Demand for Food Projected to Double by 2050

The global demand for food could double by 2050, according to a new projection by David Tilman, Regents Professor of Ecology in the University of Minnesota’s College of Biological Sciences. In addition to population growth, the increased demand will be driven by changing, more meat-intensive, diets. Previous estimates by the Food and Agriculture Organization indicated that food demand would grow by 70 percent by 2050. The University of Minnesota report warned that a doubling of food production “could significantly increase levels of carbon dioxide and nitrogen in the environment and cause the extinction of numerous species.” The report stressed the need to improve food productivity, while also working to use nitrogen fertilizers more efficiently.