Presentation about "Technology for Sustainability" made in Vertex 2018.

1. Technology for Sustainability
Pedro Vilarinho
Vertex
18th September 2018

2. HUMAN PHYSIOLOGICAL NEEDS
Foo
d
Water Air

3. GLOBAL ALLOCATION OF LAND

4. GLOBAL ALLOCATION OF LAND

5. POPULATION GROWTH
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
1700 1750 1800 1850 1900 1950 2000 2050 2100
x1.000million
0,6 0,8 1,0 1,2 1,6
2,5
6,1
9,8 *
11,0 *
* - projectionSource: United Nations
7,6 (2017)

6. ARABLE LAND PER CAPITA
0
0,05
0,1
0,15
0,2
0,25
0,3
0,35
0,4
1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 2050
ha/percapita
Source: FAO

7. FOOD INTAKE
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
1970 1980 1990 2000 2015 2030 2050
kcal/person/day
Source: FAO

8. WATER SOURCES
Freshwater
2,5%
Oceans
96,5%
Saline
groundwater
0,93%
Saline lakes
0,93%
Glaciers &
Ice caps
68,6%
Ground-
water
30,1%
Surface water &
other freshwater
1,3%
Ice &
Snow
73,1%
Lakes
20,1%
Atmospheric water
0,22%
Biological water
0,22%
Rivers
0,46%
Swamps &
Marshes
2,53%
Soil moisture
2,53%
Adapted from Igor Shiklomanov, “World fresh water resources”, 1993

9. WATER USAGE
69%
19%
12%
Agriculture
Industry
Domestic
Water withdrawal = 3.991 M m3
Data from FAO AQUASTAT

10. 1989 2014
±300 km
Source: NASA

11. BIG PROBLEM AHEAD
How can the world adequately feed more than 9.800 million people
by 2050 in a manner that advances economic development and
reduces pressure on the environment?

12. A BALANCING ACT
37%
Required increase in food
calories to feed 9.800
million people by 2050
18% Required increase in yield
to fulfil food needs
24%
Required increase in
water withdrawals to fulfil
food needs
While maintaining
economic development
& reducing
environmental impact

13. PROBLEMS & TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS
Ø Reduce water usage in agriculture.
v Improve irrigation efficiency.
ü Sensors, IoT and Genetic engineering.

14. PROBLEMS & TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS
Ø Increase crop yield.
v Use environmental neutral fertilizers and pesticides.
ü Biotechnology & Green Chemistry.

15. PROBLEMS & TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS
Ø Reduce land use.
v Use non-farmland.
ü Efficient hydroculture (hydroponic).

16. PROBLEMS & TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS
Ø Freshwater is a limited local resource.
v Diversify the supply of freshwater.
ü Efficient desalinisation.

17. PROBLEMS & TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS
Ø One out of every four calories produced is lost or wasted
between the farm and the fork.
v Reduce food loss and waste post-harvest.
ü Safe and green pesticides and preservatives to prevent the food
from rotten.

18. PROBLEMS & TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS
Ø Meat is inefficient from a land use perspective.
v Reduce meat consumption.
ü Engineered animal protein (3D printing).

19. GODSPEED

20. FROM SCIENCE TO BUSINESS
FROM
BUSINESS
TO SCIENCE