For any nation, food is a critical resource and need. Its production is closely linked to the global economy’s survival. In 2022, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), around 11.3% disposable income of Americans was spent on food. It was similar to the levels witnessed in the 1980s. This is just one lesser-known fact about food production, there are many more that will we explore in this blog. Let’s start reading!
Facts About Food Production
Every stage of this production, from cultivation to distribution, consumption, and disposal, significantly impacts our world. There are astonishing food production facts associated with each of these steps. Let’s discover them below:
1. Overall Food Production to Increase by 70% in 2050
As per FOA, to feed a world population of 9.1 billion people in 2050, food production will need to go up by about 70% between 2005/07 to 2050. In developing nations, food production will need to nearly double. This also means that we’ll see a notable increase in the production of various essential foods.
For example, annual cereal production will need to grow by almost 1 billion tonnes, and meat production will need to increase by over 200 million tonnes.
2. Individuals, Family Partnerships, or Family Corporations Own 99% U.S. Farms
2.1 million farms are spread across America’s rural areas. Farm and ranch families make up only 2% of the country’s population.
3. Each U.S. Farm Annually Provides Food for 165 People
Americans have access to affordable, abundant, and one of the safest food supplies. All this is thanks to the productivity and efficiency offered by the ranch and farm families residing here.
Annually, one U.S. farm provides food for 165 people both in the US and around the world.
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4. Farmers and Ranchers Receive Only 15 Cents from Every Dollar Spent on Food
Do you know that for every dollar you spend on food, the people growing it only receive 15 cents? It doesn’t matter if the food is bought at home or away. The remaining money is used to cover expenses such as materials, production, wages, processing, transportation, marketing, and distribution.
In 1980, farmers and ranchers received a better share. They got 31 cents out of every dollar.
5. Top Producers of Staple Food: Maize, Wheat, & Rice
Which countries grow the foods we eat daily? Let’s explore the top producers of three essential staple foods worldwide.
a) Maize (Corn)
Country | 2019 Production (million tonnes) | % of Global Production |
U.S. | 347 | 30.2% |
China | 260.8 | 22.7% |
Brazil | 101.1 | 8.8% |
Argentina | 56.9 | 4.9% |
Ukraine | 35.9 | 3.1% |
Corn or Maize, originated from Central America but is now grown worldwide. The United States is its largest producer as well as exporter. In it, more than 90 million acres of land are dedicated to corn cultivation, covering an area almost as large as Montana.
The USA is also the biggest consumer of corn. It is followed by China which is the second largest producer and consumer.
b) Wheat
Country | 2019 Production (million tonnes) | % of Global Production |
China | 133.6 | 17.40% |
India | 103.6 | 13.50% |
Russia | 74.5 | 9.70% |
U.S. | 52.3 | 6.80% |
France | 41 | 5.30% |
This flexible crop was originally grown in the Middle East and can thrive in mild climates. It’s one of the staples of food, as we use it to make pasta, biscuits, bread, and more. In 2019, India and China together accounted for about 31% of global wheat production.
Cross-reference: These are the top 10 countries that produce the most wheat
c) Rice
Country | 2019 Production (million tonnes) | % of Global Production |
China | 209.6 | 27.70% |
India | 177.7 | 23.50% |
Indonesia | 54.6 | 7.20% |
Bangladesh | 54.6 | 7.20% |
Vietnam | 43.5 | 5.80% |
About 9,400 years ago, Chinese hunter-gatherers started growing rice near the Yangtze River. Globally, it is the 3rd most grown crop and a major food for about 3.5 billion people (mostly in Asia). Its largest producers are countries with the biggest populations. In fact, it’s 9 out of 10 producers are in Asia.
6. There are Approximately 570 Million Farms Globally
Globally, farms vary in size and productivity, impacting food production, economic growth, poverty reduction, and the environment. Most of the world’s farmers have small farms, some even less than 2 hectares.
Due to their limited productivity and small farms, these farmers often suffer from poverty.
7. Biotechnology Saved Hawaiian Papaya Industry
In the 1950s, the Hawaiian papaya industry’s production dropped by about 40%, causing its value to drop from $17 million. This resulted in many farmers closing down their businesses. And it was all because of a harmful virus on Oahu.
In 1997, the U.S. government approved a new type of genetically engineered papaya, called Rainbow. After being commercialized in 1998, this virus-resistant variety restored production to pre-virus levels. This stopped Hawaii’s papaya industry’s decline.
8. Women Produce up to 80% of Food in Developing Countries
As per FAO, women in most developing countries produce about 60 to 80% of the food. They also contribute to half of the world’s food supply. Despite this food production fact and their important role, their contribution has only recently gained acknowledgment.
They are pivotal in small-scale agriculture, farm work, and daily food needs. However, compared to men, these women face more challenges in accessing land, resources, and credit that could boost their agricultural productivity.
9. Global Warming Could Lead to Increase in Crop Yields
Agriculture, as well as fisheries, are greatly impacted by climate. Increased CO2 levels and warmer temperatures can sometimes improve crop production. However, other factors like moisture, water availability, and soil nutrients also matter.
On another note, changes in floods and droughts can make farming hard and affect food safety. Warmer waters may also cause shellfish and fish to relocate, disturbing ecosystems. From a broader perspective, climate change and global warming can make it very hard to farm, fish, and raise animals in familiar ways and locations.
Cross-reference: Climate Impacts on Agriculture and Food Supply
10. Agricultural Impact on Economy Greater than 0.9%
According to the USDA, in 2022, the combined value of food, agriculture, and related industries added nearly $1.420 trillion to the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP), constituting a 5.5% share of the total.
Out of this, the output of farms alone was $223.5 billion, approximately 0.9% of the U.S. GDP. Nevertheless, agriculture’s impact on GDP is greater than that because there are other sectors linked to it that also add value to the economy.
11. Agriculture and Related Industries Provide 10.4% U.S. Employment
Even the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) recognize agriculture as the single largest employer globally. Nearly 40% of people in the world make a living from it.
In 2022, according to USDA, nearly 22.1 million jobs were tied to the agriculture and food sectors in the United States. This accounted for approximately 10.4% of all jobs. Among these, about 2.6 million jobs were directly on farms, making up 1.2% of total employment. Apart from this, agriculture and food-related industries provided another 19.6 million jobs.
12. Production of Livestock is Growing Rapidly
In any developing nation, livestock plays a very pivotal role in supplying food. Its production is also increasing rapidly. As per FAO, in the last 20 years, cereal production in developing countries has grown by 78%. On the other hand, fish, meat, and egg production increased by 113, 127, and 331%. In meat production, pigs and poultry have seen the most rapid growth.
13. Global Meat Production Expected to Increase by Almost 44 Million Tons by 2030
As per the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, pork is the most widely consumed meat worldwide, accounting for 36% of the total. It is followed by poultry (33%), beef (24%), and goats/sheep (5%).
It is expected that global meat production will increase by about 44 million tons by 2030. It will reach 373 million tons by that time and most of this growth will be mainly due to higher profits, especially in the early years after COVID-19.
14. China: the Largest Meat Producer Globally
As of 2023, it is the largest meat producer in the world. It produced over 253,024,735 tonnes of meat which is about 25.91% of the total production. It also accounted for 54 million metric tons of pork, approximately 20 million tons of chicken, and nearly 6 million tons of beef.
Other major meat-producing countries make up about 54.65% of global meat output. Let’s learn about these countries and their meat production in the table:
Country | Production in Tonnes |
China | 253,024,735 |
United States | 145,824,471 |
Brazil | 87,035,453 |
India | 33,784,089 |
Russia | 33,434,451 |
Germany | 23,365,975 |
Mexico | 22,505,910 |
Spain | 22,249,417 |
Argentina | 18,528,745 |
France | 16,167,700 |
15. 70% of World’s Water Resources are Needed for Food Production
As per FOA, agriculture already uses about 11% of the world’s land for crops. Additionally, it consumes over 70% of the water taken from lakes, streams, and aquifers.
Also Read: 15 Most Common Water Wastage Causes and their Effects
16. Agrifood Systems Contribute to One-Third of all Human-Caused Greenhouse Gas Emissions
As stated by FOA, agrifood systems are responsible for one-third of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions. These emissions result from activities such as farming crops and livestock, altering land use through practices like deforestation for agriculture, and the various processes involved in food production, consumption, and waste management.
17. Aquatic Food Production to Grow by Another 15%
This production is estimated to see significant growth by 2030. This increase is vital to ensure that a growing population has access to healthy as well as nutritious food. This is one of the important facts about aquatic food production.
18. Worldwide Catch from Fisheries was 90.3 Million Tonnes
In 2020, global fisheries caught around 90.3 million tonnes of fish. Compared to the average of the previous three years, it marked a 4.0% drop.
During the same year, the following nations accounted for about 49% of the total capture around the world:
- China
- Indonesia
- Peru
- India
- Russian Federation
- United States of America
- Vietnam
19. Portion of Fish Stocks Being Sustainably Fished Dropped to 64.6%
This drop happened in 2019 and is 1.2% lower than that of 2017. However, it’s still noteworthy that sustainably fished stocks still accounted for 82.5% of all fish caught in 2019, showing a 3.8% increase compared to 2017. This shows that larger fish stocks are being managed more effectively.
Nevertheless, it doesn’t lessen the fact that the ongoing decline in sustainability is concerning. It needs urgent action to ensure that all fisheries are sustainably managed.
20. 90% of Fish Used for Fish Feed Could be Eaten by Humans
As suggested by a 2017 study, it was found that most fish feed is made from fish considered suitable for direct human consumption. About 20 million tons of wild seafood, nearly one-fourth of the world’s commercially caught fish, was used as fish food. This could have been directly eaten as food and provided nutrition to people facing food insecurity.
If interested, take a look at Sustainable Food Brands
21. Soil is Being Lost 100 Times Faster Than it is Forming
This soil loss is due to human use of land, whether for agriculture or development. Some research reveals that during the late 1800s and early 1900s, European colonization and agricultural activities in North America caused severe erosion of land.
This erosion which occurred within just a few decades, would have naturally taken thousands of years to happen.
22. Livestock Companies Outpace Germany, Britain, and France in Greenhouse Gas Emissions
In a 2021 report from the Meat Atlas, two non-profit organizations, GRAIN and the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, evaluated emissions from 35 of the world’s largest dairy and meat producers in 2018.
The findings were astonishing: only five major dairy and meat companies emit more greenhouse gases annually than major oil companies such as Shell, Exxon, or BP. Together, 20 livestock companies generate more greenhouse gas emissions than entire countries like Germany, France, or Britain.
23. Dairy Significantly Contributes to Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Milk is a staple in many countries, but it can greatly increase the amount of greenhouse gases emitted by what we eat. In typical European Union diets, it accounts for over a quarter to sometimes even one-third of the carbon footprint.
24. Soybean Cultivation & Oil Palm Production Caused 40% of Tropical Deforestation
Agricultural expansion is the main culprit behind deforestation and forest biodiversity loss. Large-scale commercial farming, like cattle ranching, oil palm production, and soybean cultivation, caused around 40% of tropical deforestation from 2000 to 2010. On the other hand, local subsistence farming is accountable for another 33%.
25. A Handful of Large Multinational Companies Dominate All Aspects of Food Production
According to the Guardian’s 2021 report, only a few big companies control the maximum market share for nearly 80% of everyday grocery items bought by Americans.
This joint investigative report by the Guardian and Food and Water Watch discovered that while there are diverse brands in supermarkets, consumers actually have limited options.
The eye-opening reality is that just a bunch of multinational companies are dominating every dimension of the food supply chain. They are everywhere, from producing fertilizers and seeds to operating supermarkets and slaughterhouses and manufacturing beers and cereals.
26. Unsustainable Farming Practices: Threat to Climate and Future Food Security
Large-scale meat and dairy production, known as Big Livestock, poses a major threat to our health, environment, and future. It’s unsustainable and, just like the fossil fuel industry, it receives support from global finance. As we face a climate crisis, the stakes are high. To address climate change effectively, we must stop supporting Big Livestock.
These were all lesser-known facts about food production. Let’s now discover some statistics and facts related to food waste.
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Facts About Food Waste in the World
This waste is a significant issue impacting society, the economy, and the environment. The following food statistics reveal its extensive implications.
1. About 13% of Food Produced is Lost Between Harvest and Retail Globally
As global hunger rates rise and tons of edible food is wasted, the need to reduce food loss becomes critical. Around the world, about 13% of food is lost between harvest to retail. Moreover, 17% of the total global food production is wasted in retail, households, and food service.
As per the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, about one-third of food meant for human consumption is wasted or lost globally. This is a loss of over a billion tons of food and $940 billion annually. All this happens while 1 in 9 people is undernourished.
2. Food Loss and Waste Vary by Income Level
It’s astonishing to see how food waste is related to a country’s income level. FOA states that in medium as well as high-income countries, a lot of food is wasted when people throw it away, even if it’s still good to consume. In industrialized areas, the early stages of the food supply chain also witness significant losses.
On the other hand, in low-income countries, the loss mostly occurs during the early and middle stages of the supply chain. Here, usually less waste happens at the consumer’s end.
3. World Wastes About 1.6 Billion Tonnes of Food
Among these 1.6 billion tons, 1.3 billion tonnes are the edible parts of the food we could eat. We can compare this to the total agricultural production, which is approximately 6 billion tonnes (for both food and non-food uses).
Also Read: A Rechargeable Edible Battery Made from Food
4. Food Loss and Waste (FLW) Contribute to 8-10 % of GHGs
FAO states that as of 2022, FLW is responsible for about 8 to 10% of GHGs. All this contributes to unstable climate and weather events like flooding and droughts. This further impacts crop production negatively, potentially reduces the nutritional quality of crops and disrupts the supply chain.
5. China and India Produce Most Household Food Waste Globally
As of December 2023, India and China were responsible for producing the most household food waste globally, with an estimated 69 million and 92 million metric tons per year, respectively. Their large populations are responsible for these big figures.
Often, food waste is associated with wealthier nations but developed and developing countries also have similar rates of waste per person.
6. $1 Trillion Dollars’ Worth of Food is Wasted Each Year
This occurs in the form of food loss– food which is damaged during transportation, and food waste–edible food is thrown away by consumers or even retailers.
7. Ugly Food Makes up to 40% of Total Food waste
Even what you eat isn’t free from the beauty standards of the world. According to a 2020 Forbes report, grocery stores often reject imperfect or ugly produce that doesn’t meet their cosmetic standards. This rejected food accounts for about 40% of total food waste.
There is now growing awareness and people are trying to save this ugly produce to reduce food waste.
8. About 8% of Globally Caught Fish are Thrown Back into Sea
These fishes don’t end up in the market as the Trawlers discard them back in the sea. They do so when they lack a license for that particular species or when they need to avoid exceeding harvest targets set by regulators.
Ironically, the rules that were meant to prevent overfishing are actually encouraging waste. The fish that are returned to the sea are mostly injured or dead thanks to fishing gear and methods. This wasteful practice not only pollutes water but also harms ocean life.
9. Food Waste Makes up to 24% of Municipal Solid Waste
This is a growing issue and calls for a change. In 2018, over 63 million tons of food waste was generated from residential, commercial, and institutional sources. Out of it, only 4% was composted. As per EPA, the amount of food entering landfills is much more than any other single material in our regular trash.
10. Food Waste Uses a Quarter of Our Water Supply
While wasting food, not only are you wasting the food itself but also all the resources that were used to cultivate it. A report from the NRDC reveals the scale of this waste. Food waste ends up draining nearly a quarter of our water supply, which is worth over $172 billion. This highlights one of the most alarming facts about food waste in the world.
We live in a world where some people throw away food without a second thought, while others go days without having edible eating. It’s about time we understand as well as minimize our food wastage habits. Producing food is challenging, and so is dealing with the consequences of its waste. For more thought-provoking blogs like this, keep coming back!
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