Securing Food for an Underfed and Overfed Planet
Nearly one billion people around the world suffer from chronic food shortage and many more experience devastating nutritional deficiencies. At the same time, obesity is a serious problem in expanding parts of the world, where people have access to significantly more (but often nutrient-poor) calories. The United Nations has called for a 50% increase in food production by 2030, warning industrialized countries to revitalize agriculture, increase yields, and distribute food to areas in most need. Otherwise, a global catastrophe is imminent. Food technologists need to play a role in solving the food supply and demand issue.
Session 218 “Global food supply: How do we secure food for the future?” on Tuesday morning, July 20, at 8:30–10 a.m. in Room S501cd is structured to help food scientists deepen their understanding of the driving factors behind the food shortage, and navigate the right solutions for product development and business performance. Leading experts will examine the myriad of political, environmental, and economic factors contributing to global food challenges and outline potential solutions. Among the solutions, panelists will address agricultural biotechnology as an option for a high-yield food supply.