Cited by 2,339Food Security and Socioeconomic DynamicsAgriculture Sustainability and Environmental ImpactClimate change impacts on agriculture

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 60 of the 60 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; 1 of the 36 sources its claims cite were checked for support.

A meta-analysis of projected global food demand and population at risk of hunger for the period 2010–2050

Open access
van Dijk, Michiel, Morley, Tom, Rau, Marie Luise, Saghai, Yashar·2021·Nature Food

Published version of a preprint

Abstract

Quantified global scenarios and projections are used to assess long-term future global food security under a range of socio-economic and climate change scenarios. Here, we conducted a systematic literature review and meta-analysis to assess the range of future global food security projections to 2050. We reviewed 57 global food security projection and quantitative scenario studies that have been published in the past two decades and discussed the methods, underlying drivers, indicators and projections. Across five representative scenarios that span divergent but plausible socio-economic futures, the total global food demand is expected to increase by 35% to 56% between 2010 and 2050, while population at risk of hunger is expected to change by -91% to +8% over the same period. If climate change is taken into account, the ranges change slightly (+30% to +62% for total food demand and -91% to +30% for population at risk of hunger) but with no statistical differences overall. The results of our review can be used to benchmark new global food security projections and quantitative scenario studies and inform policy analysis and the public debate on the future of food.

Overview

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This systematic review and meta-analysis of 57 global food security projection studies finds that total global food demand is projected to rise 35–56% between 2010 and 2050 across five SSPs, while population at risk of hunger could fall 91% or rise 8%. Climate change widens ranges slightly but does not produce statistically different overall patterns.

Key findings

  • The review identified 57 relevant studies and built a database with 593 projections of food demand and 358 projections of population at risk of hunger.
  • Under no climate change, total food demand is projected to change by +35% to +56%, per capita food demand by +0% to +20%, and population at risk of hunger by -91% to +8% between 2010 and 2050. With climate change, ranges are +30% to +62% for total food demand, -1% to +20% for per capita food demand, and -91% to +30% for population at risk of hunger, with no statistical difference from no-climate-change projections.
  • Under SSP2, total food consumption is projected to increase by 51% (95% CI +45% to +56%), substantially lower than the often-cited FAO and Tilman et al. projections of +60% to +110%.
  • SSP1 and SSP5 show the largest reductions in population at risk of hunger under no climate change (point estimates -71% to -68%), SSP3 the smallest (-11%), and SSP2 and SSP4 fall in the middle (-57% to -17%).

Methods

  • Systematic literature review following EPPI-Centre guidelines, searching five bibliographic databases, Google Scholar, organization websites, experts, and snowballing; 3,667 unique studies were screened down to 57 studies published between 2000 and early 2018.
  • Quantitative, comparable projections were extracted from 26 of the 57 studies for per capita food consumption, total food consumption, and population at risk of hunger; projections were harmonized and mapped to SSPs and RCPs.
  • Meta-regression used separate linear mixed models for the three indicators, with fixed effects for SSP-RCP combinations and pure/derived scenario dummies, random effects for study and model, and restricted maximum likelihood via lme4/lmerTest; only baseline projections were used, after removing outliers and “No class” projections.

Limitations

  • Stated: classifying studies into simulation, statistical extrapolation, or expert input was not always straightforward, and driver information should be interpreted with care because not all studies provide full model specifications; in some cases driver information was taken from other studies using the same model.
  • Stated: models are continuously updated and the reviewed studies do not offer sufficient information to track changes in model design and input data; a small number of projections could not be mapped to SSP/RCP because scenarios were incompatible, and SSPs cover only four of six scenario families.
  • Stated and evident: the analysis deals only with global-level projections, and regional or commodity-specific analysis was not feasible; quantitatively comparable data could be extracted from only 26 of 57 studies, so the meta-regression relies on a subset, although the authors report checks against selection bias.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1038/s43016-021-00322-9

Cites

60 of 60 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Verification

Claims the paper makes

41 Own result · 21 Not checked yet · 17 Own method · 11 Own interpretation · 3 No basis given · 1 Partly supported · accuracy not yet measured

Verify all 35 references — free account

Show all 34 claims

  • It may state two separate claims as one. 38
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 32
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 1
60 of 60
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    Projections based on the SSPs and projections based on scenarios with the same characteristics (the same scenario family) can be directly compared.

    “We assumed that projections based on the SSPs and projections based on scenarios with the same characteristics (that is, belonging to the same 'family') can be directly compared.”
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    Outcomes vary across studies and models because of differences in study design and model specifications.

    “We added random effects for both study and model as we assume that, although comparable, outcomes will vary across both studies and models because of differences in study design and model specifications.”
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    In studies where models are linked with other models, the model is still comparable to its stand-alone version.

    “In such cases, we assumed that the model is still comparable to its stand-alone version.”
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    The projections in the sample can be regarded as random samples of all projections that could have been observed.

    “The projections in our sample can be regarded as random samples of all projections that could have been observed.”
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    The core of the models does not change over time and cross-model comparison is possible.

    “Nonetheless, we think it is reasonable to assume that the core of the models does not change over time and that cross-model comparison is possible.”
5 of 5

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2 of 2

Citations

Cites

Show all 58 references

Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. Robinson, S. et al. The International Model for Policy Analysis of Agricultural Commodities and Trade (IMPACT): Model Description for Version 3 (IFPRI, 2015); http://ssrn.com/abstract=2741234
  2. Linehan, V. et al. Global food production and prices to 2050: scenario analysis under policy assumptions. In 43rd ABARES Outlook Conference (2013).
  3. Feed the world: a challenge and an opportunity. The John Deere Journal https://johndeerejournal.com/2015/12/smallholder-farmers-big-challenges (2015).

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Metadata

Authors
van Dijk, M., Morley, T., Rau, M. L., & Saghai, Y.
Affiliations
  • Wageningen University & Research (NL)
  • The Millennium Project (US)
Venue
Nature Food
Published
2021-07-21
Volume
2
Issue
7
Pages
494-501
ISSN
2662-1355 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3186111258
Cited by
2,339
References
58
Citations by year
2026: 541 · 2025: 713 · 2024: 578 · 2023: 344 · 2022: 149 · 2021: 11
FWCI
18.43
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature Food (publishedVersion)
  • Research Square (acceptedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • University of Twente Research Information (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • Socio-Environmental Systems Modeling (acceptedVersion)
  • IIASA PURE (International Institute of Applied Systems Analysis) (submittedVersion)
  • University of Twente Research Information (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Funders
  • Wageningen University and Research Centre
  • Johns Hopkins Global Food Ethics Berman Institute of Bioethics and Policy Program
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › General Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Security and Socioeconomic Dynamics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Agriculture Sustainability and Environmental Impact
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Agronomy and Crop Science › Climate change impacts on agriculture
Keywords
global food security, food demand projections, hunger, climate change impacts on food security, socio-economic scenarios, future food demand, 2050 projections

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