Global food supply: a challenge for sustainable agriculture

Summary A major challenge for the future is to satisfy the nutritional needs of a much increased global population and to produce the additional food using less land, water and energy. Much of this increased food production will be from emerging developing countries. Sustainable intensive food production systems employing new genetic and precision technologies will be essential for this purpose. Food prices are likely to remain at a higher level and be more volatile than in the past and this will impact most on vulnerable poor people in the developing world. This is a major concern and should be a priority for action both nationally and internationally. So, while it is feasible to deliver the forecast of 70% increase in food supplies required by 2050, this will only be sustainable if the significant challenges of resource limitation and climate change are met, and the environmental and social impacts minimised.