The problem of feeding the world is compounded by the fact that population was increasing at a rate of nearly 85 million persons per year at the end of the twentieth century. That rate of increase is roughly equivalent to adding a country the size of Germany to the world every year. Compounding the problem of feeding the world are population redistribution patterns and changing food consumption standards. By 2001, the world had exceeded the six billion mark, and the world population was projected to reach approximately ten billion people by 2050 four billion people more than were on the earth in 2000. Most of the increase in world population was expected to occur within the developing nations.
Urbanization
Along with an increase in population in developing nations is massive urbanization. City dwellers are food consumers, not food producers. The exodus of young men and women from rural areas has given rise to a new series of megacities, most of which are in developing countries. By the year 2015, twenty-six cities in the world are expected to have populations of ten million people or more.
When rural dwellers move to cities, they tend to change their dietary composition and food-consumption patterns. Qualitative changes in dietary consumption standards are positive, for the most part, and are a result of educational efforts of modern nutritional scientists working in developing countries. During the last four decades of the twentieth century a tremendous shift took place in overall dietary habits. Dietary changes and consumption trends have contributed to a decrease in child mortality, an increase in longevity, and a greater resistance to disease. This globalization of people's diets has resulted in increased demands for higher quality, greater quantity, and more nutritious basic foods.
Perspectives
Humanity is entering a time of volatility in food production and distribution. The world will produce enough food to meet the demands of those who can afford to buy food. In many countries, however, food production is unlikely to keep pace with increases in the demand for food by growing populations. The food gap the difference between production and demand could more than double in the first three decades of the twenty-first century. Such a development would increase the dependence of developing countries on food imports. About 90 percent of the rate of increase in aggregate food demand in the early twenty-first century is expected to be the result of population increases. Factors that could lead to larger fluctuations in food availability include weather variations, such as those induced by El Nino and climatic change, the growing scarcity of water, civil strife and political instability, and declining food aid.
See also: Foods from Plants
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