Experts discuss feeding world's growing population at London roundtable

IRIN summarizes a discussion among "[a]griculturalists, scientists, businessmen, lobbyists, and policymakers convened in London's Chatham House this week to debate how to feed the planet's growing population without degrading the earth's resources -- if such a thing is even possible." According to the news service, "Some attendees argued that current levels of food production -- if better managed -- could accommodate everyone," some said "people could just eat less meat," and others "want to tackle the problem through the application of science -- for example, by breeding livestock that are more efficient at converting resources into meat or dairy." IRIN writes, "The overall message was that ... it will take a mix of ideas -- some traditional, some futuristic, some large-scale, some small-scale -- as well as research, the dissemination of knowledge, and the development of the supply chains and financing institutions to allow all farmers to run their businesses as profitably and productively as possible" (12/12).