Food production is going to have to increase by more than 70% by the time we reach 2050, according to the United Nations. 

So for the first episode of The Optimist Jack Sheeran takes a look at innovations that could revolutionise what food we eat and how it's produced, including: vertical farming, vegetarian meat and insects & bugs.

Get in touch by dropping us a voice message at: https://anchor.fm/the-optimist or send us an email via: theoptimistpodcast@gmail.com. 

Want to know more? Check out these sources we used to make this episode: 

World’s population expected to hit 8.5 billion by 2030: https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/blog/2015/07/un-projects-world-population-to-reach-8-5-billion-by-2030-driven-by-growth-in-developing-countries/  How to feed the world by 2050: http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/templates/wsfs/docs/expert_paper/How_to_Feed_the_World_in_2050.pdf How much food does the world need? https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2015/05/food-how-much-does-the-world-need/ Food Loss & Food Waste: http://www.fao.org/food-loss-and-food-waste/en/ Vertical Harvest: https://www.verticalharvestjackson.com/ BBC Vertical Farming: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20170405-how-vertical-farming-reinvents-agriculture Underground mushroom farm: https://www.businessinsider.com/underground-farm-paris-grows-vegetables-cycloponics-la-caverne-2017-12?r=US&IR=T Aerofarms: https://aerofarms.com/ Why vertical farming is growing in the UK: https://www.fwi.co.uk/arable/crop-management/why-vertical-farming-is-growing-in-the-uk Number of vegetarians in UK: https://vegsoc.org/info-hub/facts-and-figures/ Impossible foods: https://impossiblefoods.com/heme/ Quorn: https://www.quorn.co.uk/company Quarter of evening meals vegan/vegetarian: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42973870 Ultra-processed fake meat: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/feb/12/quorn-revolution-rise-ultra-processed-fake-meat Third of Britons have stopped/reduced eating meat: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/nov/01/third-of-britons-have-stopped-or-reduced-meat-eating-vegan-vegetarian-report Modern Entomophagy: https://people.howstuffworks.com/entomophagy2.htm Edible Insects Farming: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/insect-farming IKEA tries out insects: https://www.businessinsider.com/ikea-making-burgers-hot-dogs-meatballs-bugs-2018-3?r=US&IR=T#the-flavors-include-coriander-basil-and-mint-theyre-sweetened-with-apple-juice-fresh-apples-and-lemon-juice-space10-also-makes-popsicles-for-dessert-10 Bug burgers in Switzerland: https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2017/08/16/bug-burgers-switzerland-says-insects-whats-dinner/572553001/ The Grub Kitchen: http://www.grubkitchen.co.uk/ Growth in number of insects being eaten: https://www.foodmanufacture.co.uk/Article/2016/04/21/Insects-as-human-food-set-for-tasty-growth What is Quorn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wlprJOfNDA Heme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=53&v=n6U4H8WC9jg&feature=emb_title Quorn Mince: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQ7Nfyt0qkw Subpod: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_3VUDXbGH0 Aerofarms: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgH3HGqJqFY