Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
limit economic growth (Sachs 2005). However, it should be recognized that econo-
mic growth in itself is not a remedy for hunger. It cannot guarantee equitable access
to natural resources and markets and it does not ensure that people can claim their
rights. More insights and knowledge are needed on this topic and inter-disciplinary
research should make a contribution there. To have impact, higher investments in
science, technology and education are needed to break the poverty trap. Moreover,
to make rapid progress in achieving the MDG of hunger and poverty reduction
requires coherent international as well as domestic policies and harmonization
between the two - including coherence in setting research priorities and financing of
agricultural and rural development (Pingali et al. 2006; Kuiper et al. 2007; IAASTD
2005-2007; www.agassessment.org).
Research challenges
Research continues to be necessary in plant breeding, agronomy, farm management,
human nutrition and rural sociology in order to work jointly with communities to
attain the knowledge and technologies necessary to adapt to environmental change,
limit yield losses and identify the best land use options in the given local biophysical
and socio-economic settings. For example, for the rice-based systems in Asia, Hossain
(2007) emphasizes that the most important strategy for sustaining food security is to
increase the productivity of scarce land and water resources. He further concludes
that rice research needs (i) to raise yield ceilings of available rice varieties,
(ii) protect past yield gains in irrigated ecosystems using advancements in genomics,
genetics and biotechnology, and (iii) developing high-yielding varieties for rainfed
systems that are tolerant of drought, submergence and problem soils.
At the same time, research related to food security, human nutrition and health
will need to deal with several new challenges. In the following we will address some
of the new challenges and how they could be met.
Change in diets
Currently, a major transition in diets is taking place (mainly in Asia) from staple
food to animal products. The extent to which and the rate at which this transition
takes place is uncertain, and results in considerable differences in food demand
projections (example rice: Khush (2005) versus Smil (2005): 30-40% versus 10-20%
increase); Smil's (2005) comprehensive analysis, guided by the assumption of
increasing demand for animal products in the future, indicates some of the enormous
consequences for global food systems and resource requirements. Demand for feed
crops will increase (soybean, maize) and for staple crops decrease (rice and wheat).
Animal production will be concentrated in peri-urban areas around mega-cities.
Increased efforts will be needed to reduce environmental pollution in such regions
with intensive animal production - to reduce the negative consequences of imported
nutrient excesses. In other regions, the additional demand for feed and bio-fuel crops
will compete with the land/natural resources needed for food crop production. Scenario
studies should be conducted to make these complex interactions transparent.
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