The world production of grain and meat over 1961-2001 grew quicker than the population that almost doubled. The per capita production of grain increased by 20% and that of meat by 67%. The world production of milk grew slower and in 2001, expressed per capita, was 14% lower than in 1961. The progress in food output was achieved mainly by intensification of agricultural production; in the years 1961-2001 the area of agricultural land grew only by 11.8% and that of arable land by 10.7%, but irrigated area almost doubled and grain yields grew nearly 2.5 times. In a majority of countries of Europe, North America, Oceania, and in some countries of Latin America a high level of food production, exceeding internal demand, was achieved. A particularly quick growth of agricultural output took place in many countries of South and East Asia where the per capita production of grain, meat and milk considerably increased. A decline in food production, on the other hand, occurred in Africa and in the Middle East, where agricultural production did not keep pace with the population growth. In the countries of the former Soviet Union the decrease in arable land area took place and the nutrition level of the population worsened as compared with the 1961 level. In Poland, in the years 1961-2001 the area of agricultural land decreased especially that of arable land (by 13.4 percent). At the same time cereal yields grew by 70 percent, which resulted in an increase in per capita grain production. The production of meat grew slower than the European average and the per capita production of milk decreased, as a result of drop in number of dairy cows, not compensated by their higher milk yields.

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