ABSTRACT

Since 1960 growth of the world population has been over 2% yearly, whereas the rate of increase in food production has been about 1.8%. Therefore, world food production per person is decreasing. 1 One of the main reasons for losing this critical balance is that many countries are not producing food to their potential. The region of the warm climates has been designated between latitudes 30° N and 30° S. This region contains approximately 50% of the world’s potentially arable land. However, direct and indirect effects of the climates cause certain problems for crop and animal production. 2 Estimations are that 80% of the future population increase will occur in the developing countries of Latin America, Asia, and Africa. These are areas with the least capability to feed and support a growing population.