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'Producing food for 6.2 billion people, adding a population of 80 million more a year, is not simple. We better develop an ever improved science and technology, including the new biotechnology, to produce the food that's needed for the world today.' In response to the fraction of the world population that could be fed if current farmland was convered to organic-only crops: 'We are 6.6 billion people now. We can only feed 4 billion. I don't see 2 billion volunteers to disappear.' In response to extreme critics: 'These are utopian that live on Cloud 9 and come into the third world and cause all kinds of confusion and negative impacts on the developing countries.'

Norman Borlaug#5

FoodScienceDebate

About this quote

What does it mean?
Feeding billions requires advanced science and rejecting unrealistic organic-only solutions.
In plain terms
We need modern science to feed everyone, not just organic farming.
What can you take from it?
Use all available science to solve food shortages.

Where it applies

  • agriculture
  • debate
  • planning

Putting it to work

  • support research
  • ignore utopias
  • adopt biotech

Questions to consider

  • Is idealism helpful in crisis?
  • What is the cost of purity?

Another view

Some argue organic methods are better for long term soil health.

More from Norman Borlaug

  1. 'I now say that the world has the technology - either available or well advanced in the research pipeline - to feed on a sustainable basis a population of 10 b…

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  2. 'Some credit him with saving more human lives than any other person in history.'

    Permalink to quote #6
  3. 'It is a sad fact that on this earth at this late date there are still two worlds, 'the privileged world' and 'the forgotten world'. The privileged world consi…

    Permalink to quote #3

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