'Global middle class population to touch 5 billion by 2030'

The global middle class population is set to touch five billion by 2030, leading to one of the biggest challenges in the 21st century, a UK expert has said.

"The growth of the middle class population in the world will mainly emanate from the Asia-Pacific region. Presently, the number is around two billion which will rise to five billion by 2030," David King, former chief scientific advisor in the UK government, said.

King said that the rise in the middle class population and consequent increase in demand would pose a great challenge in the 21st century as it would result in a food crisis and affect other issues like energy security.

The impending crisis could be solved only through a set of innovative technological and scientific solutions, he said at an interactive session organised by the Bengal Chamber of Commerce here.

King said that India had a great role to play in mitigating the impending food crisis.

He said that India needed a second green revolution which would have a sobering effect on the supply function in view of the rising demand.