Biotech can provide solutions to the global food crisis. Here’s how

The author asserts that current global food systems are unsustainable, contributing to over a third of global greenhouse gas emissions. Biotechnology is presented as a critical tool for the green transition, specifically through the development of plant-based and cultivated proteins to replace livestock-based foods, and the use of biosolutions like biofertilisers. While the US and Singapore have approved cultivated meat, the author claims Europe lags behind due to lengthy pre-market authorisation processes. To accelerate this transition, the document recommends increasing R&I investment, de-risking technology scale-ups for SMEs, shortening approval times, and incentivising sustainable solutions via mechanisms like carbon pricing.

• Global food systems are a major driver of climate change, accounting for more than 33% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and are currently unable to provide sustainable, healthy diets for a population exceeding 8 billion people.
• The deployment of biosolutions, specifically probiotic feed additives, biopesticides, and biofertilisers, has the potential to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by 8% by 2030.
• Replacing meat-based proteins with alternative proteins could reduce land use, water use, and global warming by more than 80% within Europe.
• Regulatory hurdles in Europe have prevented cultivated meat from reaching the market, contrasting with the US and Singapore, where such products have been approved for human consumption.

APA

Baiget, M. K. T. K. K. E. (2023). Biotech can provide solutions to the global food crisis. Here’s how. World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/stories/food-water-air/davos23-biotech-provide-solutions-global-food-crisis/

Chicago

Baiget, Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, Kasim Kutay, Ester. Biotech can provide solutions to the global food crisis. Here’s how. World Economic Forum, 2023. https://www.weforum.org/stories/food-water-air/davos23-biotech-provide-solutions-global-food-crisis/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Baiget |first1=Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, Kasim Kutay, Ester |title=Biotech can provide solutions to the global food crisis. Here’s how |publisher=World Economic Forum |date=17 January 2023 |url=https://www.weforum.org/stories/food-water-air/davos23-biotech-provide-solutions-global-food-crisis/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{baiget2023biotech, author = {Baiget, Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, Kasim Kutay, Ester}, title = {{Biotech can provide solutions to the global food crisis. Here’s how}}, publisher = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2023}, month = jan, url = {https://www.weforum.org/stories/food-water-air/davos23-biotech-provide-solutions-global-food-crisis/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }