Why we must grow more food

THE challenge to feed an extra two billion people on planet earth by 2050 inspired a provocative title for a lecture and debate at the Euroscience Open Forum held in Dublin last week — “Will we starve or will we burn”.

The “will we drown” option was not included, although it more accurately describes the Irish experience of this summer’s climate — and flooding in tropical areas is cited as a result of climate change.

Nevertheless, global hunger must be solved while not increasing the levels of carbon in the atmosphere which are causing climate changes.