Population Reference Bureau Population Bulletin Vol. There is no question that agricultural production must expand to meet the needs of the future population. Meeting future needs will require policies that both manage the demand for increased food and promote more agricultural growth.
Population growth is the single largest determinant of future food needs.
The projected population size will vary tremendously depending upon how quickly birth rates fall in the low-income countries. Policies that directly or indirectly promote smaller families will help keep the population and food equation in balance by slowing population growth rates. Research and education about nutrition are important components of future food needs. Encouraging healthy diets will minimize the additional food needed to feed the future population. If people adopt low-fat diets, they will enhance their own health and lower the need for additional agricultural production as world population rises toward 10 billion.