Natural Resources Trend

In coming decades, public and private entities will work together to answer the growing need for food and water worldwide. Yet sheer population growth isn’t the only reason we’ll need more food. The economic prosperity across the world, especially in emerging markets, has generated financial means to elevate dietary habits, adding more pressure to grow more corn and soybeans to feed farm animals. This duo of population growth and richer diets will require farmers to double the number of crops they grow by mid-century.

However, the demand for natural resources extends beyond food as we need infrastructure to support the demographic and economic expansions. Investments in housing, healthcare, transportation, energy and communication will consume trillions of tons of earth's natural materials in the coming decades.

As some of the materials we use are finite and non-recyclable, scarcity and rising prices will be issues that will spur innovation in eco-efficiency across different industries and sectors. The concept is simple, produce more from less. Win-win, as costs and resources are saved.