Concern is growing about future food scarcity. Price volatility in important food commodities contributes to political unrest around the world. New regional famines are emerging, particularly in Africa. The need to expand agricultural production is contributing to climate change, outpacing limited water and land availability and causing environmental degradation and biodiversity loss. As evidenced in the United Nations–sponsored International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science, and Technology, there are major questions about the efficacy of differing policy and investment strategies to meet impending future needs. What should be our science and technology policy and investment priorities in order to meet the food needs of 9 to 10 billion people by 2050? Will the use of genetically modified organisms and large-scale mechanized cultivation in the context of market systems dominated by large corporate structures be more efficient but destroy the natural resources base and the integrity of vulnerable societies? Can alternative models based on small-scale systems, agroecology, "organic" principles of sustainability, and the incorporation of social justice and cultural integrity concerns meet demand? How best do we take into account food quality and the cultural importance of food in our technological choices? Symposium panelists will discuss the complexity and difficulties in the application of science and technology to our most fundamental need.