Freshwater
Special report by Dan Saladino
Freshwater
Special report by Dan SaladinoRewarding initiatives that support
a resilient biosphere
while feeding the world
Editors' Picks
Theme: Freshwater and Waterways
”Freshwater: Precious and Under Threat”
Special report by Dan Saladino, food journalist, radio producer and author
Entries
World population:
The Challenge
To keep the world’s growing population alive and well-nourished – without destroying the planet
We live in the Anthropocene, a planetary epoch defined by humans’ impact on the Earth’s geology and ecosystems. Our food systems represent an important part of that impact, accounting for a mounting burden we place on the biosphere, the planet’s thin layer of life.
Already, the global population stands at nearly 8 billion. As it rapidly increases—scientists predict it will grow by about 70 million per year and reach nearly 10 billion by 2050—we will put even more pressure on the planetary boundaries, with increasing risk of crossing critical tipping points for the Earth’s stability and resilience.
We humans are part of the biosphere, along with plants, animals, and all other living creatures. Yet in the past half-decade, we have put a severe amount of pressure on that biosphere. Rapid population growth and rising standards of living for billions have not only depleted and degraded natural resources, but provoked dramatic changes in climate as well. As one of the main drivers of global environmental change, our food system has long been a significant part of the problem. It is now time for it to become part of the solution.
To protect the biosphere, we must transform our food system and establish a sustainable food supply within planetary boundaries. We must save The Food Planet so that it can continue to feed us all.
The Food Planet Prize will seek out and showcase solutions at every link along the circular food chain, from soil to fork and back to the soil again. Based on the notion that radical innovation is necessary if we are to reverse our current situation, the award encourages and recognizes innovative projects that disrupt existing systems and value chains, or that venture outside them altogether. Traditional environmental strategies and measures are essential, but they will not suffice in the terrifyingly short timespan that remains before global warming and other environmental threats surpass the levels our habitat – and thus life itself – can withstand.
Help us find the best candidates!
The Prize
The Foundation
Through research grants, awards, and information campaigns, the Curt Bergfors Foundation supports initiatives and individuals working to secure the world’s future food supply while fostering a healthy and resilient biosphere.
About Curt Bergfors
Curt Bergfors, a renowned hospitality entrepreneur in Sweden, was born on February 27th, 1949, into a mining family in Gällivare, Lapland. When he was just fifteen, Bergfors decided that he would not only become financially independent, but also support people and causes in need.
