World must produce 60 pc more food by 2050 AI can help Andhra Guv

Vijayawada, Jul 24 (PTI) Andhra Pradesh Governor S Abdul Nazeer on Thursday said that the world needs to produce 60 per cent more food by 2050 to feed a global population of 9.3 billion, emphasising that AI could be instrumental in achieving this goal.
    Citing the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the governor noted that this target is a tall order but stressed that Artificial Intelligence can play a pivotal role in the agriculture sector.
    "According to FAO reports, by 2050 we must produce 60 per cent more food to feed a global population of 9.3 billion. That would be a tall order to achieve with the current farming systems. This is where AI can be helpful," said Nazeer, addressing the 57th annual convocation of Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU) near Vijayawada.
    The governor pointed out that India’s population is expected to rise to around 1.6 billion by 2050, necessitating the production of 400 million tonnes of food.
    He observed that AI can help address challenges in farming, such as pest control, by analysing historical pest activity.
    It can also prevent soil degradation through continuous monitoring and analysis of soil health data, he added.
    Despite advancements in agricultural practices, weeds still cause significant declines in crop yield and quality, he said, adding that drones can be used to identify and control weeds.
    "Integrating AI in agriculture will not only reshape current practices but also pave the way for a sustainable and resilient future," said Nazeer.
    He claimed that AI could assist in the entire farming cycle—from seed selection to harvest and beyond—including real-time adjustments to farming practices based on climate shifts to ensure optimal crop health and yield.
    Nazeer also highlighted that India achieved a record food grain production of 354 million tonnes in 2024, marking a 6.5 per cent increase over the previous year.
    This surge in production was driven by bumper harvests of key crops such as wheat, rice, and maize, he said.
    However, he cautioned that rising population, climate change, pressure on dwindling natural resources, and geopolitical tensions continue to threaten global food security.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)