WORLD FOOD PRODUCTION, FOOD SECURITY, AND SUSTAINABLE LAND USE

摘要

Food production and food security have been major issues for humankind throughout its existence. Food collection and production was the most time-consuming activity in all societies and only in this century has the decrease in employment in agriculture accelerated. Currently, only 4 to 5 percent of the professional population are directly involved in agriculture in the industrialized world. In the developing world that figure still varies between 50 and 70 percent, and a decrease in that number is likely within the next decades. With only very few people involved in agriculture, the food production and food security for all may be guaranteed. Worries about that guarantee have been uttered frequently in the past. Two centuries ago the limits to growth were proclaimed by English economist Thomas Malthus and world food security was, in his opinion, in danger. One century ago similar warnings were on the top of the policy agenda, and food production was again considered to be an important issue that would make the future very dark due to structural shortage.