John Isaacson, age 9, of Princeton, I11., for his question:
WHAT IS MAN'S MOST VALUABLE FOOD?
The world's population stands at over 4 billion today and it is increasing at the rate of two percent a year. Within 35 years the number of people in the world could double. Most people in the developed countries of the world have an adequate diet now, but it will be extremely important that we build up our food production so there will be enough in the future for all to eat.
The developed countries of the world are those located between the tropics and the polar areas where the soil is well suited for farming and the climate is temperate. And it is here where most of the people are obtaining enough food each day to adequately nourish them.
For the future? With the knowledge that there could be a doubling of population in the not too distant future, it is vital that food production also double.
The world's most important food source at the present time is cereal grains. Across and around the world, grains supply more than half of the calories and much of the protein that people eat.
In addition grain is the chief part of livestock feed and it is therefore closely involved in the production of our meat, eggs and dairy products. Cereal grains are so valuable that food experts often use the size of the grain supply as a measure of the total food supply.
Developing nations are those which lie in or near the tropics. In these countries almost all of the grain grown is consumed by the people directly as food. They either cook the grain as a main dish or use it to make noodles or bread.
Fish and livestock are the main sources of animal protein. Worldwide about 85 percent of the animal protein in human diets is made up of meat, eggs and diary products with about 15 percent being fish. In such countries as the Philippines, Japan and Norway, a much higher percentage is consumed in fish.
Soybeans and other legumes are rated second only to rice as a source of food in many Asian countries. Potatoes are a major food item in many South American countries and in parts of Europe. People in some tropical areas depend largely on native food such as a starchy root called cassava, sweet potatoes or yams and bananas. Of all of these latter foods, only legumes provide an adequate supply of essential amino acids.
Most countries produce just enough food to meet their own needs or not enough and they are forced to import food. For the future it will be necessary for more food production than can be saved from one year to the next. At the present time the United States produces large reserves, and there are also some surpluses produced by Canada, Argentina, Australia and New Zealand.
Increased uses of agricultural resources will help farmers produce more food.