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Biotech critical for meeting future food demand, experts say

[/title][fusion_text]Tuesday, March 1st 2016

A top scientist at USDA, a Monsanto executive and other experts agreed Monday that improving on existing biotechnology and developing new agriculture practices are vital to meeting increased global food demand by mid-century – but they didn’t say it’ll be easy. Catherine Woteki, under secretary and chief scientist at USDA’s Office of Research, Education and Economics, told attendees at the Energy Department’s Innovation Summit near Washington Monday that ag researchers are diligently looking for ways to develop row crops that yield more, with fewer inputs. That’s because by 2050, the world’s population is expected to grow to 9.1 billion people, from about 7 billion now; and with it will come a 70 percent increase in demand for food production, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. By 2100, current research suggests that number will jump to 11.5 billion. To meet those demands, Woteki says producers will have to use less land to grow more food – and that’s where more efficient crops come in. Woteki suggested greater efforts at limiting food waste, both in developing countries – where food can be contaminated or destroyed by rodents, other pests, and disease – and in developed countries, where food is more often thrown out by consumers – would be a feasible interim step to make sure more food that’s ready to eat, is eaten. According to the Environmental Defense Fund, 40 percent of food in the U.S. is never eaten, amounting to $165 billion a year in waste. Worldwide, between 30 and 40 percent of food produced – worth about $1 trillion – is never eaten, says the World Resources Institute. Getting food to where it needs to go can also be difficult because of political or physical barriers, but that needs to change, too, Woteki added. Preuss and Fischhoff suggested ag data and technology sharing might be a good way to either break down those barriers, or to teach subsistence and small-scale farmers in developing countries how best to use their resources and maximize yields.

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