title: Importance of Animals in Agricultural Sustainability and Food Security.
abstract: A conservative projection shows the world's population growing by 32% (to 9.5 billion) by 2050 and 53% (to 11 billion) by 2100 compared with its current level of 7.2 billion. Because most arable land worldwide is already in use, and water and energy also are limiting, increased production of food will require a substantial increase in efficiency. In this article, we highlight the importance of animals to achieving food security in terms of their valuable contributions to agricultural sustainability, especially in developing countries, and the high nutritional value of animal products in the diet.
authors.affiliation: Center for Nutrition and Pregnancy, and Department of Animal Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND; larry.reynolds@ndsu.edu.
authors.forename: Lawrence P
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6838-7809
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Reynolds
authors.affiliation: American Society of Animal Science, Champaign, IL;
authors.forename: Meghan C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Wulster-Radcliffe
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY; and.
authors.forename: Debra K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Aaron
authors.affiliation: USDA/Agricultural Research Service Children's Nutrition Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX.
authors.forename: Teresa A
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4610-9795
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Davis
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D000818:Animals; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D003611:Dairy Products; D003906:Developing Countries; D004032:Diet; D004531:Eggs; D005523:Food Supply; D008460:Meat; D009753:Nutritive Value; D017747:Seafood
keywords: agricultural sustainability; animal products; animals; food security; human nutrition