How to Feed 9.6 Billion People

IO9 has a great article on the future of feeding the world as our population reaches numbers never before seen.  

A comprehensive study suggests that food production is not on track to keep up with population growth. That means food prices are going to rise in coming decades. This trend could also reverse the progress we’ve made in world food security.

Previous studies have shown that we’ll need to boost current yields by 60% to 110% to meet rising demand and ensure food security. That means global crop production will have to double by 2050 if we hope to meet the needs of the 9.6 billion people projected to populate the Earth by that point.

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As noted, these effects will be particularly severe for low-income countries with rapidly rising populations. Guatemala is particularly problematic example — a country with a corn-dependent population on the rise, while corn production goes into decline.

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“Now, that said, we have the potential to feed the world,” he says. “We have more than enough land, sunlight, water, and nutrients. The number one problem is that many fields, particularly in poor countries, don’t produce nearly as much food as they could.”

Sadly I already know what the solution to this problem will be, GMO.  Not a good solution, but the one the world ends up going with sadly.  The better solution is start using propaganda for good and indoctrinate human beings to believe that growing their own food is the solution.  

Teach people to start their own gardens, use whatever space they have available to grow food.  I have less then ten feet by two feet of soil outside of my one bedroom apartment, every square inch is used for growing vegetables.  If you have a yard, you have more than enough space to feed your family.  

After going over some possible solutions to this problems the articles goes on to say:

In addition to these two approaches, Naam says we should reduce food waste (an estimated 25% of all food gets thrown out!) and reduce the ‘meat burden.’ He’s a bit dubious about the last point, but feels that more work should be done to develop vat grown meat.

Which is a great suggestion, stop wasting food and we'll have more to go around.  As far as the vat meat, I'd rather be a vegetarian!

Read the entire report here...