Fedoroff, Nina V2016-06-022016-06-022015Fedoroff Agric & Food Secur (2015) 4:11http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/731DOI 10.1186/s40066-015-0031-7Over the past two centuries, the human population has grown sevenfold and the experts anticipate the addition of 2–3 billion more during the twenty-first century. In the present overview, I take a historical glance at how humans supported such extraordinary population growth first through the invention of agriculture and more recently through the rapid deployment of scientific and technological advances in agriculture. I then identify future challenges posed by continued population growth and climate warming on a finite planet. I end by discussing both how we can meet such challenges and what stands in the way.enPopulation growthAgricultureDomesticationGenetic modificationTechnologyArticle