Dlott on the true meaning of "more with less, save the rest" for agriculture
“More with less, save the rest.” The three key concepts set forth in this phrase have been at the center of many recent domestic and international conversations about the future of agriculture. The discussion regarding the first concept follows the logic that food production will need to double by 2050 to meet demand. This will be due to an overall increase in the global population coupled with increases in the consumption of animal protein, fruits, and vegetables as the standard of living, especially in developing countries, steadily rises.
The “less” concept is often framed as the need to use resources including water, energy, fertilizers, and other inputs more efficiently. To meet projected demand, yields per acre will need to increase, as there is not enough land that could or should be brought under agricultural production. In addition, in many regions there is a lack of availability of resources, most notably water, that places constraints on using more resources to produce more food. The “save the rest” notion argues that there is a global economic, environmental, and social need to conserve remaining forests, grasslands, and other natural ecosystems as well as protect important resources like drinking water.
Another perspective on what “more with less, save the rest” means is that many farmers and ranchers are already producing more than food, including environmental and social benefits that are increasingly being referred to as “ecosystems services.”
