Population, Natural Resources, and Technology

Abstract

The developed and developing countries of the world may be divided roughly into four types: technology- source areas with high population-resource ratios; technology-source regions with low population-resource ratios; technology-deficient areas with high population-resource ratios; and technology-deficient areas with low population-resource ratios. The most critical problem of production is that of increasing food supply at the same or a greater rate than the increase in population. Technology must play a key role in any plans to increase food production. The technology exists for vast improvements in agricultural production in the deficient countries, and there are few obstacles to its export from the source areas. However, there are important obstacles to the flow of technical improvements in the deficient countries themselves. Resources exist for a possible severalfold increase in the world's population. However, there is doubt that improvement of food production can keep pace with population increase. Either a marked acceleration of the flow of technology or a marked reduction in population increase will be needed to avoid a world food crisis within this century. Over the longer run, limits exist for the number of people and the level of living that they can enjoy. The future adequacy of resources and technology will depend as much upon ethical choices and political decisions as on science and engineering.