By 2050, the world’s population is likely to increase by more than 35 percent, to 9 billion people. To feed that population, food production will need to increase significantly, by 70 percent,[1] in the fear of growing poverty and hunger, ever scarcer natural resources, and the uncertainties of climate change.
While improvements are expected in the coming years to the global availability of and access to food, many countries will continue to struggle with undernourishment and increasingly complex forms of malnutrition. Recognizing the vulnerability of food production systems to the adverse impacts of climate change, 195 countries agreed to take measures under the Paris Agreement (COP21).[2]
Solving the world’s looming food crisis will require substantial investments in agriculture research. Innovation holds the keys to improving agriculture efficiency and productivity. Investments in innovation made over the past several decades have developed new products and procedures that have been critical to the continued growth of American agriculture, a process which must be accelerated.