The future of food and sustainable agriculture

Agricultural techniques have changed dramatically over the last 50 years, particularly in more developed nations. More efficient farm machinery, genetic modification of seeds and the use of fertilisers and agrochemicals have all helped to increase crop yields significantly. However, while the industrialisation of farming has brought a multitude of benefits, it is also contributing to an array of unintended negative consequences, particularly for the environment.

Challenges

The Stockholm Resilience Centre has identified nine planetary boundaries which humanity should not breach if we are to maintain a safe operating space for society. Modern agriculture practices contribute negatively to eight of the nine boundaries, including biodiversity loss, climate change, fresh water use, land system change, and nitrogen and phosphorus flows to the biosphere and oceans. In most of these areas, safe limits have already been breached.

Emissions from agriculture, forestry and land clearing make up 23% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions and if the entire food chain is included (e.g. fertiliser, transport, processing) the contribution could be as high as 37%¹. Cattle and dairy cows alone emit enough greenhouse gases to put them on a par with the highest-emitting nations. Agricultural expansion also continues to be the main driver of deforestation, forest degradation and the associated loss of forest biodiversity. Large-scale commercial agriculture, primarily cattle ranching and cultivation of monoculture^G soya bean and palm oil, alongside subsistence agriculture^G, accounts for up to 80% of deforestation globally².

The overuse of chemical fertilisers has also contributed to water pollution and soil degradation in many areas, with excess nitrogen in the soil causing soil acidification and salinisation (increasing salt content). According to the United Nations (UN), a third of the world’s soil is now moderately to highly degraded, largely due to intensive agricultural practices^3. Overuse of garden variety herbicides and weed killers also threatens the health of waterways and fish, and some products are currently the subject of ongoing investigations about their carcinogenic qualities.

Demographics and changing human diets also present environmental challenges. Global populations are set to rise to 10 billion people by 2050 versus 7.8 billion today⁴, meaning agricultural demand could grow over 50% in a business-as-usual scenario⁵. Increased demand for food is also driven by rising incomes in emerging markets, and the UN estimate that meat consumption is set to rise 76% by 2050, including a doubling in the consumption of poultry, a 69% increase in beef and a 42% increase in pork⁶. High levels of meat consumption have been linked to negative health consequences, including colorectal cancer, diabetes and heart disease, as well as dire impacts on the environment⁷.

There is also a severe imbalance in the production and distribution of food globally, with 80% of the world’s population relying on imported food and countries today not producing enough food to feed themselves⁸. Global supply chains are increasingly coming under the spotlight, especially in light of Covid-19, with countries placing more importance on local versus global production. At the same time, 50% of the population is either overweight or undernourished (39% overweight, 11% undernourished), while 25-30% of all of the food that is grown globally goes to waste⁹. In developing countries food is mostly lost from ‘farm to fork’, where a large amount of food spoils before it reaches the consumer due to poor infrastructure, while in developed countries food is mostly wasted by retailers and consumers buying more than they need, and letting food spoil. 

There are other serious challenges related to intensive factory farming, animal welfare, antibiotic use, the rise of livestock epidemics, monocultures and genetic engineering, climate change threats to food security, lack of land tenure and a need for agricultural land reform in many emerging markets... the list could go on and on.

A vision for a more sustainable future

Although there are many farmers and food producers globally that utilise sustainable agricultural practices, it is clear that many parts of the ‘food system’ would benefit from a fundamental overhaul. Given the severity of the challenges ahead, systemic change is required in order to protect our soils, waterways, forests and wildlife, reduce emissions and at the same time to feed our growing population.

In particular, there is an urgent need to conserve and restore tropical forests in order to protect against biodiversity-loss but also to increase carbon sequestration. This is highlighted by Project Drawdown, an initiative that has identified and researched 80 climate change solutions with the potential to solve collectively the climate crisis. Project Drawdown has identified 14 solutions related to food and agriculture, including forest protection, reducing food waste and a shift to plant-based diets, and has calculated that these alone could contribute over 20%¹⁰ of the emission reductions needed to achieve the goal of the Paris Agreement^G.

In addition, greater adoption of more holistic regenerative farming techniques can also help to rebuild the quality of the soil and, in the process, help to sequester carbon. Typically this involves using cover crops and perennials so that bare soil is never exposed, reducing the use of tilling, rotating diverse crops and integrating livestock, limiting the use of chemicals, and composting and recycling as much farm waste as possible. There is evidence to suggest yields from this type of agriculture can be higher than conventional agriculture, while at the same time helping to prevent soil erosion, re-mineralising the soil, protecting groundwater and reducing damaging pesticide and fertiliser runoff.

Investment opportunities

This shift to a more sustainable food system is presenting a number of excellent investment opportunities. Bank of America estimate that the ‘future food solutions’ market is worth over USD200 billion in 2020 and is set to grow at an 8.6% compound annual growth rate (CAGR)^G to 2025¹².

The market for sustainable food ingredients such as organic, local, ‘free-from’ products has been increasing rapidly in developed markets along with soaring demand for plant-based proteins. The global plant-based protein market is forecast to reach USD35.5 billion in 2024, representing 14% annual growth for the period spanning 2020-2024¹³. Considering a typical plant-based burger uses up to 95% less water and land, generates 90% fewer greenhouse gases, and requires 46% less energy than a normal beef burger, this can only be a good thing for the environment and human health¹⁴.

Indoor vertical farming^G is also booming, especially in urban areas, which offers the prospect of more local production. Vertical farming can increase yields 300x compared with conventional outdoor farming¹⁵, with the potential to have an almost closed loop system, reusing water and nutrients, without soil contamination and pollution run off.

Precision farming is also a growing area which offers huge potential. Agri-robots, artificial intelligence (AI) and big data, satellite positioning, drones, weather prediction and soil testing all offer the potential to enhance yields and reduce environmental impacts. The food waste management sector is also steadily growing, and is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 5% between 2019 and 2025¹⁶.

How are we positioned?

There are clearly a number of rewarding investment opportunities that can support this vital transition to a more sustainable food and agricultural system, including Vitasoy, the Hong Kong listed maker of over 300 plant-based products, such as soya and nut milk, tofu, tea and juices. Their beverages offer sustainable nutrition and a healthy alternative to sugar-laden carbonated drinks, with their core raw ingredient, soy beans, being high in protein and cholesterol-free. Growing soy beans is significantly less water and resource-intensive than meat or dairy production, however it is also linked to deforestation in certain regions. It is estimated that over 85% of soy is grown to feed livestock, underlining the systemic nature of these issues¹⁷. We have engaged with Vitasoy on deforestation and they continue to improve their sourcing policies, traceability and standards for contract farmers.

Two Danish companies, Novozymes and CHR Hansen, are also playing a significant role in improving global food and agricultural practices. Novozymes is a global leader in producing natural enzymes and microorganisms that are used across a range of industries, including the food and agriculture industries. In agriculture, their microbes and enzymes increase crop yields, reduce the need for pesticides and fertilisers and improve animal health. In food production, their enzymes are used to extract protein from plants, to improve the texture and flavour of plant-based ‘meats’, and to reduce the sugar and lactose content in dairy products.

CHR Hansen, is another global leader in manufacturing microbes and enzymes. Its cultures are used to improve the yield, taste, nutritional value and shelf life of a wide range of foods, while at the same time reducing the need for artificial additives and preservatives. Their bacteria and microbes are also used to improve soil health naturally, increase crop yields and protect plants against disease and pests.

Other companies which support the transition to a more sustainable food and agricultural system include:

• Neogen - a US-listed maker of food safety diagnostic tests, animal health products and genomics test kits. Neogen is investing in blockchain^G and AI technology to track the environmental conditions of food and animal products all the way from ‘farm to plate’.
• Tomra - a Norwegian-listed maker of automated recycling technology and a global leader in sensor-based food sorting and peeling technology. Tomra sorting machines inspect millions of individual food pieces per hour, help increase the yield of produce by 5-10% and save as much as 25,000 trucks of potatoes every year¹⁸.
• Spectris - a UK-listed maker of testing and measurement instruments. They offer soil analysis tools to help farmers analyse soil fertility and enhance crop yields, contributing to agricultural productivity and ensuring sustainable food production systems.

Research and engagement

As long-term, active investors^G, we regularly conduct research and engage with companies on a wide range of sustainability topics. We have commissioned and undertaken our own research into challenges within the palm oil and soy supply chains and have conducted extensive engagement on the topic of deforestation. We have also engaged a number of consumer companies on sugar content in their product portfolios and plastic packaging, and will soon begin a new round of research and engagement on the use of agricultural chemicals, as well as the importance of supporting smallholder farmers.

In summary, the future of food and sustainable agriculture offers a myriad of investment opportunities that can benefit our clients, and at the same time, help to support and promote a more sustainable and resilient food system. We believe this can be a positive situation for all, but there are many hard yards still to be covered.

¹ Source: https://www.ipcc.ch/srccl/chapter/summary-for-policymakers/ 

² Source: https://globalforestatlas.yale.edu/land-use/industrial-agriculture 

³ Source: http://www.fao.org/about/meetings/soil-erosion-symposium/key-messages/en/

⁴ Source: https://www.prb.org/2020-world-population-data-sheet/

⁵ Source: https://www.wri.org/blog/2018/12/how-sustainably-feed-10-billion-people-2050-21-charts

⁶ Source: http://www.fao.org/3/ap106e/ap106e.pdf

⁷ Source: https://www.bmj.com/content/365/bmj.l2110

⁸ Source: https://www.europeanscientist.com/en/agriculture/majority-of-the-worlds-population-depends-on-imported-food/

⁹ Source: http://www.fao.org/3/a-i6583e.pdf

¹⁰ Source: www.drawdown.org

¹¹ Source: Bank of America Global Research based on various sources: Markets and Markets, Global Market Insights, Grand View Research. Reprinted by permission. Copyright © 2020 Bank of America Corporation (“BAC”). The use of the above in no way implies that BAC or any of its affiliates endorses the views or interpretation or the use of such information or acts as any endorsement of the use of such information. The information is provided “as is” and none of BAC or any of its affiliates warrants the accuracy or completeness of the information.

¹² Source: Bank of America Global Research based on various sources: Markets and Markets, Global Market Insights, Grand View Research.

¹³ Source: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200305005401/en/Global-Plant-Based-Protein-Market-Estimated-Reach-US35.54

¹⁴ Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/02/beyond-meat-uses-climate-change-to-market-fake-meat-substitutes-scientists-are-cautious.html

¹⁵ Source: https://www.aem.org/news/vertical-farming-how-plant-factories-stack-up-against-field-agriculture

¹⁶ Source: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/food-waste-management-market

¹⁷ Source: https://www.foodsource.org.uk/building-blocks/soy-food-feed-and-land-use-change

¹⁸ Source: www.Tomra.com

Source for company information: Stewart Investors investment team and company data. This stock information does not constitute any offer or inducement to enter into any investment activity.

Glossary

Active investors: take a hands-on approach, typically making portfolio decisions based on their own analysis as opposed to passive investors who buy shares based on index constituents and weightings.

Blockchain: digital information (the block) stored in a public database (the chain).

Compound annual growth rate (CAGR): a statistic that measures the compound annual return of metrics over a set period of time, assuming gains are reinvested (i.e. compounding effect.

Indoor vertical farming: the practice of growing produce stacked one above another in a closed and controlled environment. By using growing shelves mounted vertically, it significantly reduces the amount of land space needed to grow plants compared to traditional farming methods.

Monoculture: the agricultural practice of producing or growing a single crop, plant or livestock species, variety, or breed in a field or farming system at a time.

Paris Agreement: The Paris Agreement sets out a global framework to avoid dangerous climate change by limiting global warming to well below 2°C and pursuing efforts to limit it to 1.5°C. It also aims to strengthen countries’ ability to deal with the impacts of climate change and support them in their efforts. The Paris Agreement is the first-ever universal, legally-binding global climate change agreement, adopted at the Paris Climate Conference (COP21) in December 2015.

Subsistence agriculture: when farmers produce just enough food to feed their families with little left to sell on.

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