Two dynamics are driving global demand for food: 1) A growing population; and 2) Rising global affluence. But with the large productivity gains of the ‘green revolution’ far behind us, can production keep up with demand?
Other issues threaten the global supply of food, including water scarcity, overfishing, soil erosion, energy depletion and climate change. It looks like the world could be running head-first into a Malthusian check.
Many wrote Thomas Malthus’ theories off decades ago, however it can be argued that massive cheap energy discoveries merely delayed the inevitable by subsidizing food production. After-all, who can argue that exponential growth can last forever?
Science examines these challenges and suggests an approach feeding a world population of 9 billion.
