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© The Author(s) 2021
H. Campos (ed.), The Innovation Revolution in Agriculture,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-50991-0_7
Chapter 7
Innovation and the Quest to Feed
the World
David Donnan
7.1 Introduction
Our ability to feed a growing population has been the topic of government policymakers, economists, NGOs, and most obviously the agriculture community for centuries. In this chapter, we explore the history of hunger relief efforts from
communities, religious organizations, and governments and now toward private corporations and innovative agriculture startups. While global levels of hunger and
malnutrition have dropped significantly in the last few decades, there are concerns
that agricultural advancements and R&D spending are not enough to unlock the true
agricultural potential of the millions of smallholder farmers in rural and developing
nations. Government spending on agricultural R&D has decreased in the last decade
and many of the large-scale NGO activities are now focusing on environmental and
sustainability issues. A renewed focus by private corporations’ CSR initiatives,
coupled with NGOs and startup entrepreneurs, is offering a new approach to innovations in hunger relief.
7.2 Global Issues of Hunger and Malnutrition
Throughout history, agriculture innovation and hunger relief have always been
closely connected. The advent of perennial agriculture led to the first permanent
settlements over 10,000 years ago, creating the first reliable source of food (Diamond
1998). Agriculture supplied a more stable source of food and nutrients to the early
hunter-gatherers and provided the foundation of tribal governance, work rules, tool
development, and culture for early civilizations in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa.
D. Donnan (*)
Kearney, Chicago, IL, USA
e-mail: Dave.Donnan@kearney.com
© The Author(s) 2021
H. Campos (ed.), The Innovation Revolution in Agriculture,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-50991-0_7
Chapter 7
Innovation and the Quest to Feed
the World
David Donnan
7.1 Introduction
Our ability to feed a growing population has been the topic of government policymakers, economists, NGOs, and most obviously the agriculture community for centuries. In this chapter, we explore the history of hunger relief efforts from
communities, religious organizations, and governments and now toward private corporations and innovative agriculture startups. While global levels of hunger and
malnutrition have dropped significantly in the last few decades, there are concerns
that agricultural advancements and R&D spending are not enough to unlock the true
agricultural potential of the millions of smallholder farmers in rural and developing
nations. Government spending on agricultural R&D has decreased in the last decade
and many of the large-scale NGO activities are now focusing on environmental and
sustainability issues. A renewed focus by private corporations’ CSR initiatives,
coupled with NGOs and startup entrepreneurs, is offering a new approach to innovations in hunger relief.
7.2 Global Issues of Hunger and Malnutrition
Throughout history, agriculture innovation and hunger relief have always been
closely connected. The advent of perennial agriculture led to the first permanent
settlements over 10,000 years ago, creating the first reliable source of food (Diamond
1998). Agriculture supplied a more stable source of food and nutrients to the early
hunter-gatherers and provided the foundation of tribal governance, work rules, tool
development, and culture for early civilizations in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa.
D. Donnan (*)
Kearney, Chicago, IL, USA
e-mail: Dave.Donnan@kearney.com