Sustainable food and agriculture puts new business in the pipeline

Companies could unlock 2.3 trillion US dollars per year with increased investments in new, sustainable business models. As well as fertilizing the soil for 80 million new jobs, many of which in the developing world.

These are a few of the conclusions in a brand new report released by the UN’s Business and Sustainable Development Commission. Among other things, this will come from savings sustained through implementing new and improved business models and technologies in agriculture.

One of the areas looked at revolves around a more water efficient way of irrigating. Agriculture as a sector uses roughly 70 per cent of the world’s combined water resources, and by using resources more efficiently, overconsumption can be avoided and yield can be improved. Technologies highlighted includes drip irrigation and increased use of sprinklers. Technologies, which save water and improve yield, giving more crop per drop. Applying these technologies can save net withdrawals from 250 billion to 300 billion cubic meters of water in 2030.

The report estimates that up to 85 billion US dollars can be tapped into by investing in improved micro-irrigation.

Grundfos can play a part in unlocking the potential, for instance via our solar powered submersible pumps, the SQFlex, and through our solutions for drip irrigation.

The Business and Sustainable Development Commission is an organization aiming at supporting the fulfilment of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals by finding and proposing feasible business models which can support them. The report concerning food and agriculture is part of that work and precedes a larger report where the commission’s recommendations are put forward. This is expected during 2017.

The commissioners include former Deputy Secretary-General of the UN, Lord Mark Malloch-Brown, Unilever CEO, Paul Polman, and CEO of Grundfos, Mads Nipper.

Sustainable business models make sense! A newly released report from the Business and Sustainable Development Commission shows how rethinking the food and agriculture sector can translate into conserving precious resources and creating new jobs.