World population growing by 150 every minute
The result of these huge increases is a growing level of food insecurity in a number of African countries. In Senegal, for example, where agricultural production has lagged behind the growing population due to an increasingly urban lifestyle, over 1 million people are currently classed as food insecure according to the United Nations' World Food Programme.
The situation has led to investment opportunities for those looking to grow their good karma as well as their profits.
Ray Withers,Chief Executive of investment company Property Frontiers, explains: "The demand for food in Senegal has risen dramatically in the past few decades, but agricultural production has not kept up. Senegal has seen movement towards a far more urban demographic in recent years, meaning a rising level of food needs to be imported each year in order to meet demand. In fact Senegal currently imports 60% of food stuffs, a staggering amount.
"For the Senegalese, this means rising prices, with many families able to afford less food now than they could last year. The result is growing food insecurity within the country, which is why we at Property Frontiers are so pleased to present our latest alternative investment opportunity."
Mr Withers is referring to his company's latest alternative investment opportunity, which he Sees as one of the most exciting to have been made available for quite some time. The structured agricultural investment consists of a rotational farming system of three fast-growing and highly sought after crops - maize, onion and sweet potato. The crops are insured and re-insured by Swiss Re.
As well as providing much-needed food for the Senegalese, the investment will also create long-term jobs for the local community, with those involved learning life-long skills in farming, as well as the latest methods and techniques for increasing efficiency and boosting production levels.
As a socially responsible project with such a positive legacy, Property Frontiers' Senegalese structured agricultural investment is causing quite a stir. With a low entry point (just £20,000 for membership of a UK company) and expected returns of 239% over 5 years, it's clear to see why investors are lining up to be involved.
World food prices have remained at almost record levels since the dramatic increases of 2007/08, according to the World Bank's Food Price Index, making the high level of food imports in Senegal an expensive and unsustainable practice. While government initiatives are attempting to address the problem, the solution is not yet in place, meaning structured agricultural investments are even more important in feeding and securing the future of families across Senegal.