Feeding the World

Abstract

The worldwide production of foodstuffs has increased modestly over the past 10-20 years. Although, in general, the countries in Asia and the Communist bloc (Walters, 1966) have contributed relatively little to this increase, the western nations as a group, and particularly the United States, have played a major role in this advance. The United States has been, unquestionably, the leader in developing the new agricultural technology that has been responsible for this increase. Bioscientists of many kinds have a vital role in the technological innovations that have made this growth possible. The challenge for the future, however, is even greater. The present world population, estimated to be 3 billion people, is expected to grow at the rate of 2.5% per year, which would result in a population of 5.3 billion by 1970. The most significant problem associated with this rapid population increase is that, in the past, worldwide food supply has only risen at the rate of 0.5% per year (Furtick, 1965; Hegsted, 1965; Krieger, 1962; West, 1965). Thus, the challenge of the future for the bioscientist engaged in agriculture-related research is unquestionably much greater than that of the past. Almost every biological discipline has some pertinence to scientific agriculture. Nearly all foodstuffs are ultimately derived from the joint efforts of many different bioscientists, since we are dealing with complex biological systems plants and animals. The spectacular evolution of American agriculture also demonstrates the power of another kind of teamwork: cooperation of biologists in universities, industry, and government research centers. Many people are aware that extensive research to improve food, animal, and crop production is carried out at agricultural colleges and government research centers. Perhaps not so well known are the extensive research programs that are carried out in the industrial companies whose business impinges on agriculture. Industry also supports financially many projects at universities. During 1960-61 in the United States, 33% of the total research and development funds and 58% of the money used for research on food, agriculture, and forestry were supplied by industry. Industry spent $10.5 billion of the total $14 billion provided from all sources (Tables 1 and 2). The industrial biologist therefore has a very large role in the research program conducted to improve the production of foods.