In a commentary on AgriPulse, Marshall Matz and Peter Matz discuss sustainable agriculture production.
On September 29, the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Director-General José Graziano da Silva issued a call for climate smart agriculture and a “paradigm shift towards sustainable agriculture and family farming.” It is a theme we have seen in a number of recent reports by leading organizations, including:
As Secretary of State John Kerry noted on World Food Day, “The nexus between climate change and food security is undeniable.” A growing world population requires substantial productivity increases while climate change poses real threats to production output. By 2050, the global population is expected to increase by another 2 billion people. According to the FAO, that means agricultural production will need to increase by sixty percent if there's any hope of meeting the increased demand for food and feed.
These are just a few of the many studies urging greater sensitivity to the environment and “sustainable” agricultural practices. Gone are the days of planting crops from fence-row to fence-row while using the maximum amount of inputs. But what is meant by the term sustainable agriculture production?
The Global Food and Agriculture Program aims to inform the development of US policy on global agricultural development and food security by raising awareness and providing resources, information, and policy analysis to the US Administration, Congress, and interested experts and organizations.
The Global Food and Agriculture Program is housed within the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, an independent, nonpartisan organization that provides insight – and influences the public discourse – on critical global issues. The Council on Global Affairs convenes leading global voices and conducts independent research to bring clarity and offer solutions to challenges and opportunities across the globe. The Council is committed to engaging the public and raising global awareness of issues that transcend borders and transform how people, business, and governments engage the world.
Support for the Global Food and Agriculture Program is generously provided by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
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