Critical Food Issues of the 1980's

Abstract: The Hudson Institute initated a research program combining the efforts of food and agriculture industries, government agencies and independent specialists. This year-long study of the Food, Agriculture, and Society Research Program identified the food issues of importance which will come into focus in the 1980's: socioeconomic attitudes of the general public and the food industry; changes in food and nutrition policies; the direction of technology and its regulation; and the prospects of satisfying the world's needs for food. There is greater knowledge of, and concern for health and diet-related diseases, exemplified by the anxiety over food additives. This concern will likely be manifest in increased regulation, requiring greater understanding and communication by the scientific community, food industry, general public and the regulatory agencies, Changes will come about in marketing and advertising. On the world front, agricultural self-sufficiency will grow. Food shortages will more likely be regional and caused by political, climate, or socioeconomic factors than lack of capability.