Billions needed to boost food production, says DuPont committee – ‘One of the greatest challenges facing the human race’
By Carey Gillam; Editing by John Picinich
7 Jun 2011 KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Reuters) – High-tech seeds and innovations in chemicals and farming will not be enough to solve looming food shortages for the world, according to a report issued Tuesday by a committee formed by food and chemicals conglomerate DuPont. Billions of dollars in private investment, government incentives and charitable work must be funneled into collaborative projects if global food production is to match growing demand, the report urged. Both biotech and organic farming will play a role, said the report by the DuPont Advisory Committee on Agricultural Innovation & Productivity for the 21st Century [pdf]. “People are starting to recognize that food demand is outstripping supply,” said DuPont executive vice president Jim Borel, who oversees DuPont’s agriculture and nutrition business. “If the world doesn’t figure out how to effectively deal with this challenge, then the results are ugly,” he said. “It is becoming clear … that society has to figure out ways to work together differently than we ever have.” World economic and agricultural leaders have projected the world’s population will surpass 9 billion by 2050, and 10 billion by the turn of the century. And they have forecast that global food production must jump 70 percent or more to meet demand. Indeed, global grain stocks are currently at historically low levels, sparking high prices for corn, wheat, soy and other crops. Such dire warnings have prompted a rush by investors and public and private groups to buy up agricultural land, and have agriculture seed and chemical companies like DuPont and its competitors rushing to roll out higher-yielding seeds and more potent fertilizers and herbicides. … “There is nothing easy about what we have to do,” said former Sen. Tom Daschle, who chaired the committee. “This is one of the greatest challenges facing the human race.” …
Billions needed to boost food production, says DuPont committee
Stupid idiots.
Why not just limit human population?
So many problems would be solved.
Allowing more humans will NEVER solve anything and can only exacerbate the issues facing humanity.
It's just plain stupid to not deal with overpopulation and the corresponding excessive demand upon global resources.
70%… what a joke. We're not feeding the world adequately NOW.