Food with Thought
the vast majority of population growth is in the underdeveloped countries, most Western nations are flat or even declining (Japan, Germany, Italy). These countries are least able to provide for themselves, and any intensification of agricultural production on given land requires investment and know how which they do not have. Population growth has reached critical mass, we are expecting 1 billion more people on the planet within the next 12 years, given current patterns.
I also agree with Hates, harsh as it may sound, that more food means more people in countries that do not have either an educated population or a population policy in place. That is a vicious circle no one has an answer for.
In regard to total calories produced at global level; the number is misleading. 50% of all grains are used for animal fodder. The calorie conversion rate for beef is 15:1, for pork 6:1, poultry 5:1. Also much of the food in underdeveloped countries goes to waste, between inadequate transport, storage, distribution systems.
We are now experiencing a convergence of influence factors: population growth, environmental damage (30% of greenhouse gases come from agriculture, ground water depletion), and a nutrition related health crisis. All 3 lead towards a clear path of changing diets in the developed world, and we don't know yet to what in the crisis countries.
