Soil Science - Adequate Food for All - page 299

food demand of the 830 million food-insecure people and of 3.4 billion suffering
from hidden hunger caused by poor nutrition.
conclusIons
The projected future increase in global population, from 6.5 billion in 2006 to 9.4
billion by 2050 and 10 billion by 2100, will entirely occur in developing countries of
sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, North Africa, Central America, and the Caribbean.
These are also the regions where the soil resources are severely degraded, crop
yields are low and stagnant, and 830 million food insecure and 3.4 billion prone to
hidden hunger and malnutrition live. Furthermore, political instability and social/
ethnic unrest make it difficult to implement meaningful and effective soil restorative
programs. Yet, soil resources must be restored, improved, and used for generations
to come. As the population increases and available per capita cropland and fresh-
water supply decrease, the urgency of adoption of recommended management prac-
tices increases. Such practices include conservation tillage, mulch farming, growing
cover crops, adopting soil-specific management or precision farming, enhancing soil
fertility though integrated nutrient management, water conservation and use of sub-
irrigation or drip irrigation in conjunction with fertigation, and use of genetically
engineered improved varieties. Crop residues, animal dung, and other biosolids must
be used as soil amendments rather than as traditional or modern biofuels. The ligno-
cellulosic biomass must be produced on energy plantations established on specifi-
cally identified land for growing dedicated crops. There is a strong need to restore
degraded soils and expand the use of fertilizers and irrigation in sub-Saharan Africa.
As has been the case in the past, those holding neo-Malthusian views will again be
proven wrong. The needed increase in food/agronomic production will be achieved
through restoration of degraded soils and adoption of recommended practices that
enhance production per unit area, time and input of fertilizer, water, and energy. Soil
resources must be improved, restored, and conserved for generations to come.
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