The human population is always increasing. Projections state that there will be more than 9 billion people by 2050. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development calls for zero hunger worldwide by 2030. Since food security is a complex issue in the US as well as globally, it is important to answer this call for more food. How might we make progress toward that goal? Farmers in the United States exported about 14% of the corn crop (over 2 billion bushels) in the 2018-19 marketing year, according to the US Grains Council. Our top customers are Mexico (31 percent), Japan (25 percent) and Colombia (9 percent). This corn is used for animal feed, food and other industrial uses.
How do population demographics impact food supplies? How might we feed this growing population?
Resources on Nourish the Future
- Populations are growing at different rates in different countries. (Population age structures lesson)
- Food supply and demand will change across this time period. (Demographic transition lesson)
- Food security is a complex issue, but making the connections between science and growth in food production will be critical especially in places that cannot grow their own food supplies. (Farming for the future lesson)