As publisher of the oldest, still-in-print magazine servicing the milling industry globally (we were founded in June 1891 and celebrate 125 years old this year), I feel complelled on behalf of all previous publishers and editors of this long-standing journal to speak out on how the milling industry might assist in meeting the food demands of a growing world population and reduce malnutrition and hunger.
I served as the Secretary General of the International Feed Industry Federation (which I co-founded in 1987) for 22 years until 2010. I was instrumental in formulating and establishing the cliche that the world would need 'to feed 9.5 billion people by 2050' in the early 1990s, after studying US Bureau of Statistics data that showed a plateauing of population increases beyond 2050 and for the rest of the millennium.
Cereals are essential to human life and today wheat alone accounts for every seventh calorie we consume. Domesticated livestock are not consuming crops and other vegetable matter that we would happily eat - on the contary, they take by-products from all kinds of industries including the food industry and transform them into valuable protein foodstuffs which we enjoy eating and allow us to reach our genetic potential both physically and mentally. For example, just 10 US biscuit-making companies produce by-product that when processed correctly provides over one million tonnes of valuable protein and energy rich ingredient for livestock feeding!
My point is that the feed indstry can, if provided with the right support, meet the challenge of feeding the world's hungry of today and satisfy the demand of future mouths through providing the necesary meat, milk, eggs and fish required that is both safe and affordable.
Please review my short pdf presentation attached that explaiins my considered reasoning on a way forward in meeting the challenge 'to feed 9.5 nbillion people by 2050' in the context of your request for feedback, views and comments for the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) report on 'Nutrition and Food Systems' through the High Level Panel of Experts (HLPE). Thankyou.
Yours sincerely
Roger Gilbert
Publisher - Milling and Grain and International Aquafeed magazines
Roger Gilbert