Norwegian Journal of Agricultural Sciences : production of vegetable and animal foods from a resource point of view

Abstract

The hominoids, living in the tropical foresis millions of years ago. were mainly herbivorous, but a gradual change in food availability has resulted in the omnivorous Homo sapiens. Since the introduction of agriculture , cereal grains and tubers have become important, first for direct consumption, and later also as a basis for animal foods. An example is post-war Japan. The availability of plant foods decreases from south to north. so farm animal foods are more important energy sources in northern than in southern Europe. In the USA and NW Europe there were trends towards a saturation in demand for animal foods during the I970s, while there were no signs of this in S Europe and the USSR. Larger areas of land are needed for mixed diets than for vegetarian diets. Climate is a natural resource which can cause considerable yearly variation in crop yields. Agricultural technology in combination with commercial energy has contributed to an increased supply of animal foods, especially through increased grain yields. The prospects for sufficient grain production are good, provided sufficient energy is available.