Comments by "Old Scientist" (@OldScientist) on "A global food crisis may be less than a decade away | Sara Menker" video.
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Between 1961 and 2021 global cereal production increased 250% and cereal yield increased over 200%. Land used for cereal hardly increased (Data from World Bank, FAO/UN). This is the only time in human history that you are more likely to be overfed rather than underfed. We should be thankful we were borne into an age of such abundance. A US DoE study (Taylor & Schlenker, 2021) estimated that a 1 ppm increase in CO2 led to an increase of 0.4%, 0.6% and 1% in yield for corn, soybeans and wheat, respectively, and that CO2 increase was the main driver of the 500% yield growth in corn since 1940. Global tomato production has set a record each year for the past 10 years. Banana production has doubled in 20 years. All 10 of the largest sugar crops in global history occurred during the past 10 years. All 10 of the 10 largest rice crop years occurred during the past 10 years (UNFAO). 2023 was another record cereal crop. Increases in cereal production since 1961: Africa +384%, Asia +348%, Australia +458%, Europe +110%, North America +184%, South America +547%. Percentage increase in production in all regions also exceeded the percentage increase in population. Global and regional food security is improving. 2024-2025 will see another record high production of wheat, soybeans and rice. Compared with a decade ago, the world will harvest in 2024-25 about 10% more wheat, about 15% more corn, nearly 30% more soybeans, and about 10% more rice. Global food supply (kcal per capita per day) has increased from 2181kcal in 1961 to a record 2959kcal in 2021.
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