How Will Science and Technology Feed the World in 2025?

With 7 billion people, the world's population in 2025 will require tremendous resources. M.S. Swaminathan says that science and technology can help by stimulating and sustaining an 'Evergreen Revolution' that will lead to long-term increases in productivity without associated ecological harm.

Swaminathan enumerates several components to this Evergreen Revolution. It includes the cultivation of crops without any use of chemical inputs, the utilization of effective integrated pest and nutrient management strategies, conservation of biodiversity including soil and water resources, the application of traditional knowledge, and the substantial use of beneficial microorganisms in agriculture.

He cited steps how India can attain meeting its needs. Among the long term strategies on providing for its increasing population, he said, should be one that will provide for new yield and quality breakthroughs in major crops through new technologies, such as genomics and gene pyramiding.

For the paper published in Field Crops Research, please visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2007.02.004.