March 10, 2010

Food technology to help meet population demand by 2050

Technology that can enhance food production will be a significant asset in order to feed a world population projected to surpass 9 billion people by 2050, according to Ted Schroeder, university distinguished professor of agricultural economics, Kansas State University.

Dramatically increased food prices around the world in recent years, social unrest over food scarcity in countries like Argentina, Bangladesh, Egypt, Mozambique and many others - combined with a growing world population - are raising the question what will it take to feed the world's population 40 years from now, Schroeder said.

He cites how Iowa's corn yields sped past Italy's when Iowa farmers embraced yield-enhancing, genetically modified corn varieties that have been shunned by Italy and much of the EU.

He said, "Technology discovery, technology development and technology adoption are huge in terms of food prices, who will produce the food and how we're going to feed the world."

Although genetically modifying crops is not a new technology, Schroeder said advanced abilities for DNA gene mapping - especially in animal populations - is a promising area of development.

However, one of the biggest challenges to food technologies that could feed a growing population is reduced support for research and development.