Pl. Pres. - World Agriculture: The Forces For Change

The world's demand for food is expected to double in the first half of the 21st century with a 50% increase from population growth and another 50% increase from increases in income which empower presently low income people to consume more plant and animal protein, fruits, vegetables and edible oils. And many want farmers to help solve our energy crisis, too! There is at most 10% more land that can be brought into arable crop production without adverse environmental consequences. Farmers use 70% of the fresh water used in the world, but with the rapid rate of urbanization, cities are expected to outbid farmers for available water. So, the world's farmers are going to have to double food production (not to mention supply energy) on little more land using less water than today. With increasing globalisation, WTO negotiation pressures and poverty alleviation objectives - can this be done? In a sustainable manner? How?