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We can feed 9 billion people in 2050

Posted: 12 January 2011

The 9 billion people projected to inhabit the Earth by 2050 need not starve in order to preserve the environment, says a major report on sustainability out this week. (New Scientist)
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn19947-we-can-feed-9-billion-people-in-2050.html?DCMP=OTC-rss&nsref=online-news

'PERFECT STORM' OF SHORTAGES AVERTED

Predictions of a global lack of food, water and energy prove false

Dateline: 1 September 2029

Once again, Malthusian famine and thirst have been forecast - and failed to materialize. Twenty years ago, Professor John Beddington, the UK government's chief scientific adviser, warned of a looming crisis: The world would run out of food, fuel and water by 2030. The primary cause of this 'Perfect Storm' was cited as population growth. Was this a storm in a teacup, or did the warning ...

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Wolfgang Grulke You say "Population growth can only be moderated by increasingly affluent and educated communities " - remember that there is one other way - legislation, as in China - may not be morally acceptable but very effective! In an increasingly chaotic world we may well see the rise of totalitarian regimes tempted to use this approach.

Posted: 16 January 2011 at 13:02

Doug Vining Population growth can only be moderated by increasingly affluent and educated communities. Italy and Japan have already plateaued. Of course, emerging economies like India and Pakistan will take longer to reach a plateau, but it's a natural progression, and not something that can be successfully engineered.

Anton, By 2050 we might well have most urban food produced in hydroponic factories and grown in vats, which like fish farming should be designed to withstand flooding!

Posted: 16 January 2011 at 12:07

Merek Svacha I know this may be controversial but would it not be more achievable to "moderate" population growth? Mother earth can carry the 9 billion but with "what quality of life"- less is more?

Posted: 15 January 2011 at 20:29

Anton Musgrave Don't forget or underestimate the impact of Black Swan weather impacts on agricultural areas...China floods, India floods, Brazil floods, South Africa floods, Australia floods...and that was last week!

Posted: 15 January 2011 at 10:21

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