Archaeological evidence suggests that various crops were being cultivated as early as 9500 BC in the Levant. Over the millennia, continuous innovations have boosted agricultural productivity while reducing manual labor. However, the growing global population will always demand more food. It is projected that by 2050, the world's population will increase to 9.7 billion, which will require global food production to rise by at least 70% to meet demand. Despite this need, only a small portion of the Earth's surface is suitable for farming due to limitations such as climate, topography, soil quality, and technology. Political and economic factors, including land ownership patterns, environmental laws, and population density, also influence agricultural land use. In fact, the amount of land used for agriculture has been declining. In 2013, around 18.6 million square miles was used for food production, compared to 19.5 million square miles in 1991.