Population continues to rise globally, especially in the UK, exacerbating concerns over food standards. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the UK population is expected to increase by 3.6 million (5.5%) over the next ten years to 2026, with the 70 million mark being surpassed by 2029. This increase is more pronounced in births, rather than deaths; 46% of the growth is projected to result from more births.

Rising population will place extreme pressure on producers to achieve the right balance between quality and quantity which threatens food standards. The Population Institute (PI) estimates that a 70% increase in food production will have to factor in various threats; including groundwater depletion, loss of farmland to urbanization and flooding and droughts caused by excessive climate change.

Earnings in developing countries are expected to rise with population and exceed economic poverty levels. However consumers in developing regions exhibit the greatest concern around overpopulation. According to GlobalData’s Q1 2017 global consumer survey, concern is highest in Middle East & Africa, where consumer concern for overpopulation is 55%.

However the post-Brexit agreement that emerges next year is expected to tackle some growing concerns as net migration is expected to be lower as the free movement of European expatriates is reduced.