1. SCIENCE LECTURE
RESEARCH SUMMARY :
How to Feed an Hungry World
www.nature.com/nature

2. 1 INTRODUCTION
● 1961 Population : 3 billions
● 2007 Population : 6,8 billions
● 2050 Population evaluate to 9,1 billions

3. 1 INTRODUCTION
● 1961 Population : 3 billions
● 2007 Population : 6,8 billions
● 2050 Population evaluate to 9,1 billions
The question is : how to feed people ?

4. 2 First answer : The easy way
● Spreads more fertilizer and pesticides
● Depletes already scarce groundwater supplies

5. 2 First answer : The easy way
● Spreads more fertilizer and pesticides
● Depletes already scarce groundwater supplies
● Problems : Environnementally destructive agriculure is a poor
option

6. 2 First answer : The easy way
● Spreads more fertilizer and pesticides
● Depletes already scarce groundwater supplies
● Problems : Environnementally destructive agriculure is a poor
option
● Challenge : How to expand agricultural output without increasing
the amount of land used

7. 3 Second Answer : Green Revolution
● Realignment of priorities in agricultural research (New crop
varieties...)
● Lowertech research into basics
● Better use of modern technologies and practices.

8. 4 Where are we now ?
● March 2010 first GCARD in Montpellier France
● The growth in public agricultural-research spending peaked in the
1970s and has been withering ever since.
● Three exceptions are China, India and Brazil.
● Private-sector research accounts for more than half of all
agricultural research.
● Recently,however, they have begun to engage in public–private
partnerships
● Genetically modified (GM) crops

9. 5 To conclude :
● Nor are science and technology by themselves a panacea for world
hunger.
● 1 billion people still go hungry because they cannot afford to pay
for it
● Research can have a decisive impact

10. Handout
Scarce : rare, not abundant, in short supply
Smallholder : one who owns or rents a smallholding
FAO : Food and Agricultural Organization, division of the United
Nations which deals with food and agriculture
GCAD : Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Development
GM : Genetically modified