Did you know that the global population is expected to grow to 9.3 billion by 2050?

Did you know that global food demand is expected to double by 2050?

Feeding 9.3 billion people is going to be an immense task. How will agriculture respond to this demand? That is the central question that we have examined during this year's Alltech Lecture Tours. Doubling food production between now and 2050 is not going to be accomplished by hammering out 1 and 2% improvements in efficiency. It is not going to be accomplished by doubling the amount of land, fuel and fresh water applied to agriculture. Those resources are already in short supply.

In fact, we are already facing serious grain shortages, due in part to the growth of the biofuel industry. Food prices are beginning to climb. In many parts of the world, food makes up a major portion of a family's annual expenses. People in those regions are feeling the hardship.

But, shortages can drive innovation. Agriculture must innovate if we are to feed the world. So, we need to look for ways to do more with less or to substitute scarce feedstuffs with plentiful alternatives. For example, fiber offers a plentiful alternative to grain. We can break down fiber and release digestible energy and nutrients by using solid state fermentation. Other agricultural innovation topics discussed on the lecture tours included: programmed nutrition, algae-based feed materials, natural animal disease prevention and ways to improve feed efficiency.

If you missed your opportunity to attend one of Alltech's Lecture Tours you can see some of the highlights in this brief video. However, if you are anxious to dig deeper into the future of agriculture you should attend our 27th annual symposium. Go to www.alltech.com/symposium to request a registration code.