According to the UN FAO virtually no progress has been made towards the WFS (World Food Security) target of halving the number of under-nourished people by 2015. World production of grain per person peaked in 1984 at 343 kilograms and has since been in decline. Food prices for things like wheat have doubled since mid 2007.
Food has the highest footprint per dollar spent on goods and services. By 2050 a projected 50% increase in population (to 9bn, mostly in poorer areas), means we need 50% increases in food production, which means 50% increases in water for agriculture. Disturbingly, even now there are water shortages and damages to land productivity through loss of topsoil plus excessive use of pesticides.
Moreover, agricultural productivity during the next 70 years is predicted to decline by at least 20% in tropical areas of Latin America, 30% across Africa and perhaps 40% in India.
