In other words, the problems we face today cannot be solved with old technology, and require the development of new approaches. For many years, there has been a recognition that an exponentially increasing population will cause a problem in the global food supply. The year 2050 is within the lifetime of most people alive today, but living beside 12 billion others is difficult to comprehend. Furthermore, in recent years there has been clear evidence that a dietary shift is also occurring in major segments of the world. Due to changes in South-East Asia and China, the consumption of meat products is also increasing exponentially.
Meat production requires a higher level of productivity per unit land area.
Combining two exponential trends, with a flat to diminishing agricultural land area, leads to the need for dramatic changes in crop production. At the same time as asking for more food, more healthy food, less expensive food, more nutritious food, there is a growing concern over the impact of intensification on the environment. More and better are required, but also these attributes must be sustainable. Sustainability is itself a large subject, but perhaps we can view it as the responsible stewardship of non-renewable resources. To sustain the same per capita food supply will require increased production per acre.