourage the agricultural sector to adopt modern, water-efficient irrigation. In our view, putting a price on water and more effectively controlling its use both offer promises that might induce farmers to better manage water resources, by providing an economic benefit to switching to newer technologies. The mounting pressure to provide adequate water is likely to encourage reforms in this direction in the future.
Water distribution and treatment infrastructureClearly, water infrastructure in much of the developing world is still unsatisfactory, despite considerable improvements achieved in recent years regarding access to drinking water and proper sanitation. Given the relatively low per capita water consumption levels in the developing versus the developed world to date, the pressure on the existing infrastructure will grow, with water usage expected to rise as economic growth in these regions progresses. More supplies of fresh water must be secured. As a consequence, there will also be more waste water to be deal with. Thus, one could reasonably assume that investment in basic water infrastructure is at very least not going to decline in the years ahead. Releasing water untreated, as often happens these days, inflicts severe long-term damage on the environment, not to mention posing a risk to human health and the future sustainability of the water supply.
River systems in selected areas of the world already are showing signs of a severe deterioration in the quality of their water. In China, for example, no less than 71% of water in its seven largest rivers is labeled as grade 4-5, meaning it is undrinkable. But not only in emerging countries is there a strong need to invest in water infrastructure. The developed world also has considerable gaps to close, given that reinvestment in existing facilities have been neglected in the past years. As a consequence, replacement costs loom in the future as the equipment reaches the end of its useful life.
More crop per drop
Agricultural activity consumes 70% of the demand for fresh water worldwide. Asia, with more than two thirds of global irrigated land, depends heavily on irrigation, especially due to its rice production. While global water scarcity is becoming a serious threat to large areas that represent key growing regions, at the same time, the demand for water by industry and households also is on the rise. Farmers will thus face tough pressure to use water more efficiently. Overall, irrigation infrastructure still has a long ways to go, given that large amounts of water never reach the plants for which the water is intended. Technologies to get “more crop per drop’ are at least, in theory, available. Drip irrigation and improved sprinkler infrastructure can significantly reduce the amounts of water needed. One major impediment however, at least in the developing world, is that farmers have little access to financing they need for capital investments to apply these technologies. Another
Quality of drinking water: US Environmental Protection Agency
39
2020
1980
South AmericaNorth America Europe
Sub-South AfricaRest of AsiaChina India
532
467
440440
326
184 180
68 %
32 %
Excellent
19 %
11 %
Good
12 %
3 %
Fair
13 %
3 %
Poor
23 %
2 %
Very poor
Life elapsed
5 %
9 %
Increase 2005–2030
Industry
DomesticAgriculture
3939
2020
1980
South AmericaNorth America Europe
Sub-South AfricaRest of AsiaChina India
532
467
440440
326
184 180
68 %
32 %
Excellent
19 %
11 %
Good
12 %
3 %
Fair
13 %
3 %
Poor
23 %
2 %
Very poor
Life elapsed
5 %
9 %
Increase 2005–2030
Industry
DomesticAgriculture
Looking for new sources of waterBesides becoming more efficient in how we use water, especially in agriculture, there are opportunities on the supply side that can mitigate the impacts of the widening gap between water’s availability and consumption demand. Desalination of saltwater is one way to increase the supply of fresh water. Global desalination capacity has grown quite significantly in recent decades, and is expected to continue the upward trend, especially in the regions of the Middle East and Northern Africa. Even though production costs per litre of desalinated water have massively declined, it still remains a relatively expensive and energy-intensive technology. Desalination thus has to compete with other options to improve water supply. One such option is treatment and direct re-use of waste water. Beyond drinking water, and specific industrial applications where highest-quality water is critical, we can substantially reduce pressure on natural water resources if we re-use treated, lower-quality water for certain applications, where suitable.
“Desalination of saltwater is one way to increase the supply of fresh water.”
Potential options for this are numerous, especially in industry but also in households. We do not need drinking water to flush the toilet. Expansions in treatment capacities and corresponding access to infrastructure are required to harness these technologies. However, as with agricultural irrigation, the key to success will be to give consumers of fresh water real incentives, meaning cost savings, to lead them to invest in equipment to reuse water. Such incentives could include, for example, stricter regulations governing how water is consumed, and/or how it is priced.
Annual water demand: 2030 Water Resources Group
Industry
2020
1980
South AmericaNorth America Europe
Sub-South AfricaRest of AsiaChina India
532 bn m3
467 bn m3
440 bn m3440 bn m3
326 bn m3
184 bn m3 180 bn m3
68 %
32 %
Excellent
Excellent
19 %
11 %
Good
Good
12 %
3 %
Fair
Fair
13 %
3 %
Poor
Poor
23 %
2 %
Very poor
Very poor
Life elapsed
Life elapsed
5 %
9 %
Water demand in bn m3 Domestic
Agriculture
Increase in annual water demand (2005–2030)
Expected increase in annual water demand 2005-2030 Source: 2030 Water Resources Group, 2009
Industry
2020
1980
South AmericaNorth America Europe
Sub-Saharan AfricaRest of AsiaChina India
532 bn m3
467 bn m3
440 bn m3440 bn m3
326 bn m3
184 bn m3 180 bn m3
68 %
32 %
Excellent
Excellent
19 %
11 %
Good
Good
12 %
3 %
Fair
Fair
13 %
3 %
Poor
Poor
23 %
2 %
Very poor
Very poor
Life elapsed
Life elapsed
5 %
9 %
Water demand in billion
cubic metreHousehold
Agriculture
Increase in annual water demand (2005–2030)
problem is the lack of incentives, as long as water can be accessed at low, or even no cost. Governments can do their part to encourage the agricultural sector to adopt modern, water-efficient irrigation. In our view, putting a price on water and more effectively controlling its use both offer promises that might induce farmers to better manage water resources, by providing an economic benefit to switching to newer technologies. The mounting pressure to provide adequate water is likely to encourage reforms in this direction in the future.
Water distribution and treatment infrastructureClearly, water infrastructure in much of the developing world is still unsatisfactory, despite considerable improvements achieved in recent years regarding access to drinking water and proper sanitation. Given the relatively low per capita water consumption levels in the developing versus the developed world to date, the pressure on the existing infrastructure will grow, with water usage expected to rise as economic growth in these regions progresses. More supplies of fresh water must be secured. As a consequence, there will also be more waste water to be deal with. Thus, one could reasonably assume that investment in basic water infrastructure is at very least not going to decline in the years ahead. Releasing water untreated, as often happens these days, inflicts severe long-term damage on the environment, not to mention posing a risk to human health and the future sustainability of the water supply.
River systems in selected areas of the world already are showing signs of a severe deterioration in the quality of their water. In China, for example, no less than 71% of water in its seven largest rivers is labeled as grade 4–5, meaning it is undrinkable. But not only in emerging countries is there a strong need to invest in water infrastructure. The developed world also has considerable gaps to close, given that reinvestment in existing facilities have been neglected in the past years. As a consequence, replacement costs loom in the future as the equipment reaches the end of its useful life.
More crop per drop
Agricultural activity consumes 70% of the demand for fresh water worldwide. Asia, with more than two thirds of global irrigated land, depends heavily on irrigation, especially due to its rice production. While global water scarcity is becoming a serious threat to large areas that represent key growing regions, at the same time, the demand for water by industry and households also is on the rise. Farmers will thus face tough pressure to use water more efficiently. Overall, irrigation infrastructure still has a long ways to go, given that large amounts of water never reach the plants for which the water is intended. Technologies to get ‘more crop per drop’ are at least, in theory, available. Drip irrigation and improved sprinkler infrastructure can significantly reduce the amounts of water needed. One major impediment, however, at least in the developing world is that farmers have little access to financing they need for capital investments to apply these technologies. Another
Looking for new sources of waterBesides becoming more efficient in how we use water, especially in agriculture, there are opportunities on the supply side that can mitigate the impacts of the widening gap between water’s availability and consumption demand. Desalination of saltwater is one way to increase the supply of fresh water. Global desalination capacity has grown quite significantly in recent decades, and is expected to continue the upward trend, especially in the regions of the Middle East and Northern Africa. Even though production costs per litre of desalinated water have massively declined, it still remains a relatively expensive and energy-intensive technology. Desalination thus has to compete with other options to improve water supply. One such option is treatment and direct reuse of waste water. Beyond drinking water, and specific industrial applications where highest-quality water is critical, we can substantially reduce pressure on natural water resources if we reuse treated, lower-quality water for certain applications, where suitable.
“Desalination of saltwater is one way to increase the supply of fresh water.”
Potential options for this are numerous, especially in industry but also in households. We do not need drinking water to flush the toilet. Expansions in treatment capacities and corresponding access to infrastructure are required to harness these technologies. However, as with agricultural irrigation, the key to success will be to give consumers of fresh water real incentives, meaning cost savings, to lead them to invest in equipment to reuse water. Such incentives could include, for example, stricter regulations governing how water is consumed, and/or how it is priced.
Quality of US drinking water infrastructureUS Environmental Protection Agency, 2002
38
Are green investments sustainable?
3938
Are green investments sustainable?
problem is the lack of incentives, as long as water can be accessed at low, or even no cost. Governments can do their part to encourage the agricultural sector to adopt modern, water-efficient irrigation. In our view, putting a price on water and more effectively controlling its use both offer promises that might induce farmers to better manage water resources, by providing an economic benefit to switching to newer technologies. The mounting pressure to provide adequate water is likely to encourage reforms in this direction in the future.
Water distribution and treatment infrastructureClearly, water infrastructure in much of the developing world is still unsatisfactory, despite considerable improvements achieved in recent years regarding access to drinking water and proper sanitation. Given the relatively low per capita water consumption levels in the developing versus the developed world to date, the pressure on the existing infrastructure will grow, with water usage expected to rise as economic growth in these regions progresses. More supplies of fresh water must be secured. As a consequence, there will also be more waste water to be deal with. Thus, one could reasonably assume that investment in basic water infrastructure is at very least not going to decline in the years ahead. Releasing water untreated, as often happens these days, inflicts severe long-term damage on the environment, not to mention posing a risk to human health and the future sustainability of the water supply.
River systems in selected areas of the world already are showing signs of a severe deterioration in the quality of their water. In China, for example, no less than 71% of water in its seven largest rivers is labeled as grade 4-5, meaning it is undrinkable. But not only in emerging countries is there a strong need to invest in water infrastructure. The developed world also has considerable gaps to close, given that reinvestment in existing facilities have been neglected in the past years. As a consequence, replacement costs loom in the future as the equipment reaches the end of its useful life.
More crop per drop
Agricultural activity consumes 70% of the demand for fresh water worldwide. Asia, with more than two thirds of global irrigated land, depends heavily on irrigation, especially due to its rice production. While global water scarcity is becoming a serious threat to large areas that represent key growing regions, at the same time, the demand for water by industry and households also is on the rise. Farmers will thus face tough pressure to use water more efficiently. Overall, irrigation infrastructure still has a long ways to go, given that large amounts of water never reach the plants for which the water is intended. Technologies to get “more crop per drop’ are at least, in theory, available. Drip irrigation and improved sprinkler infrastructure can significantly reduce the amounts of water needed. One major impediment however, at least in the developing world, is that farmers have little access to financing they need for capital investments to apply these technologies. Another
Quality of drinking water: US Environmental Protection Agency
39
2020
1980
South AmericaNorth America Europe
Sub-South AfricaRest of AsiaChina India
532
467
440440
326
184 180
68 %
32 %
Excellent
19 %
11 %
Good
12 %
3 %
Fair
13 %
3 %
Poor
23 %
2 %
Very poor
Life elapsed
5 %
9 %
Increase 2005–2030
Industry
DomesticAgriculture
3939
2020
1980
South AmericaNorth America Europe
Sub-South AfricaRest of AsiaChina India
532
467
440440
326
184 180
68 %
32 %
Excellent
19 %
11 %
Good
12 %
3 %
Fair
13 %
3 %
Poor
23 %
2 %
Very poor
Life elapsed
5 %
9 %
Increase 2005–2030
Industry
DomesticAgriculture
Looking for new sources of waterBesides becoming more efficient in how we use water, especially in agriculture, there are opportunities on the supply side that can mitigate the impacts of the widening gap between water’s availability and consumption demand. Desalination of saltwater is one way to increase the supply of fresh water. Global desalination capacity has grown quite significantly in recent decades, and is expected to continue the upward trend, especially in the regions of the Middle East and Northern Africa. Even though production costs per litre of desalinated water have massively declined, it still remains a relatively expensive and energy-intensive technology. Desalination thus has to compete with other options to improve water supply. One such option is treatment and direct re-use of waste water. Beyond drinking water, and specific industrial applications where highest-quality water is critical, we can substantially reduce pressure on natural water resources if we re-use treated, lower-quality water for certain applications, where suitable.
“Desalination of saltwater is one way to increase the supply of fresh water.”
Potential options for this are numerous, especially in industry but also in households. We do not need drinking water to flush the toilet. Expansions in treatment capacities and corresponding access to infrastructure are required to harness these technologies. However, as with agricultural irrigation, the key to success will be to give consumers of fresh water real incentives, meaning cost savings, to lead them to invest in equipment to reuse water. Such incentives could include, for example, stricter regulations governing how water is consumed, and/or how it is priced.
Annual water demand: 2030 Water Resources Group
2020
1980
South AmericaNorth America Europe
Sub-South AfricaRest of AsiaChina India
532 bn m3
300
338 320243
8972181
89
28
117
68100
124
40 9280
2312
21
178
54
467 bn m3
440 bn m3440 bn m3
326 bn m3
184 bn m3 180 bn m3
68 %
32 %
Excellent
Excellent
19 %
11 %
Good
Good
12 %
3 %
Fair
Fair
13 %
3 %
Poor
Poor
23 %
2 %
Very poor
Very poor
Life elapsed
Life elapsed
5 %
9 %
Water demand in bn m3
Industry
Domestic
Agriculture
Increase in annual water demand (2005–2030)
problem is the lack of incentives, as long as water can be accessed at low, or even no cost. Governments can do their part to encourage the agricultural sector to adopt modern, water-efficient irrigation. In our view, putting a price on water and more effectively controlling its use both offer promises that might induce farmers to better manage water resources, by providing an economic benefit to switching to newer technologies. The mounting pressure to provide adequate water is likely to encourage reforms in this direction in the future.
Water distribution and treatment infrastructureClearly, water infrastructure in much of the developing world is still unsatisfactory, despite considerable improvements achieved in recent years regarding access to drinking water and proper sanitation. Given the relatively low per capita water consumption levels in the developing versus the developed world to date, the pressure on the existing infrastructure will grow, with water usage expected to rise as economic growth in these regions progresses. More supplies of fresh water must be secured. As a consequence, there will also be more waste water to be deal with. Thus, one could reasonably assume that investment in basic water infrastructure is at very least not going to decline in the years ahead. Releasing water untreated, as often happens these days, inflicts severe long-term damage on the environment, not to mention posing a risk to human health and the future sustainability of the water supply.
River systems in selected areas of the world already are showing signs of a severe deterioration in the quality of their water. In China, for example, no less than 71% of water in its seven largest rivers is labeled as grade 4-5, meaning it is undrinkable. But not only in emerging countries is there a strong need to invest in water infrastructure. The developed world also has considerable gaps to close, given that reinvestment in existing facilities have been neglected in the past years. As a consequence, replacement costs loom in the future as the equipment reaches the end of its useful life.
More crop per drop
Agricultural activity consumes 70% of the demand for fresh water worldwide. Asia, with more than two thirds of global irrigated land, depends heavily on irrigation, especially due to its rice production. While global water scarcity is becoming a serious threat to large areas that represent key growing regions, at the same time, the demand for water by industry and households also is on the rise. Farmers will thus face tough pressure to use water more efficiently. Overall, irrigation infrastructure still has a long ways to go, given that large amounts of water never reach the plants for which the water is intended. Technologies to get ‘more crop per drop’ are at least, in theory, available. Drip irrigation and improved sprinkler infrastructure can significantly reduce the amounts of water needed. One major impediment, however, at least in the developing world is that farmers have little access to financing they need for capital investments to apply these technologies. Another
Looking for new sources of waterBesides becoming more efficient in how we use water, especially in agriculture, there are opportunities on the supply side that can mitigate the impacts of the widening gap between water’s availability and consumption demand. Desalination of saltwater is one way to increase the supply of fresh water. Global desalination capacity has grown quite significantly in recent decades, and is expected to continue the upward trend, especially in the regions of the Middle East and Northern Africa. Even though production costs per litre of desalinated water have massively declined, it still remains a relatively expensive and energy-intensive technology. Desalination thus has to compete with other options to improve water supply. One such option is treatment and direct re-use of waste water. Beyond drinking water, and specific industrial applications where highest-quality water is critical, we can substantially reduce pressure on natural water resources if we re-use treated, lower-quality water for certain applications, where suitable.
“Desalination of saltwater is one way to increase the supply of fresh water.”
Potential options for this are numerous, especially in industry but also in households. We do not need drinking water to flush the toilet. Expansions in treatment capacities and corresponding access to infrastructure are required to harness these technologies. However, as with agricultural irrigation, the key to success will be to give consumers of fresh water real incentives, meaning cost savings, to lead them to invest in equipment to reuse water. Such incentives could include, for example, stricter regulations governing how water is consumed, and/or how it is priced.
Quality of US drinking water infrastructure Source: US Environmental Protection Agency, 2002
38
Are green investments sustainable?
problem is the lack of incentives, as long as water can be accessed at low, or even no cost. Governments can do their part to encourage the agricultural sector to adopt modern, water-efficient irrigation. In our view, putting a price on water and more effectively controlling its use both offer promises that might induce farmers to better manage water resources, by providing an economic benefit to switching to newer technologies. The mounting pressure to provide adequate water is likely to encourage reforms in this direction in the future.
Water distribution and treatment infrastructureClearly, water infrastructure in much of the developing world is still unsatisfactory, despite considerable improvements achieved in recent years regarding access to drinking water and proper sanitation. Given the relatively low per capita water consumption levels in the developing versus the developed world to date, the pressure on the existing infrastructure will grow, with water usage expected to rise as economic growth in these regions progresses. More supplies of fresh water must be secured. As a consequence, there will also be more waste water to be deal with. Thus, one could reasonably assume that investment in basic water infrastructure is at very least not going to decline in the years ahead. Releasing water untreated, as often happens these days, inflicts severe long-term damage on the environment, not to mention posing a risk to human health and the future sustainability of the water supply.
River systems in selected areas of the world already are showing signs of a severe deterioration in the quality of their water. In China, for example, no less than 71% of water in its seven largest rivers is labeled as grade 4-5, meaning it is undrinkable. But not only in emerging countries is there a strong need to invest in water infrastructure. The developed world also has considerable gaps to close, given that reinvestment in existing facilities have been neglected in the past years. As a consequence, replacement costs loom in the future as the equipment reaches the end of its useful life.
More crop per drop
Agricultural activity consumes 70% of the demand for fresh water worldwide. Asia, with more than two thirds of global irrigated land, depends heavily on irrigation, especially due to its rice production. While global water scarcity is becoming a serious threat to large areas that represent key growing regions, at the same time, the demand for water by industry and households also is on the rise. Farmers will thus face tough pressure to use water more efficiently. Overall, irrigation infrastructure still has a long ways to go, given that large amounts of water never reach the plants for which the water is intended. Technologies to get “more crop per drop’ are at least, in theory, available. Drip irrigation and improved sprinkler infrastructure can significantly reduce the amounts of water needed. One major impediment however, at least in the developing world, is that farmers have little access to financing they need for capital investments to apply these technologies. Another
Quality of drinking water: US Environmental Protection Agency
39
2020
1980
South AmericaNorth America Europe
Sub-South AfricaRest of AsiaChina India
532
467
440440
326
184 180
68 %
32 %
Excellent
19 %
11 %
Good
12 %
3 %
Fair
13 %
3 %
Poor
23 %
2 %
Very poor
Life elapsed
5 %
9 %
Increase 2005–2030
Industry
DomesticAgriculture
3939
2020
1980
South AmericaNorth America Europe
Sub-South AfricaRest of AsiaChina India
532
467
440440
326
184 180
68 %
32 %
Excellent
19 %
11 %
Good
12 %
3 %
Fair
13 %
3 %
Poor
23 %
2 %
Very poor
Life elapsed
5 %
9 %
Increase 2005–2030
Industry
DomesticAgriculture
Looking for new sources of waterBesides becoming more efficient in how we use water, especially in agriculture, there are opportunities on the supply side that can mitigate the impacts of the widening gap between water’s availability and consumption demand. Desalination of saltwater is one way to increase the supply of fresh water. Global desalination capacity has grown quite significantly in recent decades, and is expected to continue the upward trend, especially in the regions of the Middle East and Northern Africa. Even though production costs per litre of desalinated water have massively declined, it still remains a relatively expensive and energy-intensive technology. Desalination thus has to compete with other options to improve water supply. One such option is treatment and direct re-use of waste water. Beyond drinking water, and specific industrial applications where highest-quality water is critical, we can substantially reduce pressure on natural water resources if we re-use treated, lower-quality water for certain applications, where suitable.
“Desalination of saltwater is one way to increase the supply of fresh water.”
Potential options for this are numerous, especially in industry but also in households. We do not need drinking water to flush the toilet. Expansions in treatment capacities and corresponding access to infrastructure are required to harness these technologies. However, as with agricultural irrigation, the key to success will be to give consumers of fresh water real incentives, meaning cost savings, to lead them to invest in equipment to reuse water. Such incentives could include, for example, stricter regulations governing how water is consumed, and/or how it is priced.
Annual water demand: 2030 Water Resources Group
Industry
2020
1980
South AmericaNorth America Europe
Sub-South AfricaRest of AsiaChina India
532 bn m3
467 bn m3
440 bn m3440 bn m3
326 bn m3
184 bn m3 180 bn m3
68 %
32 %
Excellent
Excellent
19 %
11 %
Good
Good
12 %
3 %
Fair
Fair
13 %
3 %
Poor
Poor
23 %
2 %
Very poor
Very poor
Life elapsed
Life elapsed
5 %
9 %
Water demand in bn m3 Domestic
Agriculture
Increase in annual water demand (2005–2030)
Expected increase in annual water demand 2005-2030 Source: 2030 Water Resources Group, 2009
Industry
2020
1980
South AmericaNorth America Europe
Sub-Saharan AfricaRest of AsiaChina India
532 bn m3
467 bn m3
440 bn m3440 bn m3
326 bn m3
184 bn m3 180 bn m3
68 %
32 %
Excellent
Excellent
19 %
11 %
Good
Good
12 %
3 %
Fair
Fair
13 %
3 %
Poor
Poor
23 %
2 %
Very poor
Very poor
Life elapsed
Life elapsed
5 %
9 %
Water demand in billion
cubic metreHousehold
Agriculture
Increase in annual water demand (2005–2030)
Expected increase in annual water demand 2000–20302030 Water Resources Group, 2009
need for chemical fertilisers or pesticides, and allow less use of machinery and equipment, or perhaps require not as much irrigation? Given the challenges global agriculture faces to boost output in the decades ahead, and the fact that a few important food-producing countries, such as the US, Brazil, India and China, already are increasingly using these new, modified crops, it appears likely that biotechnology will play a central role the agricultural production in the 21st century.
Fertilisers
The hunt for higher yields requires soils with the necessary nutrients for plant growth. To maintain productivity, nutrients taken out of the soil at harvest must be replenished. Fertilisers containing nitrogen, phosphor and potash, as well as other minerals providing nutrients, are a key part of today’s agricultural production. While in the developed world, fertiliser use has remained
fairly stable, such is clearly not the case in major developing producers like India and China, where
“Over the past years, we have seen strong growth in fertiliser demand in developing regions, which is set to continue.”
application of fertilisers still is below potential and not well-balanced in terms of how the various ingredients are mixed. This makes it harder for farmers to achieve higher yields. Over the past years, we have seen strong growth in fertiliser demand
in developing regions, which is set to continue. Fertilisers wrongly applied, however, pose significant hazards to the environment, and to soil quality, and can also affect water resources, damage that might be irreversible. Such adverse outcomes have put severe strain on the ecosystems in the past. Yet environmental damage associated with fertilisers can be substantially reduced if these are applied correctly based on plant needs, while the benefits can be fully exploited. The challenge in the future will be to mitigate the potential damage to the environment that may result from fertilisers, even as the volumes in use are set to grow. Comprehensive solutions to manage nutrients include speciality fertilisers targeted to specific needs of plants and soil. Making professional advice available to farmers is also key. These aspects will play a major part in sustainable use of fertilisers in the future.
Agricultural equipment
In developed countries, mechanised production has largely replaced human labour in agriculture. This has facilitated large-scale farming, and has allowed
for enormous gains in productivity. While countries in the developing world are still in the process of introducing more machinery as they increasingly industrialise, a large share of the work in many of these places is still done by hand labour and animal strength. More widespread use of machinery to produce food crops in these countries is needed as urbanisation and jobs in other sectors attract rural dwellers away from the land. The trend towards substituting mechanisation for backbreaking human labour is driving demand for basic, small-scale equipment. This is true especially in parts of the developing world where farms are still relatively small, and thus unsuited for heavy machinery. Meanwhile in the developed world, changes underway include ‘precision farming practices’.GPS-navigated machinery and measuring soil quality via satellite are some of the ways farming and IT are being combined to allow far more precise applications of pesticides, water and fertilisers. Besides potential to increase profitability of production and reduce volatility of crop yields, such techniques can reduce the adverse effects on the environment caused by agriculture.
Developing world – expected change in agricultural power mix United Nations, 2003
Ferteliser usage and corn yieldInternational Fertilizer Industry Association, 2009
46
Are green investments sustainable?
47
need for chemical fertilisers or pesticides, and allow less use of machinery and equipment, or perhaps require not as much irrigation? Given the challenges global agriculture faces to boost output in the decades ahead, and the fact that a few important food-producing countries, such as the US, Brazil, India and China, already are increasingly using these new, modified crops, it appears likely that biotechnology will play a central role the agricultural production in the 21st century.
Fertilisers
The hunt for higher yields requires soils with the necessary nutrients for plant growth. To maintain productivity, nutrients taken out of the soil at harvest must be replenished. Fertilisers containing nitrogen, phosphor and potash, as well as other minerals providing nutrients, are a key part of today’s agricultural production. While in the developed world, fertiliser use has remained
fairly stable, such is clearly not the case in major developing producers like India and China, where
“Over the past years, we have seen strong growth in fertiliser demand in developing regions, which is set to continue.”
application of fertilisers still is below potential and not well-balanced in terms of how the various ingredients are mixed. This makes it harder for farmers to achieve higher yields. Over the past years, we have seen strong growth in fertiliser demand
in developing regions, which is set to continue. Fertilisers wrongly applied, however, pose significant hazards to the environment, and to soil quality, and can also affect water resources, damage that might be irreversible. Such adverse outcomes have put severe strain on the ecosystems in the past. Yet environmental damage associated with fertilisers can be substantially reduced if these are applied correctly based on plant needs, while the benefits can be fully exploited. The challenge in the future will be to mitigate the potential damage to the environment that may result from fertilisers, even as the volumes in use are set to grow. Comprehensive solutions to manage nutrients include speciality fertilisers targeted to specific needs of plants and soil. Making professional advice available to farmers is also key. These aspects will play a major part in sustainable use of fertilisers in the future.
Agricultural equipment
In developed countries, mechanised production has largely replaced human labour in agriculture. This has facilitated large-scale farming, and has allowed
for enormous gains in productivity. While countries in the developing world are still in the process of introducing more machinery as they increasingly industrialise, a large share of the work in many of these places is still done by hand labour and animal strength. More widespread use of machinery to produce food crops in these countries is needed as urbanisation and jobs in other sectors attract rural dwellers away from the land. The trend towards substituting mechanisation for backbreaking human labour is driving demand for basic, small-scale equipment. This is true especially in parts of the developing world where farms are still relatively small, and thus unsuited for heavy machinery. Meanwhile in the developed world, changes underway include ‘precision farming practices’.GPS-navigated machinery and measuring soil quality via satellite are some of the ways farming and IT are being combined to allow far more precise applications of pesticides, water and fertilisers. Besides potential to increase profitability of production and reduce volatility of crop yields, such techniques can reduce the adverse effects on the environment caused by agriculture.
Developing world - expected change in agricultural power mix Source: United Nations, 2003
Ferteliser usage and corn yield Source: International Fertiliser Industry Association, 2009
46
Are green investments sustainable?
need for chemical fertilisers or pesticides, and allow less use of machinery and equipment, or perhaps require not as much irrigation? Given the challenges global agriculture faces to boost output in the decades ahead, and the fact that a few important food-producing countries, such as the US, Brazil, India and China, already are increasingly using these new, modified crops, it appears likely that biotechnology will play a central role the agricultural production in the 21st century.
Fertilisers
The hunt for higher yields requires soils with the necessary nutrients for plant growth.
To maintain productivity, nutrients taken out of the soil at harvest must be replenished. Fertilisers containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, as well as other minerals providing nutrients, are a key part of today’s agricultural production. While in the developed world, fertiliser use has remained
fairly stable, such is clearly not the case in major developing producers like India and China, where
“Over the past years, we have seen strong growth in fertiliser demand in developing regions, which is set to continue. ”
application of fertilisers still is below potential and not well balanced in terms of how the various ingredients are mixed. This makes it harder for farmers to achieve higher yields. Over the past years, we have seen strong growth in fertiliser demand in developing regions, which is set to continue.
Ferteliser usage and corn yield: Fertecon
PotashPhosphor
Nitrogen
Fertiliser (k/ha)
Corn yield (t/ha)
15550
70
52
20
15
58
15
3
140
130
42
1.6
4.8
7
7.6
W. EuropeUSAChinaIndia
Tractor
20002030
35 %
55 %
35 %30 %
20 %
Tractor
HandAnimal
25 %
HandAnimal
Year
47
Fertilisers wrongly applied, however, pose significant hazards to the environment, and to soil quality, and can also affect water resources, damage that might be irreversible. Such adverse outcomes have put severe strain on the ecosystems in the past. Yet environmental damage associated with fertilisers can be substantially reduced if these are applied correctly based on plant needs, while the benefits can be fully exploited. The challenge in the future will be to mitigate the potential damage to the environment that may result from fertilisers, even as the volumes in use are set to grow. Comprehensive solutions to manage nutrients include speciality fertilisers targeted to specific needs of plants and soil. Making professional advice available to farmers is also key. These aspects will play a major part in sustainable use of fertilisers in the future.
Agricultural equipment
In developed countries, mechanised production has largely replaced human labour in agriculture. This has facilitated large-scale farming, and has allowed for enormous gains in productivity. While countries
in the developing world are still in the process of introducing more machinery as they increasingly industrialise, a large share of the work in many of these places is still done by hand labour and animal strength. More widespread use of machinery to produce food crops in these countries is needed as urbanisation and jobs in other sectors attract rural dwellers away from the landw. The trend towards substituting mechanisation for backbreaking human labour is driving demand for basic, small-scale equipment. This is true especially in parts of the developing world where farms are still relatively small, and thus unsuited for heavy machinery. Meanwhile in the developed world, changes underway include “precision farming practices’. GPS-navigated machinery and measuring soil quality via satellite are some of the ways farming and IT are being combined to allow far more precise applications of pesticides, water and fertilisers. Besides potential to increase profitability of production and reduce volatility of crop yields, such techniques can reduce the adverse effects on the environment caused by agriculture.
Developing world – Expected change in agricultural power mix Bundesamt für Energie, Gesamtenergiestatistik 2009
PotashPhosphor
Nitrogen
Fertiliser (k/ha)
Corn yield (t/ha)
15550
70
52
20
15
58
15
3
140
130
42
1.6
4.8
7
7.6
W. EuropeUSAChinaIndia
Tractor
20002030
35 %
55 %
35 %30 %
20 %
Tractor
HandAnimal
25 %
HandAnimal
Year
46
Are green investments sustainable?
need for chemical fertilisers or pesticides, and allow less use of machinery and equipment, or perhaps require not as much irrigation? Given the challenges global agriculture faces to boost output in the decades ahead, and the fact that a few important food-producing countries, such as the US, Brazil, India and China, already are increasingly using these new, modified crops, it appears likely that biotechnology will play a central role the agricultural production in the 21st century.
Fertilisers
The hunt for higher yields requires soils with the necessary nutrients for plant growth.
To maintain productivity, nutrients taken out of the soil at harvest must be replenished. Fertilisers containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, as well as other minerals providing nutrients, are a key part of today’s agricultural production. While in the developed world, fertiliser use has remained
fairly stable, such is clearly not the case in major developing producers like India and China, where
“Over the past years, we have seen strong growth in fertiliser demand in developing regions, which is set to continue. ”
application of fertilisers still is below potential and not well balanced in terms of how the various ingredients are mixed. This makes it harder for farmers to achieve higher yields. Over the past years, we have seen strong growth in fertiliser demand in developing regions, which is set to continue.
Ferteliser usage and corn yield: Fertecon
PotashPhosphor
Nitrogen
Fertiliser (k/ha)
Corn yield (t/ha)
15550
70
52
20
15
58
15
3
140
130
42
1.6
4.8
7
7.6
W. EuropeUSAChinaIndia
Tractor
20002030
35 %
55 %
35 %30 %
20 %
Tractor
HandAnimal
25 %
HandAnimal
Year
Tractor2030
35 %
55 %
35 %30 %
20 %
Tractor
HandAnimal
25 %
HandAnimal
Year
Potash
Phosphor
Fertiliser (k/ha)
Nitrogen
Western EuropeUSAChinaIndia
Corn yield (t/ha)
20
15
130
4.815 3
42
1.6
15550
70
7.6
52
58140
7
2000
46
Are green investments sustainable?
need for chemical fertilisers or pesticides, and allow less use of machinery and equipment, or perhaps require not as much irrigation? Given the challenges global agriculture faces to boost output in the decades ahead, and the fact that a few important food-producing countries, such as the US, Brazil, India and China, already are increasingly using these new, modified crops, it appears likely that biotechnology will play a central role the agricultural production in the 21st century.
Fertilisers
The hunt for higher yields requires soils with the necessary nutrients for plant growth.
To maintain productivity, nutrients taken out of the soil at harvest must be replenished. Fertilisers containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, as well as other minerals providing nutrients, are a key part of today’s agricultural production. While in the developed world, fertiliser use has remained
fairly stable, such is clearly not the case in major developing producers like India and China, where
“Over the past years, we have seen strong growth in fertiliser demand in developing regions, which is set to continue. ”
application of fertilisers still is below potential and not well balanced in terms of how the various ingredients are mixed. This makes it harder for farmers to achieve higher yields. Over the past years, we have seen strong growth in fertiliser demand in developing regions, which is set to continue.
Ferteliser usage and corn yield: Fertecon
PotashPhosphor
Nitrogen
Fertiliser (k/ha)
Corn yield (t/ha)
15550
70
52
20
15
58
15
3
140
130
42
1.6
4.8
7
7.6
W. EuropeUSAChinaIndia
Tractor
20002030
35 %
55 %
35 %30 %
20 %
Tractor
HandAnimal
25 %
HandAnimal
Year
47
Fertilisers wrongly applied, however, pose significant hazards to the environment, and to soil quality, and can also affect water resources, damage that might be irreversible. Such adverse outcomes have put severe strain on the ecosystems in the past. Yet environmental damage associated with fertilisers can be substantially reduced if these are applied correctly based on plant needs, while the benefits can be fully exploited. The challenge in the future will be to mitigate the potential damage to the environment that may result from fertilisers, even as the volumes in use are set to grow. Comprehensive solutions to manage nutrients include speciality fertilisers targeted to specific needs of plants and soil. Making professional advice available to farmers is also key. These aspects will play a major part in sustainable use of fertilisers in the future.
Agricultural equipment
In developed countries, mechanised production has largely replaced human labour in agriculture. This has facilitated large-scale farming, and has allowed for enormous gains in productivity. While countries
in the developing world are still in the process of introducing more machinery as they increasingly industrialise, a large share of the work in many of these places is still done by hand labour and animal strength. More widespread use of machinery to produce food crops in these countries is needed as urbanisation and jobs in other sectors attract rural dwellers away from the landw. The trend towards substituting mechanisation for backbreaking human labour is driving demand for basic, small-scale equipment. This is true especially in parts of the developing world where farms are still relatively small, and thus unsuited for heavy machinery. Meanwhile in the developed world, changes underway include “precision farming practices’. GPS-navigated machinery and measuring soil quality via satellite are some of the ways farming and IT are being combined to allow far more precise applications of pesticides, water and fertilisers. Besides potential to increase profitability of production and reduce volatility of crop yields, such techniques can reduce the adverse effects on the environment caused by agriculture.
Developing world – Expected change in agricultural power mix Bundesamt für Energie, Gesamtenergiestatistik 2009
PotashPhosphor
Nitrogen
Fertiliser (k/ha)
Corn yield (t/ha)
15550
70
52
20
15
58
15
3
140
130
42
1.6
4.8
7
7.6
W. EuropeUSAChinaIndia
Tractor
20002030
35 %
55 %
35 %30 %
20 %
Tractor
HandAnimal
25 %
HandAnimal
Year
46
Are green investments sustainable?
need for chemical fertilisers or pesticides, and allow less use of machinery and equipment, or perhaps require not as much irrigation? Given the challenges global agriculture faces to boost output in the decades ahead, and the fact that a few important food-producing countries, such as the US, Brazil, India and China, already are increasingly using these new, modified crops, it appears likely that biotechnology will play a central role the agricultural production in the 21st century.
Fertilisers
The hunt for higher yields requires soils with the necessary nutrients for plant growth.
To maintain productivity, nutrients taken out of the soil at harvest must be replenished. Fertilisers containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, as well as other minerals providing nutrients, are a key part of today’s agricultural production. While in the developed world, fertiliser use has remained
fairly stable, such is clearly not the case in major developing producers like India and China, where
“Over the past years, we have seen strong growth in fertiliser demand in developing regions, which is set to continue. ”
application of fertilisers still is below potential and not well balanced in terms of how the various ingredients are mixed. This makes it harder for farmers to achieve higher yields. Over the past years, we have seen strong growth in fertiliser demand in developing regions, which is set to continue.
Ferteliser usage and corn yield: Fertecon
PotashPhosphor
Nitrogen
Fertiliser (k/ha)
Corn yield (t/ha)
15550
70
52
20
15
58
15
3
140
130
42
1.6
4.8
7
7.6
W. EuropeUSAChinaIndia
Tractor
20002030
35 %
55 %
35 %30 %
20 %
Tractor
HandAnimal
25 %
HandAnimal
Year
Tractor2030
35 %
55 %
35 %30 %
20 %
Tractor
HandAnimal
25 %
HandAnimal
Year
Potash
Phosphor
Fertiliser (k/ha)
Nitrogen
Western EuropeUSAChinaIndia
Corn yield (t/ha)
20
15
130
4.815 3
42
1.6
15550
70
7.6
52
58140
7
2000
46
Are green investments sustainable?
need for chemical fertilisers or pesticides, and allow less use of machinery and equipment, or perhaps require not as much irrigation? Given the challenges global agriculture faces to boost output in the decades ahead, and the fact that a few important food-producing countries, such as the US, Brazil, India and China, already are increasingly using these new, modified crops, it appears likely that biotechnology will play a central role the agricultural production in the 21st century.
Fertilisers
The hunt for higher yields requires soils with the necessary nutrients for plant growth.
To maintain productivity, nutrients taken out of the soil at harvest must be replenished. Fertilisers containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, as well as other minerals providing nutrients, are a key part of today’s agricultural production. While in the developed world, fertiliser use has remained
fairly stable, such is clearly not the case in major developing producers like India and China, where
“Over the past years, we have seen strong growth in fertiliser demand in developing regions, which is set to continue. ”
application of fertilisers still is below potential and not well balanced in terms of how the various ingredients are mixed. This makes it harder for farmers to achieve higher yields. Over the past years, we have seen strong growth in fertiliser demand in developing regions, which is set to continue.
Ferteliser usage and corn yield: Fertecon
PotashPhosphor
Nitrogen
Fertiliser (k/ha)
Corn yield (t/ha)
15550
70
52
20
15
58
15
3
140
130
42
1.6
4.8
7
7.6
W. EuropeUSAChinaIndia
Tractor
20002030
35 %
55 %
35 %30 %
20 %
Tractor
HandAnimal
25 %
HandAnimal
Year
Tractor2030
35 %
55 %
35 %30 %
20 %
Tractor
HandAnimal
25 %
HandAnimal
Year
Potash
Phosphor
Fertiliser (kilogramme/hectare)
Nitrogen
Western EuropeUSAChinaIndia
Corn yield (tonnes/hectare)
20
15
130
4.815 3
42
1.6
15550
70
7.6
52
58140
7
2000
46
Are green investments sustainable?
47
need for chemical fertilisers or pesticides, and allow less use of machinery and equipment, or perhaps require not as much irrigation? Given the challenges global agriculture faces to boost output in the decades ahead, and the fact that a few important food-producing countries, such as the US, Brazil, India and China, already are increasingly using these new, modified crops, it appears likely that biotechnology will play a central role the agricultural production in the 21st century.
Fertilisers
The hunt for higher yields requires soils with the necessary nutrients for plant growth. To maintain productivity, nutrients taken out of the soil at harvest must be replenished. Fertilisers containing nitrogen, phosphor and potash, as well as other minerals providing nutrients, are a key part of today’s agricultural production. While in the developed world, fertiliser use has remained
fairly stable, such is clearly not the case in major developing producers like India and China, where
“Over the past years, we have seen strong growth in fertiliser demand in developing regions, which is set to continue.”
application of fertilisers still is below potential and not well-balanced in terms of how the various ingredients are mixed. This makes it harder for farmers to achieve higher yields. Over the past years, we have seen strong growth in fertiliser demand
in developing regions, which is set to continue. Fertilisers wrongly applied, however, pose significant hazards to the environment, and to soil quality, and can also affect water resources, damage that might be irreversible. Such adverse outcomes have put severe strain on the ecosystems in the past. Yet environmental damage associated with fertilisers can be substantially reduced if these are applied correctly based on plant needs, while the benefits can be fully exploited. The challenge in the future will be to mitigate the potential damage to the environment that may result from fertilisers, even as the volumes in use are set to grow. Comprehensive solutions to manage nutrients include speciality fertilisers targeted to specific needs of plants and soil. Making professional advice available to farmers is also key. These aspects will play a major part in sustainable use of fertilisers in the future.
Agricultural equipment
In developed countries, mechanised production has largely replaced human labour in agriculture. This has facilitated large-scale farming, and has allowed
for enormous gains in productivity. While countries in the developing world are still in the process of introducing more machinery as they increasingly industrialise, a large share of the work in many of these places is still done by hand labour and animal strength. More widespread use of machinery to produce food crops in these countries is needed as urbanisation and jobs in other sectors attract rural dwellers away from the land. The trend towards substituting mechanisation for backbreaking human labour is driving demand for basic, small-scale equipment. This is true especially in parts of the developing world where farms are still relatively small, and thus unsuited for heavy machinery. Meanwhile in the developed world, changes underway include ‘precision farming practices’.GPS-navigated machinery and measuring soil quality via satellite are some of the ways farming and IT are being combined to allow far more precise applications of pesticides, water and fertilisers. Besides potential to increase profitability of production and reduce volatility of crop yields, such techniques can reduce the adverse effects on the environment caused by agriculture.
Developing world - expected change in agricultural power mix Source: United Nations, 2003
Ferteliser usage and corn yield Source: International Fertiliser Industry Association, 2009
46
Are green investments sustainable?
need for chemical fertilisers or pesticides, and allow less use of machinery and equipment, or perhaps require not as much irrigation? Given the challenges global agriculture faces to boost output in the decades ahead, and the fact that a few important food-producing countries, such as the US, Brazil, India and China, already are increasingly using these new, modified crops, it appears likely that biotechnology will play a central role the agricultural production in the 21st century.
Fertilisers
The hunt for higher yields requires soils with the necessary nutrients for plant growth.
To maintain productivity, nutrients taken out of the soil at harvest must be replenished. Fertilisers containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, as well as other minerals providing nutrients, are a key part of today’s agricultural production. While in the developed world, fertiliser use has remained
fairly stable, such is clearly not the case in major developing producers like India and China, where
“Over the past years, we have seen strong growth in fertiliser demand in developing regions, which is set to continue. ”
application of fertilisers still is below potential and not well balanced in terms of how the various ingredients are mixed. This makes it harder for farmers to achieve higher yields. Over the past years, we have seen strong growth in fertiliser demand in developing regions, which is set to continue.
Ferteliser usage and corn yield: Fertecon
PotashPhosphor
Nitrogen
Fertiliser (k/ha)
Corn yield (t/ha)
15550
70
52
20
15
58
15
3
140
130
42
1.6
4.8
7
7.6
W. EuropeUSAChinaIndia
Tractor
20002030
35 %
55 %
35 %30 %
20 %
Tractor
HandAnimal
25 %
HandAnimal
Year
47
Fertilisers wrongly applied, however, pose significant hazards to the environment, and to soil quality, and can also affect water resources, damage that might be irreversible. Such adverse outcomes have put severe strain on the ecosystems in the past. Yet environmental damage associated with fertilisers can be substantially reduced if these are applied correctly based on plant needs, while the benefits can be fully exploited. The challenge in the future will be to mitigate the potential damage to the environment that may result from fertilisers, even as the volumes in use are set to grow. Comprehensive solutions to manage nutrients include speciality fertilisers targeted to specific needs of plants and soil. Making professional advice available to farmers is also key. These aspects will play a major part in sustainable use of fertilisers in the future.
Agricultural equipment
In developed countries, mechanised production has largely replaced human labour in agriculture. This has facilitated large-scale farming, and has allowed for enormous gains in productivity. While countries
in the developing world are still in the process of introducing more machinery as they increasingly industrialise, a large share of the work in many of these places is still done by hand labour and animal strength. More widespread use of machinery to produce food crops in these countries is needed as urbanisation and jobs in other sectors attract rural dwellers away from the landw. The trend towards substituting mechanisation for backbreaking human labour is driving demand for basic, small-scale equipment. This is true especially in parts of the developing world where farms are still relatively small, and thus unsuited for heavy machinery. Meanwhile in the developed world, changes underway include “precision farming practices’. GPS-navigated machinery and measuring soil quality via satellite are some of the ways farming and IT are being combined to allow far more precise applications of pesticides, water and fertilisers. Besides potential to increase profitability of production and reduce volatility of crop yields, such techniques can reduce the adverse effects on the environment caused by agriculture.
Developing world – Expected change in agricultural power mix Bundesamt für Energie, Gesamtenergiestatistik 2009
PotashPhosphor
Nitrogen
Fertiliser (k/ha)
Corn yield (t/ha)
15550
70
52
20
15
58
15
3
140
130
42
1.6
4.8
7
7.6
W. EuropeUSAChinaIndia
Tractor
20002030
35 %
55 %
35 %30 %
20 %
Tractor
HandAnimal
25 %
HandAnimal
Year
46
Are green investments sustainable?
need for chemical fertilisers or pesticides, and allow less use of machinery and equipment, or perhaps require not as much irrigation? Given the challenges global agriculture faces to boost output in the decades ahead, and the fact that a few important food-producing countries, such as the US, Brazil, India and China, already are increasingly using these new, modified crops, it appears likely that biotechnology will play a central role the agricultural production in the 21st century.
Fertilisers
The hunt for higher yields requires soils with the necessary nutrients for plant growth.
To maintain productivity, nutrients taken out of the soil at harvest must be replenished. Fertilisers containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, as well as other minerals providing nutrients, are a key part of today’s agricultural production. While in the developed world, fertiliser use has remained
fairly stable, such is clearly not the case in major developing producers like India and China, where
“Over the past years, we have seen strong growth in fertiliser demand in developing regions, which is set to continue. ”
application of fertilisers still is below potential and not well balanced in terms of how the various ingredients are mixed. This makes it harder for farmers to achieve higher yields. Over the past years, we have seen strong growth in fertiliser demand in developing regions, which is set to continue.
Ferteliser usage and corn yield: Fertecon
PotashPhosphor
Nitrogen
Fertiliser (k/ha)
Corn yield (t/ha)
15550
70
52
20
15
58
15
3
140
130
42
1.6
4.8
7
7.6
W. EuropeUSAChinaIndia
Tractor
20002030
35 %
55 %
35 %30 %
20 %
Tractor
HandAnimal
25 %
HandAnimal
Year
Tractor2030
35 %
55 %
35 %30 %
20 %
Tractor
HandAnimal
25 %
HandAnimal
Year
Potash
Phosphor
Fertiliser (k/ha)
Nitrogen
Western EuropeUSAChinaIndia
Corn yield (t/ha)
20
15
130
4.815 3
42
1.6
15550
70
7.6
52
58140
7
2000
46
Are green investments sustainable?
need for chemical fertilisers or pesticides, and allow less use of machinery and equipment, or perhaps require not as much irrigation? Given the challenges global agriculture faces to boost output in the decades ahead, and the fact that a few important food-producing countries, such as the US, Brazil, India and China, already are increasingly using these new, modified crops, it appears likely that biotechnology will play a central role the agricultural production in the 21st century.
Fertilisers
The hunt for higher yields requires soils with the necessary nutrients for plant growth.
To maintain productivity, nutrients taken out of the soil at harvest must be replenished. Fertilisers containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, as well as other minerals providing nutrients, are a key part of today’s agricultural production. While in the developed world, fertiliser use has remained
fairly stable, such is clearly not the case in major developing producers like India and China, where
“Over the past years, we have seen strong growth in fertiliser demand in developing regions, which is set to continue. ”
application of fertilisers still is below potential and not well balanced in terms of how the various ingredients are mixed. This makes it harder for farmers to achieve higher yields. Over the past years, we have seen strong growth in fertiliser demand in developing regions, which is set to continue.
Ferteliser usage and corn yield: Fertecon
PotashPhosphor
Nitrogen
Fertiliser (k/ha)
Corn yield (t/ha)
15550
70
52
20
15
58
15
3
140
130
42
1.6
4.8
7
7.6
W. EuropeUSAChinaIndia
Tractor
20002030
35 %
55 %
35 %30 %
20 %
Tractor
HandAnimal
25 %
HandAnimal
Year
47
Fertilisers wrongly applied, however, pose significant hazards to the environment, and to soil quality, and can also affect water resources, damage that might be irreversible. Such adverse outcomes have put severe strain on the ecosystems in the past. Yet environmental damage associated with fertilisers can be substantially reduced if these are applied correctly based on plant needs, while the benefits can be fully exploited. The challenge in the future will be to mitigate the potential damage to the environment that may result from fertilisers, even as the volumes in use are set to grow. Comprehensive solutions to manage nutrients include speciality fertilisers targeted to specific needs of plants and soil. Making professional advice available to farmers is also key. These aspects will play a major part in sustainable use of fertilisers in the future.
Agricultural equipment
In developed countries, mechanised production has largely replaced human labour in agriculture. This has facilitated large-scale farming, and has allowed for enormous gains in productivity. While countries
in the developing world are still in the process of introducing more machinery as they increasingly industrialise, a large share of the work in many of these places is still done by hand labour and animal strength. More widespread use of machinery to produce food crops in these countries is needed as urbanisation and jobs in other sectors attract rural dwellers away from the landw. The trend towards substituting mechanisation for backbreaking human labour is driving demand for basic, small-scale equipment. This is true especially in parts of the developing world where farms are still relatively small, and thus unsuited for heavy machinery. Meanwhile in the developed world, changes underway include “precision farming practices’. GPS-navigated machinery and measuring soil quality via satellite are some of the ways farming and IT are being combined to allow far more precise applications of pesticides, water and fertilisers. Besides potential to increase profitability of production and reduce volatility of crop yields, such techniques can reduce the adverse effects on the environment caused by agriculture.
Developing world – Expected change in agricultural power mix Bundesamt für Energie, Gesamtenergiestatistik 2009
PotashPhosphor
Nitrogen
Fertiliser (k/ha)
Corn yield (t/ha)
15550
70
52
20
15
58
15
3
140
130
42
1.6
4.8
7
7.6
W. EuropeUSAChinaIndia
Tractor
20002030
35 %
55 %
35 %30 %
20 %
Tractor
HandAnimal
25 %
HandAnimal
Year
46
Are green investments sustainable?
need for chemical fertilisers or pesticides, and allow less use of machinery and equipment, or perhaps require not as much irrigation? Given the challenges global agriculture faces to boost output in the decades ahead, and the fact that a few important food-producing countries, such as the US, Brazil, India and China, already are increasingly using these new, modified crops, it appears likely that biotechnology will play a central role the agricultural production in the 21st century.
Fertilisers
The hunt for higher yields requires soils with the necessary nutrients for plant growth.
To maintain productivity, nutrients taken out of the soil at harvest must be replenished. Fertilisers containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, as well as other minerals providing nutrients, are a key part of today’s agricultural production. While in the developed world, fertiliser use has remained
fairly stable, such is clearly not the case in major developing producers like India and China, where
“Over the past years, we have seen strong growth in fertiliser demand in developing regions, which is set to continue. ”
application of fertilisers still is below potential and not well balanced in terms of how the various ingredients are mixed. This makes it harder for farmers to achieve higher yields. Over the past years, we have seen strong growth in fertiliser demand in developing regions, which is set to continue.
Ferteliser usage and corn yield: Fertecon
PotashPhosphor
Nitrogen
Fertiliser (k/ha)
Corn yield (t/ha)
15550
70
52
20
15
58
15
3
140
130
42
1.6
4.8
7
7.6
W. EuropeUSAChinaIndia
Tractor
20002030
35 %
55 %
35 %30 %
20 %
Tractor
HandAnimal
25 %
HandAnimal
Year
Tractor2030
35 %
55 %
35 %30 %
20 %
Tractor
HandAnimal
25 %
HandAnimal
Year
Potash
Phosphor
Fertiliser (k/ha)
Nitrogen
Western EuropeUSAChinaIndia
Corn yield (t/ha)
20
15
130
4.815 3
42
1.6
15550
70
7.6
52
58140
7
2000
46
Are green investments sustainable?
need for chemical fertilisers or pesticides, and allow less use of machinery and equipment, or perhaps require not as much irrigation? Given the challenges global agriculture faces to boost output in the decades ahead, and the fact that a few important food-producing countries, such as the US, Brazil, India and China, already are increasingly using these new, modified crops, it appears likely that biotechnology will play a central role the agricultural production in the 21st century.
Fertilisers
The hunt for higher yields requires soils with the necessary nutrients for plant growth.
To maintain productivity, nutrients taken out of the soil at harvest must be replenished. Fertilisers containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, as well as other minerals providing nutrients, are a key part of today’s agricultural production. While in the developed world, fertiliser use has remained
fairly stable, such is clearly not the case in major developing producers like India and China, where
“Over the past years, we have seen strong growth in fertiliser demand in developing regions, which is set to continue. ”
application of fertilisers still is below potential and not well balanced in terms of how the various ingredients are mixed. This makes it harder for farmers to achieve higher yields. Over the past years, we have seen strong growth in fertiliser demand in developing regions, which is set to continue.