Do new technologies threaten the environment or provide the means of feeding humanity in the 21st century?

Abstract

Technological development of western agriculture has known undeniable success over the last decades; however, its sustainability has been questioned. What will be the situation in the 21st century? First, a socio-economic and ecological assessment of the recent development is sketched from the French situation taking into account both its favourable and negative sides. The second part deals with the possible impacts of a major wave of innovations, which is beginning to come into use: a better knowledge and handling of the living matter, particularly with biotechnology and genetic engineering. Their potential advantages and possible risks are sketched out from a socio-economic and environmental point of view. Another technological ongoing development, which is also quite significant, is presented in the third part: growing utilization of knowledge, of information and of the new information technologies in the agricultural sector. Their possible impacts are also examined from a socio-economic and environmental point of view. The last section questions the capacities to feed the human growing population. It seems essential to increase food production, but without damaging the environment: this requires a «double green revolution». Under certain conditions biotechnology and the use of knowledge could go in this way, but many other conditions are required, particularly an intensive mobilization at both a socio-economic and institutional level.