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Not to "Feed the World" Tom Philpott, Mother Jones The debate
over how to "feed the world" amid population growth and climate
change often hinges on crop yields. The theory is that if we can
squeeze as much crop as possible per acre of farmland, we'll
have abundant food for everyone. This idea dominates the
marketing material of giant agrichemical firms like Monsanto.
"In order to feed the world's growing population, farmers must
produce more food in the next fifty years than they have in the
past 10,000 years combined," proclaims the company's website.
"We are working to double yields in our core crops by 2030."
Such rhetoric is routinely echoed by policymakers like US
Department of Agriculture secretary Tom Vilsack. But jacking up
yields—even if Monsanto and its peers can accomplish that feat,
which they haven't so far—won't solve the hunger problem on its
own. The globe's farms are alre