This theory, though highly debated upon for over centuries already, remains one of the most popular trains of thought among economists. In fact, the growth rate of world population has accelerated over the last century at a very significant rate. It took the world population millions of years to reach the first billion, then 123 years to get to the second, followed by 33 years to the third, 14 years to the fourth, and 13 years to the fifth billion, with the promise of a sixth billion to come in another 11 years.

As populations grow, demands on resources naturally increase. In view of this, many social scientists argue that there are major fluctuations in the ability of the environment to satisfy our needs. Take for example the consumption of water. At one point or the other, water resources will dry up if not properly used. After all, water is not considered as a renewable resource. The same is true then, with food.

While globalization is pursuing market freedom and political interdependence, a substantial number of people who are starving exist. Indeed, massive hunger causes great misery in many parts of the world. What makes this prevalent hunger even more appalling is the fact that the world has learned to put up with it as an essential part of the modern world.

Because of this social dilemma, the question now is: Is the world food output falling behind in its race against world population? Since Malthus’ time, the world population has grown nearly six times. It is, therefore, remarkable that in spite the many economic and environmental problems -- the global production of food has continued to grow.

This pushes some economists to argue that the problem of poverty does not really lie on food production, or its lack thereof. More than anything else, they say, poverty has something to do with income shortage. No matter how plentiful food is, if the people lack the money to purchase it, then poverty will continue to persist.

Despite this argument, there is still a need to slow down population growth. The environmental challenge that the world has to face does not just involve food production. There are still many other issues related to population growth and overcrowding. One of these issues is the pattern of consumption in developed countries.

In fact, how man uses his natural resources is integral part in solving current environmental problems. Will the world still be capable of producing food for its population ten years from now? As it is, there is the dangerous possibility that water scarcities could become dangerously acute in the near future. Gas emission by millions of cars and other motorized vehicles has ripped off part of the planet’s ozone layer. Air pollution, wastage of energy resource, deforestation. These are just some of the many problems brought about by population growth.

Indeed, the drive for economic growth and progress has been linked to environmental problems. In fact, industrial agriculture, which uses more monocultures than diversity of crops is being blamed for the loss of biodiversity. Industrial agriculture, however, is inevitable because of the growing number of mouths to feed not only in developed countries, but in developing ones, as well. Intensive breeding of livestock and poultry for fast-food restaurants and for high personal consumption is also being held responsible for the massive degradation of the earth’s rainforests. Records show that water crucial for meat breeding comes to about 190 gallons per animal per day.

In the end, everything is interrelated. Population growth means more people to feed, more people to feed means the use of more natural resources, and relentless use of natural resources will eventually lead to environmental degradation that will, in turn, intensify poverty. It is a cycle that may never end as poverty will also encourage population growth. The crucial step, therefore, is to formulate a systematic approach towards this problem that will solve not only one part of it. Demographics have to be taken into consideration because a solution that may work for one country may not work for another.