Overpopulation and world hunger have been discussed as interrelating factors since the 1950s, when concern about the exploding "baby boom," particularly in developing countries, was considered in light of the growing international trade market following World War II. The purpose of this paper will be to analyze this relationship today, the truths and myths surrounding it and how elements such as food supply, technology, birth rates and birth control figure into the equation.
The world's population in 1950 was about 2.5 billion; some time in the late 1980s it passed five billion (Keyfitz, 1989, p. 119). This increase in the last forty years equals the total population growth over the millions of years from when man first emerged as a species. Further, the population is increasing by 80 million a year and it is expected that by the year 2025 the human race will total 8.5 billion (Keyfitz, 1989, p. 119). Of that number, the United Nations estimates that over ninety percent will be born in Third World countries (p. 119). In addition, many predict that it won't be until the mid-21st century before the absolute number of births will come down even to the high levels of today (p. 119).
The question is, how does this exponential growth of population impact the World's food supply and the problem of hunger?
According to Patrick O'Brian, with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), there is reason to be optimistic and pessimistic at the time. He and others believe that the world food situation has never been better, or worse for the matter. On the other hand, Dr. Normn Borlaug, a geneticist who won the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize for his work in developing high-yield and disease-resistant strains of wheat, has spoken out often about the need to control what he calls the "Population Monster."
"I've repeatedly pointed out that increased food production can, at best, be only a holding operation while . . . the Population Mons...