the iaastd reports ( agassessment key issues in relation to food and nutrition security
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The IAASTD Reports ( www.agassessment.org Key issues in relation to food and nutrition security. K. Hans R. Herren, Co-Chair IAASTD, President Millennium Institute [email protected] Brussels Rural Development Briefing on Food Security Dec 9, 2009. IAASTD: The Reports - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
KThe IAASTD Reports (www.agassessment.org
Key issues in relation to food and nutrition security
Hans R. Herren, Co-Chair IAASTD, President Millennium Institute
Brussels Rural Development Briefing on Food Security Dec 9, 2009
IAASTD: The ReportsIAASTD: The Reportswww.agassessment.orgwww.agassessment.org
Global / sub-Global Reports: 400 authors, 52 countries
Stakeholder identified the IAASTD Development and Sustainability Goals (=MDG) that the assessment will have to address in respect of AKST’s past, present and future impact on:
• Reducing Hunger and Poverty• Improving Rural Livelihoods• Improving Nutrition and Human Health• Facilitating Environmentally, Socially, Equitable and
Economically Sustainable Development
IAASTD background: tasks
…under the Challenges of:
• Climate Change• Population and Demand Growth• Shrinking Natural Resources / Energy
2008
Global context and recent trendsUnprecedented increase in ag productivity through R&D
The basis of the Green RevolutionNitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer, irrigation and pesticide use are UNSUSTAINABLE
David Tilman et al. Science 2001
1. People have benefited unevenly from the very significant yield increases across regions• inequity, poverty
• health / nutrition
• uneven trade
What’s the Problem with conventional agriculture?
2. this productivity increase has come at costs:
• environmental sustainability
• soils
• water
• biodiversity
• climate change
Uneven production across regions
Source: Stern Review
Critical Challenges: Climate change
Agriculture’s challenge: what is the right course to food and nutrition security?To meet the IAASTD (=MDG) sustainability and
development goals and respond to the new priorities and changing needs means:
“a fundamental shift in AKST and the linked agri-food system policies, institutions, capacity development and investments”
…..an organic revolution…..
i.e., addressing the multifunctionality of agriculture and the needs of the small-scale and family farms with an emphasis on the social, environmental and economic aspects aspects
Changing the R&D paradigm and focus
Agriculture’s critical challenges: Multifunctionality
Global Warming
Energy Sector
Human Population
Food Production
Fresh Water
Migration
Health Catastrophes
Land Loss & Flooding
Food Production
PlantCalories
MeatCalories
PlantConsumption
MeatConsumption
MeatProduction
PlantProduction
SoilCapacity Soil Nutient
ConsumptionSoil NutrientProductioin
Plant Calories forMeat Production
S
S
HumanPopulation
HumanBirths
HumanDeaths
Plant Calories forHuman Use
S
S
Calories perCapita
O
S
Life SustainingCalories per Capita
CalorieGapHabitat
Conversion
Acres inAgriculture
O
S
S
S
S
S
S
FertilizerDemand
S
S
O
Petroleum Use forFertilizer
S
S ToxicResidue
S
O
R
OPopulation
Density
Migration
Pursuit of 1st WorldFood Mix
Exposure to a HigherStandard of Living
MethaneProduction
S
S
S
S
S
S
WaterDemand
S
FaminesO
S
RB
B
S
Irrigation
SoilSalinization
S
S
O
S
BiofuelsProduction
Land Loss
GlobalTemperature
Variation in RainfallPattern
Droughts
S
S
S
O
O
O
Understand complexity of agriculture
A major challenge for food security: The small scale / family farmer
• Pro-poor progress requires:– creating opportunities for innovation and
entrepreneurship– Increased public research and extension
investment
• Small scale/family farm sustainability poses challenging policy choices:– payment for ecological services– decentralized governance systems and
technology choices
• Small scale/family farmers:
– Produce the bulk of global food – Are the largest number of stewards for the
environmental services and biodiversity– Higher and sustainable productivity increase at
their level will have a major impact on all the development goals (organic/ecological)
A major opportunity for food security: The small scale / family farmer
• Critical need: suite of policy approaches that address small-scale / family producers, including AKST designed to improve profitability of the sector
• Access to land and economic resources
• Access to urban and export markets
• Empower farmers with innovative tools, skills and knowledge to manage soils, water, biological resources, pests, etc….
• Combine farmers’ with external knowledge (new partnerships)
1. Poverty and livelihoods
Options for action : Sustainability Goals
Business as usual is not an option
• AKST approaches for development of food stock management, market intelligences, early warning, distribution systems, ICT
• Local production (food sovereignty), access and adequate nutritional information / education
• AKST policies geared towards high value and underutilized crops, organic and fair trade, strengthening of local markets, food safety nets
2. Food security
Options for action : Sustainability Goals
Business as usual is not an option
• AKST to enhance sustainability while maintaining productivity (protecting the natural resource base and ecological provisioning)
• improving nutrient, energy, water and land use efficiency• better understanding of crop – environment interactions (realize yield potential), farm diversification, promotion of agro-ecological and conservation agriculture (CA) systems
• Policies include ending perverse subsidies, payment for ecosystem services, promotion of IPM, organic agriculture, agro-ecology…..
3. Environmental sustainability
Options for action : Sustainability Goals
Business as usual is not an option
The IAASTD recognizes the inter-linkages between health, nutrition, agriculture and the ability to meet the sustainability goals
• AKSTs for an integrated approach
• increase food security and safety
• Additional investments to maintain / improve current systems
4. Human Health and nutrition
Options for action : Sustainability Goals
Business as usual is not an option
• Reform of the governance of AKST and related organizations (research, extension), integration of traditional / local knowledge
• Equitable access to production resources (land / water)
• Reward for multifunctionality and ecosystem services
• Multistakeholder participation in decision making
• Preferential investments in literacy, education and training
5. Equity
Options for action : Sustainability Goals
Business as usual is not an option
• Suggest caution……and consideration for the local context
• Different forms of agro-fuels and uses
• Weigh the full social, economic and environmental costs
1. Bio-energy
Options for action : AKST Themes
Business as usual is not an option
• Relationship is two ways: agriculture is part of the problem and now needs to be part of the solution
i.e., win-win solutions:
• lower rates of ag expansion into forests, natural habitats (preservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services)
• carbon sequestration measures
• reduction of external production inputs, increase resilience (fertilizers, pesticides, use organic ag principles and CA)
3. Climate change
Options for action : AKST Themes
Business as usual is not an option
• Complex links between health, nutrition, agriculture and AKST not always recognized as policy issue
• Ill health in the farming community affects the production potential (treadmill). Solution lie in increased income, education, utilization of wider range of food crops
• Consumption patterns: Need to focus consumers on quality, diversity rather than price and quantity
• Provide incentives for health promoting foods
• Joint research projects with nutritionists
4. Human Health
Options for action : AKST Themes
Business as usual is not an option
• NRs are the bases of food production
• Efficient management and utilization of NR to assure long term productivity of the agro-ecosystem
• More investment in research, training and education. Evaluate the value of the ecosystem services
• Develop new practitioners networks for long term NR management for the collective good
• Judicious use of the natural capital to ensure quality of life for future generations
5. Natural Resource Management
Options for action : AKST Themes
Business as usual is not an option
• Key elements in assuring food security and sovereignty
• needed to protect small scale / family farms
• Ag trade offers opportunities to the small scale farm sector, but only within a new economic order that removes resource –use and market distorting subsidies
• Environmental externalities need to be fully accounted for
• Ecosystem services and Carbon trade: new mechanisms to assist the small-scale farm sector
6. Trade and Markets
Options for action : AKST Themes
Business as usual is not an option
Opening national agricultural markets to international competition can Opening national agricultural markets to international competition can offer economic benefits, but can lead to long term offer economic benefits, but can lead to long term negative effectsnegative effects on on poverty alleviation, food security and the environment poverty alleviation, food security and the environment withoutwithout basic basic national national institutions and infrastructureinstitutions and infrastructure being in place being in place
Options for action: Trade
Business as usual is not an option
• Traditional / local knowledge key in agriculture and food systems
• importance of local knowledge in traditional foods
• maintenance of crop diversity builds on local knowledge and depends largely small-scale farmers
• traditional knowledge is dynamic and need to be integrated through participative working methods into modern AST
• issues with farmers rights to their knowledge and innovations
7. Traditional and local knowledge and community based innovation
Options for action : AKST Themes
Business as usual is not an option
• Issue of definition (conventional, modern) Biotechnology
Options for action
Current trends in agricultural market liberalization and reorganization of farm work, sustainability and health concerns are redefining links between gender and development
• 20 to 70 % women in ag production and postharvest activities (export crops)
• women face deteriorating health and work conditions, limited access to education and control over production resources, low income
• AKST to be directed towards women’s need
• investments in value chain (processing), safe practices, remove drudgery
8. Women in agriculture
Options for action : AKST Themes
Business as usual is not an option
Invest in long term gains versus short term quick fixes (i.e., deal with the cause not the symptoms by understanding the system)
Options for action
New Policies for food and nutrition security
You cannot solve the problem with the same kind of thinking that created the problem
Albert Einstein
Thank you
• More public investments in regional, national and local public goods; food security and safety; climate change and sustainability
• More public investments in agricultural knowledge systems/ knowledge networks; improved access to information (ICT); ecological, food, nutrition, social and complex systems’ science; life long learning along the food system.
• Public – private partnership to fund AKST
• Investment in rural infrastructure
6. Investments
Options for action : Sustainability Goals
• So far little impact on IAASTD Development and Sustainability Goals
• Methodological limitations in efficacy and safety testing
• Problem oriented R&D to continue, but not at the expense of other agricultural research, education and training
• Patent issue (increased costs for farmers, restricted experimentation, research and seed exchange; undermining local practices that would assure food security and economic sustainability)
• Exposure of farmers to liabilities, etc.
Biotechnology
Options for action
Options for action: consumption patterns and sustainable development
Business as usual is not an option