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Agribusiness leaders discuss ’10 billion by 2050′ challenge

The leaders of three major agribusiness companies say feeding an anticipated nine to ten billion people by 2050 will be a major challenge. 

Bayer Crop Science president Liam Condon says the current food system “is not on a sustainable trajectory”.

“Production is still too resource-intensive,” Condon says. “Clearly we need a lot more innovation to get to a healthy, sustainable food system.”

Syngenta CEO Eric Fyrwald says climate change adds to the challenge.

“We need science-based regulatory processes around the world so we can keep bringing better and better technology to help farmers deal with climate change,” Fyrwald says.

Corteva Agriscience CEO Jim Collins says it will take “a number of key elements”.

“The use of data and information. The use of biotechnology and education, especially with smallholder farms— and our ability to double productivity in some of the African countries,” Collins says.

Condon, Fyrwald and Collins took part in a World Food Prize panel discussion entitled “Food Security in the Next Decade: The Power of the Private Sector”.