Agriculture feeds billions of people, but it also feeds on natural resources and contributes to climate change. Today’s global agriculture and food industry is responsible for more than 20% of global CO2e emissions. Irrigation represents 40% of freshwater withdrawals. Meanwhile, the number of people facing food insecurity in 2023 is projected to be 345 million, up from 135 million pre-pandemic. With global population expected to near 10 billion in 2050–2 billion higher than today—the pressure on food demand is growing and inevitable. At the same time, the average age of farmers is rising while those taking up agriculture as a primary occupation is plummeting.
