Each issue of Highlights consists of a short article intended for wide distribution together with a sample of abstracts used in the preparation of the article. Almost 800 million people in the developing world do not have enough to eat and another 34 million people in the industrialised countries and countries in transition also suffer from chronic food insecurity. This issue of Highlights examines the outlook for food security in the coming decades and reviews recent work on the factors likely to influence food production and consumption. Highlights No. 13 in July 1996 looked at how the trend towards a knowledge-intensive economy was likely to affect individuals' learning needs. Almost five years later, the expected boom in on-line products and services is radically changing many aspects of both the economy and everyday life.
Biotechnology is one of the most promising, and most controversial, technologies of our times.
It has the potential to transform domains as different as farming and computing, but if it is to do so it will not only have to solve difficult scientific problems, but also convince the public and governments that the benefits are greater than the costs. The aim of this Highlights is to contribute to the discussion by presenting recent literature describing research and development in biotechnology, and opposing points of view on the questions being debated. New energy systems will take many decades to create, so the early decades of the 21 st century may see a transition phase where the tensions caused by the old system's inability to cope with the challenges are exacerbated by the uncertainties surrounding what will replace it. The purpose of this Highlights is to review long-term projections of energy markets, and to explore recent thinking on the geopolitical dimensions likely to be associated with developments in world energy supply and use in the decades to come. Questions coming to the forefront include the impact of climate change on water resources, the possibility that disputes about access to water might exacerbate regional tensions, and whether large-scale planning and projects are the best way to meet future needs.