780 



and training methods. It requires the development of irrigation sys- 

 tems, intensive use of fertilizers, and in the view of many experts the 

 development of new crops even more r^ponsive to fertilizers ; this in 

 turn involves research in plant genetics. The depredation of food sup- 

 plies by animal and insect pests must be brought under control. Im- 

 proved food preservation techniques need to oe developed. Disease, 

 which cuts down the caloric efficiency of ingested foods, must be 

 fought, so that ill health does not diminish the supply of manpower 

 during a planting season, or cause the loss of a crop. In many instances 

 a market economy must be developed where none existed before. 



What needs to be done is virtually endless, and it is all intercon- 

 nected. This interconnection of very many diverse elements is charac- 

 teristic of the entire modernization process in the underdeveloped 

 countries, and the solution of the food/population equation is simply 

 a specialized model of that J)rocess. As Roger ReveUe has pointed out, 

 if the food/population ratio is to be broi^ht into balance it means 

 virtunlly changing a whole way of life.^" This is the implication of 

 overall economic development as well. 



Yet whatever the social knd political barriers to mounting a vigor- 

 ous attack on the food/population problem, the lack of technical means 

 to deal with the problem effectively needed to be overcome first. Until 

 introduction of modem agricultural techniques resulted in increased 

 food production by means of the "Green Revolution," the rate at 

 which food production increased could not keep pace with the rate at 

 which population increased. The rate of population increase, in turn. 

 could probably not have been effectively curbed with the techniques of 

 contraception then available. Had the technical means not been found 

 for effecting revolutionary increases in food production — and in the 

 absence of a drastic decline in the birth rate — the danger that the un- 

 derdeveloped world would sink into chaos (as some have predicted) 

 would have been greatly increased. As matters now stand there is at 

 least a chance that development aid, abetted by a skillful and flexible 

 diplomacy and working in conjunction with science and technology, 

 may prevent such a tragedy. This combination could help to bring 

 about a reasonable equilibrium between population and food resources 

 in the so-called third world. 



" Remarks at "Symposium on the Food-People Balance," held by the National Academy of 

 Engineering, Washington, April 29, 1970, op. clt. 



