Feeding a World Population of More than Eight Billion People: A Challenge to Science (Topics in Sustainable Agronomy)

Since the 1960s, breakthroughs in agriculture have made it possible to satisfy the world's increasing requirements for food. Can this trend continue over the next thirty years when the world population is projected to exceed eight billion? This book takes a critical look at the immediate challenges for feeding the population just a generation from now. Based on the 10th International Symposium sponsored by the Nutrition Committee and the Trustees of the Rank Prize Funds, the volume examines the full range of related issues, from food economics to resource allocation and crop yields. Beginning with an analysis of future food needs, the articles cover basic resources and constraints, applications of science to increase yield, the role of animal products in feeding eight billion people, and diverse social issues. The book provides insights into some of the most important questions we will be faced with in the coming years, making it an invaluable resource for a wide range of researchers in agriculture, the environment, and public policy. This Book Takes A Critical Look At The Immediate Challenges For Feeding The Population Just A Generation From Now. Based On The 10th International Symposium Sponsored By The Nutrition Committee And The Trustees Of The Rank Prize Funds, The Volume Examines The Full Range Of Related Issues, From Food Economics To Resource Allocation And Crop Yields. Beginning With An Analysis Of Future Food Needs, The Articles Cover Basic Resources And Constraints, Applications Of Science To Increase Yield, The Role Of Animal Products In Feeding Eight Billion People, And Diverse Social Issues. The Book Provides Insights Into These And Other Important Questions The World Will Be Faced With In The Coming Years, Making It An Invaluable Resource For A Wide Range Of Those Interested In Agriculture, The Environment, And Public Policy.--book Jacket. Part 1: The Challenge -- 1. Needs For Food: Are We Asking Too Much? / J.c. Waterlow -- 2. The Economics Of Food / Partha Dasgupta -- Part 2: Basic Resources And Constraints -- 3. Land Resources And Constraints To Crop Production / D.j. Greenland, P.j. Gregory, And P.h. Nye -- 4. Water And Food In Developing Countries In The Next Century / M. Yudelman -- 5. Energy For Agriculture In The 21st Century / B.a. Stout -- Part 3: Applications Of Science To Increase Yield -- 6. Greater Crop Production: Whence And Whither? / L.t. Evans -- 7. How And When Will Plant Biotechnology Help? / Marc Van Montagu -- 8. What Limits The Efficiency Of Photosynthesis And Can There Be Beneficial Improvements? / J. Barber -- 9. Rubisco: The Key To Improved Crop Production For A World Population Of More Than Eight Billion People? / S.p. Long -- 10. Increasing Rice Productivity By Manipulation Of Starch Biosynthesis During Seed Development / Sang-bong Choi, Et. Al. 11. Improving Yield Potential By Modification Of Plant Type And Through Exploitation Of Heterosis / G.s. Khush, S. Peng, And S.s. Virmani -- 12. Developing Crops With Resistance To Salinity And Drought Stress / D.p.s. Verma -- 13. Prospects For Engineering Enhanced Durable Disease Resistance In Crops / Chris Lamb -- 14. A Systems Perspective On Post-harvest Losses / M. Gill And N. Poulter -- Part Iv: The Role Of Animal Products In Feeding Eight Billion People -- 15. Significance Of Dietary Protein Source In Human Nutrition: Animal And/or Plant Proteins? / Vernon R. Young, Nevin S. Scrimshaw, And Peter L. Pellett -- 16. Competition Between Livestock And Man For Nutrients: Let Ruminants Eat Grass / H.a. Fitzhugh -- 17. Animals And The Human Food Chain / R.b. Heap -- Part 5: Social Aspects -- 18. Practical Innovation: Partnerships Between Scientists And Farmers / G.r. Conway -- 19. Productivity, Poverty Alleviation And Food Security / Donald L. Winkelmann. Edited By J.c. Waterlow ... [et Al.]. Based On Papers Presented At A Symposium Sponsored By The Rank Prize Funds Held In Ferndown, Dorset, United Kingdom, Dec. 6-9, 1996. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict Contents 8 Contributors 10 Introductory Remarks 14 Part I: The Challenge 18 1 Needs for Food: Are We Asking Too Much? 20 2 The Economics of Food 36 Part II: Basic Resources and Constraints 54 3 Land Resources and Constraints to Crop Production 56 4 Water and Food in Developing Countries in the Next Century 73 5 Energy for Agriculture in the Twenty-first Century 86 Part III: Applications for Science to Increase Yield 104 6 Greater Crop Production: Whence and Whither? 106 7 How and When Will Plant Biotechnology Help? 115 8 What Limits the Efficiency of Photosynthesis, and Can There Be Beneficial Improvements? 124 9 Rubisco: The Key to Improved Crop Production for a World Population of More Than Eight Billion People? 141 10 Increasing Rice Productivity by Manipulation of Starch Biosynthesis during Seed Development 154 11 Improving Yield Potential by Modifying Plant Type and Exploiting Heterosis 167 12 Developing Crops with Tolerance to Salinity and Drought Stress 188 13 Prospects for Engineering Enhanced Durable Discase Resistance in Crops 200 14 A Systems Perspective on Postharvest Losses 208 Part IV: The Role of Animal Products in Feeding Eight Billion People 220 15 Significance of Dietary Protein Source in Human Nutrition: Animal and/or Plant Proteins? 222 16 Competition between Livestock and Mankind for Nutrients: Let Ruminants Eat Grass 240 17 Animals and the Human Food Chain 249 Part V: Social Aspects 264 18 Practical innovation: Partnerships between Scientists and Farmers 266 19 Productivity, Poverty Alleviation, and Food Security 281 Index 290 A 290 B 290 C 291 D 291 E 292 F 292 G 292 H 293 I 293 J 293 K 293 L 293 M 294 N 294 O 294 P 295 Q 295 R 295 S 296 T 296 U 297 V 297 W 297 Z 297 Since the 1960s, breakthroughs in agriculture have made it possible to satisfy the world's increasing requirements for food. Can this trend continue over the next thirty years when the world population is projected to exceed eight billion?This book takes a critical look at the immediate challenges for feeding the population just a generation from now. Based on the 10th International Symposium sponsored by the Nutrition Committee and the Trustees of the Rank Prize Funds, the volume examines the full range of related issues, from food economics to resource allocation and crop yields. Beginning with an analysis of future food needs, the articles cover basic resources and constraints, applications of science to increase yield, the role of animal products in feeding eight billion people, and diverse social issues. The book provides insights into these and other important questions the world will be faced with in the coming years, making it an invaluable resource for a wide range of those interested in agriculture, the environment, and public policy. Since the 1960s the steadily increasing availability of food, arising from the application of new agricultural science, has exceeded the demands created by the growth in size of the human population of the world. However, the 1990 world population of 5.5 billion is projected to grow to 10 billion by 2050. Can the future demand for food be satisfied? This book, based on the proceedings of the 10th International Symposium sponsored by the Nutrition Committee and the Trustees of the Rank Prize Funds, addresses the question of how to feed the projected population a generation from now and discusses the challenges this presents This text, based on the proceedings of the 10th International Symposium sponsored by the Nutrition Committee and the Trustees of the Rank Prize Funds in 1996, addresses the question of how to feed a projected world population of 10 billion people a generation from now