Well, this is a dillema. On the one hand, level 3 in everything takes an enoumous amount of points, and the only way to get them is to have more scientists, and the only way to get THEM is to have a larger population, and the only way to get that is to have more food.
hmmm....guess I'd have to go for the farming!
(note: this fits within the spcv guidelines since lack of medicine will cause some to die younger, but starvation could be perceived as unnecessary cruelty)