The Rising Influence of Rising Affluence

[DewDiligence]

Re: World consumption of protein foods

http://www.wsj.com/articles/how-to-satisfy-the-worlds-surging-appetite-for-meat-1449238059

Rising household incomes among rapidly growing populations of developing countries are expected to whet the world’s appetite for meat. Global meat production nearly quadrupled over the past 50 years, while the population only slightly more than doubled. Over the next 35 years the world will need to increase meat production by another two-thirds as global GDP roughly doubles, according to United Nations projections.

…Food producers face a monumental task. At current consumption rates, the world would need to generate 455 million metric tons of meat annually by 2050, when the global population is expected to reach 9.7 billion, from 7.3 billion today.

Given today’s agricultural productivity, growing the crops to feed all of that poultry, beef and other livestock would require every acre of the planet’s cropland—leaving no room for raising the grains, fruits and vegetables that humans also need.

The solution: biotechnology—i.e. increased crop yields and productivity gains in livestock breeding.