EARTH: How to Feed 11 Billion People

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Maureen Moses (mmoses@americangeosciences.org)

1/26/2016

 

Alexandria, VA - The challenge of feeding our planet's growing population is one of critical importance - it will perhaps be the most important challenge of the 21st century. As the human population continues to rise, geoscience is informing experts, suggesting major shifts in agriculture must be taken to prevent rampant food insecurity by the year 2050.

 

Based on model estimates, remotely sensed data and agricultural studies, scientists have been able to identify approximately how much food needs to be available to feed the 11 billion people expected on Earth by 2100. Researchers note that already food-insecure populations in Southeast Asia and Africa could face the dire consequences if the status quo remains unchanged. 

 

The challenge is not just identifying how to increase crop yields, but also monitoring soil nutrients, planning for changing climate and addressing sustainable water use. Learn how scientists are helping figure out how to feed the world in the February issue of EARTH Magazine: http://bit.ly/1OPvFgA.

 

The January-February double issue has been printed, and EARTH Magazine can always be found online at www.earthmagazine.org. 2016 continues to bring exciting scientific headlines to explore, such as asking how deep do the Alps extend into the Earth, how wormholes may limit landslides and how humans can survive the perfect storm from space. 

 

###

 

Keep up to date with the latest happenings in Earth, energy and environment news with EARTH Magazine online at: www.earthmagazine.org. Published by the American Geosciences Institute, EARTH is your source for the science behind the headlines.

 

###

 

The American Geosciences Institute is a nonprofit federation of geoscientific and professional associations that represents more than 250,000 geologists, geophysicists and other earth scientists. Founded in 1948, AGI provides information services to geoscientists, serves as a voice of shared interests in the profession, plays a major role in strengthening geoscience education, and strives to increase public awareness of the vital role the geosciences play in society's use of resources, resiliency to natural hazards, and interaction with the environment.