By 2050, the Earth’s population will likely have swelled from seven to nine billion people. To fill all those stomachs — while accounting for shifting consumption patterns, climate change, and a finite amount of arable land and potable water — some experts say food production will have to double. How can we make the numbers add up ? Experts say higher yielding crop varieties and more efficient farming methods will be crucial. So will waste reduction. Experts urge cities to reclaim nutrients and water from waste streams and preserve farmland. Poor countries, they say, can improve crop storage and packaging and rich nations could cut back on resource-intensive foods like meat.

Which one of the following statements best sums up the above passage ?

The correct option is "Food security is increasingly a collective challenge."

Here is a step-by-step breakdown of why this option best sums up the passage:

1. Analyzing the Problem: The passage begins by identifying a massive impending challenge: by 2050, the global population will reach nine billion, requiring food production to double. This challenge is further complicated by climate change, shifting consumption patterns, and limited land and water resources.

2. Identifying the Multi-Faceted Solutions: The passage lists several distinct actions required to address this problem:
- Farmers must use higher-yielding crops and more efficient farming methods.
- Cities must reclaim nutrients and water from waste streams and preserve farmland.
- Poor countries need to improve crop storage and packaging.
- Rich nations must reduce their consumption of resource-intensive foods like meat.

3. Synthesizing the Core Theme: Because the solutions span actions required by farmers, cities, developing (poor) nations, and developed (rich) nations, the effort cannot be solved by any single group, region, or industry alone. It requires global coordination and shared responsibility.

4. Conclusion: Therefore, food security is not just a localized or individual issue, but a collective, global challenge that demands cooperative action from all parts of the world. This directly aligns with the option stating that food security is increasingly a collective challenge.