World Food Day – The Mathematics of Agriculture

Feeding the world requires mathematics: crop yield models (linear regression), resource allocation (linear programming), supply chains (network flows), and climate modelling (differential equations). The Green Revolution used plant breeding based on quantitative genetics (statistics of heritability). Precision agriculture uses GPS and optimisation to apply fertiliser and water only where needed. The global food system is a massive optimisation problem – and mathematics helps us avoid famine, reduce waste, and minimise environmental damage.