FAO Representative Insists on Production without Harming the Environment

To produce as much as possible with the available technologies and without damaging the environment, are premises for Theodor Friedrich, representative of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

During a conference on agriculture as part of the sustainable development agenda, given in a session of the International Scientific Symposium Universidad de Pinar del Rio 2017, the official insisted that the impact on the environment should be below the natural recovery capability.

In that regard, he noted that the soil is the most vulnerable element, while mechanical farming causes a degradation faster tan natural recovery.

Friedrich noted that stopping this type of farming favours the adaptation to droughts and rains, the latter due to a major infiltration and hence lesser floods.

It is time to change towards a non-mechanical agriculture to face the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030, the official stressed.

In addition Friedrich pointed out that the world population has grown more tan food production, but we cannot let the environment and the natural resources degrade.

Every year the planet wastes a third of its food, for which it is urgent to produce from the reduction of environmental damage, especially from soil, water and nutrients detriment; greenhouse gases and the loss of ecosystems.

As the increase of temperatures represents a real threat to the global food production, -Friedrich affirmed-, the investments in all sectors of agriculture can simultaneously support adaptation and reduce climate change.