Biotechnology and Agriculture in 2020

The ability of countries to feed their people depends on natural resources, population, and technology for producing food. Most good agricultural land is already in production, so additional food will have to come from higher productivity on existing farmland. Many existing technologies--plant breeding, hybridization, pest control, fertilizer, cropping systems, irrigation, and post-harvest storage technologies--can contribute to increased food production if applied more broadly. This report reviews their current and potential use, as well as the surrounding controversies.

Anthony J. Cavalieri is a senior associate with the CSIS Biotechnology and Public Policy Initiative. Previously, he was a plant physiologist with the Pioneer and DuPont Companies.