Megatrends in agriculture – Views for discontinuities in past and future developments

Despite great concerns to meet the ever growing food demand in the past, megatrends in agriculture has resulted in growing food availability per person and reducing adverse environmental impact. The bleak future that is portrayed to secure sufficient food for all can be resolved with increased ecological literacy and compliance with production ecological approaches. Yet, these opportunities may not be easily attained, certainly so with dominating dogmatic views on agro-ecological practices that do not comply with or even reject basic ecological principles.

► Ecological literacy leads the way to optimal use of scarce natural resources.
► Agriculture and the food system show both gradual improvements as well as technological and paradigm shifts to increased production efficiency and food security.
► Future demand for food and several non-food items can be met, when production ecological principles are pursued.
► Bright future development may be jeopardized by dogmas that do not comply with or even reject basic ecological principles.