Great story Jessica.

Curious, which environmental scientists, data points, research studies are you referencing?

Asking because while I am a decade out from graduate public health studies in demography, epidemiology and population statistics, I do remember an important lesson:

Earth's optimal carrying capacity is a topic far from established consensus, depending on modeling, projection formulae, inclusion criteria/variables, etc.

A few billion? Sure, if we're assuming the quality of life of the highest and most privileged in the developed world. [And they'd still complain.]

10 billion? Definitely plausible, provided the institution of universal basic income [UBI] and reduction of inequalities/inequities, and continued investment across the developing world and burgeoning economies, considering the most pertinent factors, including but not limited to:

access to clean fresh water; adequate caloric intake; sanitation and waste management; prevention of maternal/fetal and under-5 infant/child mortality; education and employment.

(This is according to the UN Environment Programme itself.)

Population is not the problem. Privatization and property, taken to excess and extreme, are.

Source: https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/how-feed-10-billion-people