182
As population groups become more affluent, they eat more processed food and
increase their protein consumption to replace plant-produced proteins. As a result,
we find the 35% increase in population will require almost 100% increase in crop
production to meet the shifting diet and nutritional needs.
2
Climate has always had
a significant impact on agriculture from regional droughts to early frosts and excessive rains destroying entire harvests. Access is still the most significant contributor
to famine and hunger. Globally we produce enough food but due to lack of infrastructure, geopolitical conflicts, and spoilage, we are unable to efficiently get it to
those in need.
2
Finally, as a society, we do not utilize our food resources well. Food
Fig. 7.4 Growth in land and labor productivity (1961–2005). (Source: OECD Library Global and
US Trends in Agricultural R&D in a Global Food Security Setting 2012 DC Donnan analysis)
Fig. 7.3 Increase in agricultural output required (to meet projected demand). (Source: The future
of food and agriculture, FAO Rome 2017 DC Donnan analysis)
D. Donnan