globalization

Many organizations are stating that by 2050 there will be 9 billion people on Earth and that agriculture must change to be able to produce enough food for this growing population.

Despite a significant growth in food production over the past half-century, one of the most important challenges facing society today is how to feed an expected population of some nine billion by the middle of the 20th century.

The top 100 questions of importance to the future of global agriculture is the result of research and focused conversations about the global issues, agriculture, and being able to meet the food needs of the world.

The aim is to use sound scientific evidence to inform decision making and guide policy makers in the future direction of agricultural research priorities and policy support. If addressed, we anticipate that these questions will have a significant impact on global agricultural practices worldwide, while improving the synergy between agricultural policy, practice and research. This research forms part of the UK Government's Foresight Global Food and Farming Futures project.

With the news that the EU is officially in recession and all of the signs point to the same thing for the U.S., the swine industry in the United States is facing a critical challenge related to demand.  After more than a decade of continuous growth in demand for U.S. pork, the industry is likely to face the inevitable leveling off or much more likely, a decline in demand for 2009.  Some are forecasting up to 10% less exports for 2009.  As the EU and the US enter recession, demand for consumer goods has already begun to fall, in some cases at record month over month rates.