Food is an essential part of life. However, with the increasing population and the effects of global warming weighing on cultivated areas, it is getting harder for millions of people to access the food they need.

In a research-based report, the EU Standing Committee on Agriculture Research (SCAR) drew attention to the Earth's capacity to feed its inhabitants. According to the report: "Many of today's food production systems compromise the capacity of Earth to produce food in the future. Globally, and in many regions including Europe, food production is exceeding environmental limits or is close to doing so. Nitrogen synthesis exceeds the planetary boundary by a factor of four and phosphorus use has reached the planetary boundary. Land use change and land degradation, and the dependence on fossil energy contribute about one-fourth of greenhouse gas emissions. Agriculture, including fisheries, is the single-largest driver of biodiversity loss. Regionally, water extracted by irrigation exceeds the replenishment of the resource."

As cultivated areas become less efficient, the world will have a hard time producing enough food to sustain the population, adding millions and even billions to those who are already unable to access enough food to sustain themselves.

Turkey is one of the countries that will be affected the most by global climate change. The effects have already started to manifest themselves with floods and unexpected hail storms damaging crops. In a world where food shortage is high and crops are threatened by the changing climate, the methods for sustainable food are crucial.

Speaking at the 4th Food Conference in Istanbul, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Bekir Pakdemirli said it is possible to end world hunger by 2030 if the world realizes the importance of sustainable agriculture.

"To end world hunger in the coming years, the key is sustainable cultivation, which can be achieved through investments in rural areas, ending food waste and educating farmers," said Pakdemirli.

Pakdemirli also said the ministry is preparing an action plan to preserve water and energy sources as well as sustainable food and food safety.

The world's population is expected to reach almost 10 billion by 2050, which will increase the global demand for food by 50 percent. As the need for food increases, cultivated areas are being destroyed by erosion, climate change and civil wars around the world.

"Around the world, 821 million people are facing hunger and almost 3 percent of them are living in Africa. As a country that is aware of the problem, Turkey is lending a helping hand to African countries, to which President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan gives great importance. We are continuing to help stop world hunger and food waste, which is one of the biggest problems of industrialized countries," said Pakdemirli.