On April 26, the Council launched a new report, Growing Food for Growing Cities: Transforming Food Systems in an Urbanizing World, at the Global Food Security Symposium 2016. Each week since, we have highlighted one of the report’s recommendations on the Global Food for Thought blog. Check out this final post, and join the discussion using #GlobalAg. 

The entire agriculture research enterprise in the United States and around the world needs to focus on solving the future challenges of the global food system. Research and development is essential to sparking the innovations and approaches needed for today’s growers and food farmers to increase productivity, produce more nutritious food, use fewer resources, reduce food waste, and adapt to climate change. These efforts will help build a sustainable global food system. With strong leadership the world has the ability to prepare the global food system for coming challenges and help farmers engage in burgeoning urban markets. With unparalleled expertise, historical experience, and leadership potential at its disposal, the United States can and must rise to this challenge.

In light of the growing pressures from urban demand, the entire agriculture research enterprise in the United States and around the world needs to focus on solving the challenges facing food systems. The report calls on the United States to:

• Increase research investment for building productive, sustainable, and efficient food systems. Areas of focus include increased productivity, resilience, and transportability of foods; Improved harvesting and storage technologies; water utilization and conservation; climate resilience from farm to fork; and leapfrog technologies.
   
• Launch a new Feed the Future Innovation Lab focused on food systems’ efficiency.
   
• Invest in the next generation of scientists, entrepreneurs, and leaders in low-income countries.
   

 
Check out previous posts detailing the report's recommendations:   

Facilitating Regional Trade

Incentivizing Private Sector Investment  

U.S. Leadership Essential to Feed an Increasingly Urban World