A study conducted by Wageningen University and Research reveals more
than 820 million people in the world do not have enough food, while
climate changeand increasing competition for land and water are further
raising concerns about the future balance between food demand and supply.

The study published in the journal/Nature Food/ focused on the two key
food security indicators, future food demand, and population at risk of
hunger. Future food demand is a key driver of the required increase in
food production and associated impacts on land-use change, biodiversity,
and climate change. The population at risk of hunger ?? is an indicator
of the number of people that face chronic food insecurity.

Wageningen researcher Michiel van Dijk and colleagues conducted a
systematic literature review and meta-analysis to assess the range of
future global food security projections to 2050. Van Dijk's group
analyzed 57 studies published between 2000 and 2018, harmonized all
projections, and mapped them into several highly divergent but plausible
socioeconomic futures, including sustainable, business-as-usual, and
divided-world scenarios.

The study's findings show that food demand will increase by between 35%
and 56% over the period 2010-2050. This increase is due to population
growth, economic development, urbanization, and other drivers. Though
lower than previous studies which suggested food production must be
doubled, the expected increase in food demand may still have negative
impacts on the environment and lead tobiodiversityloss.

The study also reveals that the population at risk of hunger is expected
to increase by 8% over the 2010-2050 period. This means that the
Sustainable Development Goal of ending hunger and achieving food
security will not be achieved. To prevent this, the researchers urge
policymakers to work proactively to develop adequate long-term measures,
including stimulating inclusive growth.

Meta-analysis shows that future food demand will increase between 35-56%
over the period 2010-2050 - WUR
[www.wur.nl]