John Thomas Trumble
University of California, Riverside, USA

The world's population is growing at a remarkable rate. Our climate is changing so quickly that in less than one hundred years humans will be living on a planet that is hotter than at any time in the evolution of the human species. These concerns lead to series of critical challenges that we must overcome. We must find ways to increase the global food supply while climatic conditions are changing, and this has to be managed in a sustainable fashion. Global travel and the movement of products will ensure the introduction of new pests into natural and agricultural systems. Some of these movements are predictable and plans should be prepared in advance. The energy requirements of our global population have already resulted in the highest levels of toxic pollution ever recorded. Managing the agricultural effects of pollution and balancing the need for clean water between farming, energy production, and urban demands will be one of our greatest challenges. This is the time to begin training the next generation of agricultural scientists and farmers. Unfortunately, the current trend is for universities to cut back on agricultural departments, and many students do not find agricultural disciplines to be as exciting (or as profitable) as manufacturing, engineering, and the sciences that have taken us into space. We have to do a better job of showing our students how advanced and interesting agricultural sciences really are. Eventually the need for food will drive the need for more scientists and improved farming techniques, but unless we act on all of these challenges now, we risk falling too far behind to sustain either the population or our environment.