Prospects for feeding the world

In 1950 the world's population numbered 2.5 billion. In 1999 it is around 6 billion. It will be roughly 8 billion by 2025. And it could reach between 9 and 10 billion by the middle of the coming century. Arguably this is the most important development of our time, with immense implications for the global environment and the prospects for feeding the world. Methods: This paper addresses the prospects for feeding the world to the year 2025. It builds on the results of a two year research fellowship funded by the UK Economic and Social Research Council. The data used through­ out were those provided by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation and the UN Population Fund. As well as analysing statistical data, the research involved talking to technical specialists and farmers throughout the world.