Reference no: EM133100309

In this first Discussion of the semester, I encourage you to spend a few minutes thinking about the question of how we, the human species, will feed the world moving into the future. Given that many estimates indicate that the global population will reach 10 billion (10,000,000,000) people by the year 2050, what details do we need to consider? 

Try to consider this question in the greatest depth that you're capable of given what you currently know. If you don't keep up with this issue recreationally, then try to think critically about it as a novel problem. What considerations must we address? 

There are many ways to approach this question, and there are dozens of sub-issues that rise to the surface as we examine the "Feed the World" question. For example, you might consider one or more of the following common topics in this discussion:

• Should we produce more food when humans currently dispose of up to 30% of the global food supply before it reaches a consumer?
• Is there a way to feed more people without increasing total production and the related waste?
• Is it possible that we already produce enough food to feed the world?
• Can we prevent or offset the negative environmental impacts of commercial agriculture (growing fruits/vegetables and raising livestock)?
• Do we just have to take the loss on environmental issues in order to feed the world?
• Is there an appropriate level of waste and distribution inequality that we simply must accept? Is a perfect system possible?
• If you could personally and miraculously convince the whole world to take the first step towards feeding the world reliably, what would that first step be?