Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
more at risk of climate change and food insecu-
rity. They also have more potential for mitigation
(and adaptation?), because they have to increase
their production more and because there is an
important effi ciency gap. On the other hand
developing countries have less means, policies,
and institutions to address these challenges.
The changes outlined have to be supported by
efforts to harness consumption. Consumption
patterns play an important role in the increased
demand on agriculture, on the impact of food
systems on environment, and also on food secu-
rity. More sustainable patterns of consumption
would, in particular, play an essential role to miti-
gate climate change (HLPE
2012
). Sustainable
diets are defi ned by FAO as “those diets with low
environmental impacts that contribute to food
and nutrition security and to healthy lives for
present and future generations. Sustainable diets
should be protective and respectful of biodiver-
sity and ecosystems, culturally acceptable, acces-
sible, economically fair and affordable,
nutritionally adequate, safe and healthy, while
optimizing natural and human resources” (FAO
2010
). But, to a great extent, the tools, policies,
and institutions that could infl uence consumption
and diets, especially in developed countries, are
very different from those that would be used to
transform agricultural systems.
No single approach can meet all of the com-
plex challenges, and decisive action is needed
across a wide front. This is perhaps unsurprising,
given the diversity and scale of the challenges,
and the need for the global food system to deliver
much more than just food, and food security in
the future. The attention of policy makers will
therefore shift to the question of prioritization -
where to focus efforts and how best to deploy
scarce resources. The following 12 cross-cutting
actions (these are not in any order of importance)
are priorities for policy makers as suggested.
• Make sustainable food production central in
development.
• Work on the assumption that there is little new
land for agriculture.
• Promote sustainable intensifi cation.
• Include the environment in food system
economics.
• Reduce waste - both in high- and low-income
countries.
• Improve the evidence base upon which
decisions are made and develop metrics to
assess progress.
•
Anticipate major issues with water availability
for food production.
•
Work to change consumption patterns.
•
Empower citizens.
14.2.1.1 Spread Best Practice
There are major advances to be made using exist-
ing knowledge and technologies to raise yields,
increase input use effi ciency, and improve
sustainability. But this will require signifi cant
investment of both fi nancial and political capitals
to ensure that food producers have the right incen-
tives and are equipped with the necessary skills to
meet current and future challenges. The following
priorities to achieve these ends have been high-
lighted: improvements in extension and advisory
services in high-, middle-, and low-income coun-
tries and strengthening of rights to land and natu-
ral resources in low-income countries. Adopting
proven models of extension and knowledge
exchange to build human and social capital is
critical for addressing all aspects of food produc-
tion from sustainable agronomy to business skills.
14.2.1.2 Invest in New Knowledge
There is a consensus among the results of food
system models that one of the most critical driv-
ers of future food supply is the rate of growth of
yields due to new science and technology. New
knowledge is also required for the food system to
become more sustainable, to mitigate and adapt
to climate change, and to address the needs of the
world's poorest. These challenges will require
solutions at the limits of human ingenuity and at
the forefront of scientifi c understanding. No one
technology or intervention is a panacea, but there
14.2.1 Key Priorities for Action
for Policy Makers
•
Spread best practice.
•
Invest in new knowledge.
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