According to United Nations Food & Agricultural Organization (FAO), “By 2050 the world’s population will reach 9.1 billion, 34 percent higher than today. Nearly all of this population increase will occur in developing countries. Urbanization will continue at an accelerated pace, and about 70 percent of the world’s population will be urban (compared to 49 percent today). To feed this larger, more urban and richer population, [global] food production must increase by 70 percent.” To support this food production growth, 80% must come out of increased yields from agriculture through agricultural innovation, as the possible expansion of agricultural land is limited.
Dr. Alex McCalla, Professor Emeritus of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of California Davis described this situation in his presentation on Global Food Trends – The Production & Trade Challenges at the California Agricultural Summit this past January. This is not just a matter of feeding more people, but global economic and political stability is strongly dependent on it.
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