Scientists also need to tackle the demand side of the food insecurity equation
Michael Lardelli, The University of Adelaide
14 August 2012
It is a rather stunning omission from this article that it does not consider the role scientists need to play in tackling the main driver of food insecurity which is the increasing size of the human population. If population growth is not stopped then all efforts at increasing food supply will ultimately prove futile. Cheaper, easier to use, accessible and acceptable contraception combined with increased female education are vital. Scientists must not be afraid to state the obvious facts about population growth - that it drives food insecurity, habitat destruction and loss of species diversity, conflct over resources and leads ultimately to poverty, famine and death.
Agriculture & Food Security
Scientists also need to tackle the demand side of the food insecurity equation
14 August 2012
It is a rather stunning omission from this article that it does not consider the role scientists need to play in tackling the main driver of food insecurity which is the increasing size of the human population. If population growth is not stopped then all efforts at increasing food supply will ultimately prove futile. Cheaper, easier to use, accessible and acceptable contraception combined with increased female education are vital. Scientists must not be afraid to state the obvious facts about population growth - that it drives food insecurity, habitat destruction and loss of species diversity, conflct over resources and leads ultimately to poverty, famine and death.
Competing interests
None