Publication Date
1997
Description
Increases in world population, projected to rise to 8 billion by 2020, and the resultant demand for food places great pressure on our agricultural and aquacultural resources. Anxiety about the future is exacerbated by decreasing grain stocks. Production increases of many commodities are projected to be between 1 and 2% per annum and will generally be higher in developing than in developed countries. Cultivatable land area will increase in some areas of the world but not in others. To cope with these challenges, yield increases will be essential and the application of existing knowledge and technologies will not suffice. Accelerated investment in agricultural research will be essential. This research must consider sustainability of production systems, the environmental consequences and, in particular, appropriate technology in less favoured agroecological zones, much of it related to grasslands. Significant public investment in research will still be necessary. Biotechnology should be given a high priority. Land degradation and continuing deforestation will have to be avoided. Increasing and correct use of inorganic fertilizers and greater efficiency in utilization of water resources will also be necessary. Open marketing systems and confusion over the role of governments in this issue must be avoided in future. Providing the appropriate level of aid to developing countries is another challenge. Matching food production with human food requirements will be met provided national and international leaders commit themselves to specific changes in behavior, priorities and policies.
Citation
Andersen, Per Pinstrup and Lorch, Rajul Pandya, "A Vison of the Future World Food Production and Implications for the Environment and Grasslands" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 3.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1997/openingspeeches/3
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
A Vison of the Future World Food Production and Implications for the Environment and Grasslands
Increases in world population, projected to rise to 8 billion by 2020, and the resultant demand for food places great pressure on our agricultural and aquacultural resources. Anxiety about the future is exacerbated by decreasing grain stocks. Production increases of many commodities are projected to be between 1 and 2% per annum and will generally be higher in developing than in developed countries. Cultivatable land area will increase in some areas of the world but not in others. To cope with these challenges, yield increases will be essential and the application of existing knowledge and technologies will not suffice. Accelerated investment in agricultural research will be essential. This research must consider sustainability of production systems, the environmental consequences and, in particular, appropriate technology in less favoured agroecological zones, much of it related to grasslands. Significant public investment in research will still be necessary. Biotechnology should be given a high priority. Land degradation and continuing deforestation will have to be avoided. Increasing and correct use of inorganic fertilizers and greater efficiency in utilization of water resources will also be necessary. Open marketing systems and confusion over the role of governments in this issue must be avoided in future. Providing the appropriate level of aid to developing countries is another challenge. Matching food production with human food requirements will be met provided national and international leaders commit themselves to specific changes in behavior, priorities and policies.
