The demand for food for the population of all 51 European countries / regions is declining due to demographic trends. In 2030, the population of Europe is expected to be around 731.8 million. This represents a decrease compared to 2010 by 18.9 million people or 2.6%. On the other hand, the world’s population is expected to grow from currently 7.0 billion to about 9.2 billion by 2050.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) estimates that an increase in agricultural production by 60% is necessary to ensure food security (based on 2007), since at the same time the consumption habits change, and in many developing and newly industrialized countries the economic development, also the demand for animal products is increasing.
According to FAO experts, the increase in production could be achieved by 77% by higher yields, by 14% by higher input and by 9% by expansion of plant cultivation. For this, “quantum leaps” will be necessary in research, breeding and cultivation.