Rice Yield Improvements

Scientist at Work | Norman T. Uphoff: Food Revolution That Starts With Rice

If this is true (a bit of controversy), it shows how improvement is possible beyond using better seeds, but by using a better method. A book I read a while ago (over 10), spoke of how in classical re-engineering first you get the process as efficient as possible, which usually involves a lot of simplification. Then you may find out that automation is not even needed. To automate an existing system without figuring out the best way will result in the same problems, only done faster. If I remember correctly, it was a book by Schonberger about World Class Manufacturing. May be it was 20 years ago. Product line was going kanban and I believe it was hp.

Crops - Possible Improvements

Supply and demand. Increased demand with same supply, means higher prices usually. Which then increases supply. With the huge increase in food prices, what are ways supply may increase? Monsanto Seeks Big Increase in Crop Yields is one way. Better seeds that may double yields for cotton for example. Another is opening up new areas for farming. The challenge with that is infrastructure for areas outside of developed countries. Africa due to European influence is against bio seeds. A lot of research and improvement is also possible in staples, such as Yams, Bananas, etc. that are eaten in the third world. Rice, Wheat, and Corn have gone through yield improvements.