By the year 2050, 80% of the Earth's population will live in urban centres. Applying the most conservative estimates to current demographic trends, the human population will increase by about three billion people by then. An estimated 10 hectares of new land (about 20% larger than Brazil) will be needed to grow enough food to feed them, if traditional farming methods continue as they are practised today. At present, throughout the world, over 80% of the land that is suitable for raising crops is in use. Historically, some 15% of that has been laid waste by poor management practices. What can be done to ensure enough food for the world's population to live on ?
The concept of indoor farming is not new, since hothouse production of tomatoes and other produce has been in vogue for some time. What is new is the urgent need to scale up this technology to accommodate another three billion people. Many believe an entirely new approach to indoor farming is required, employing cutting-edge technologies. One such proposal is for the 'Vertical Farm'. The concept is of multi-storey buildings in which food crops are grown in environmentally controlled conditions. Situated in the heart of urban centres, they would drastically reduce the amount of transportation required to bring food to consumers. Vertical farms would need to be efficient, cheap to construct and safe to operate. If successfully implemented, proponents claim, vertical farms offer the promise of urban renewal, sustainable production of a safe and varied food supply (through year-round production of all crops), and the eventual repair of ecosystems that have been sacrificed for horizontal farming.
It took humans 10,000 years to learn how to grow most of the crops we now take for granted. Along the way, we despoiled most of the land we worked, often turning verdant, natural ecozones into semi-arid deserts. Within that same time frame, we evolved into an urban species, in which 60% of the human population now lives vertically in cities. This means that, for the majority, we humans have shelter from the elements, yet we subject our food-bearing plants to the rigours of the great outdoors and can do no more than hope for a good weather year. However, more often than not now, due to a rapidly changing climate, that is not what happens. Massive floods, long droughts, hurricanes and severe monsoons take their toll each year, destroying millions of tons of valuable crops.
Passage Analysis: Food Security and Population Growth
This passage discusses the challenges posed by a rapidly growing global population, projected to reach 80% urban by 2050. It highlights the increasing demand for food and the limitations of current traditional farming methods, which are already straining available land resources and have historically led to land degradation. The passage introduces 'Vertical Farming' as a potential technological solution to address the need for sustainable food production in urban environments.
Evaluating the Options
Option 1: There is an impending food crisis owing to rapid population growth.
This statement can be concluded from the passage. The text explicitly states:
- "By the year 2050, 80% of the Earth's population will live in urban centres."
- "...the human population will increase by about three billion people by then."
- "An estimated 10 hectares of new land ... will be needed to grow enough food to feed them, if traditional farming methods continue..."
- "At present, throughout the world, over 80% of the land that is suitable for raising crops is in use."
These points collectively indicate a strain on food production resources due to population increase, suggesting a potential food crisis if current methods persist.
Option 2: Urban centres of the future will be farmlands.
This statement cannot be directly concluded. The passage mentions that vertical farms would be "Situated in the heart of urban centres" and are a way to grow food within cities. However, it does not suggest that entire urban centres will transform into farmlands. Instead, it proposes integrating farming technology *within* existing or future urban infrastructure.
Option 3: We will take 10000 years to learn and master vertical farming.
This statement is contrary to the passage's implication. The passage notes, "It took humans 10,000 years to learn how to grow most of the crops we now take for granted." It then contrasts this historical timeframe with the current situation, stating, "What is new is the urgent need to scale up this technology [indoor farming/vertical farming] to accommodate another three billion people." This implies that vertical farming is a modern solution being developed rapidly due to necessity, not a process that will take millennia to master.
Option 4: All of the above.
Since Option 1 is a valid conclusion and Options 2 and 3 are not supported or are contradicted by the passage, this option is incorrect.
Conclusion
Based on the analysis, the most accurate conclusion that can be drawn directly from the provided passage is that a food crisis is looming due to rapid population growth, given the strain on existing agricultural resources and land.
Important Questions from Political Parties
Which of the following statements is correct with respect to the political parties in India?
- As of May 2025, former cricketer Harbhajan Singh represents which political party in the Rajya Sabha?
- Out of the three given numbers, the first number is twice the second and thrice the third. If the average of the three numbers is $121$, what is the difference between the first and the third number?
- What number should be added to each of the numbers $94, 24, 100$ and $26$ so that resulting numbers are in proportion?
- Which of the following statements may not be concluded from the passage?
