Seven billion people to feed-and counting-is the daunting task facing producers in the U.S. and worldwide. The seven-billion milestone in the world’s population-and the projection of nine billion people by 2050-is raising concerns about the ability of agriculture to “feed the world.”
Don Hofstrand, Iowa State University emeritus ag economist, says all the anticipated additional mouths to feed has important implications for not just the by-now-familiar corn-for-food versus corn-for-ethanol debate, but for renewable energy derived from crop biomass as well (i.e. food crops like wheat, versus energy crops like switchgrass). Even if energy feedstock is crop by-product (i.e. corn stover), it may still impact food supply, says Hofstrand, who examines world population growth, the track record of world agriculture in recent decades and the potential for farmers to keep up in the future.
Click here for full story by Jane Fyksen, Crops Editor, Agri-View
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