The linkage between technology The linkage between technology transfer and productivity gains in transfer and productivity gains in

agricultureagriculture

Andrea SonninoAndrea Sonnino

FAO -Research and Extension DivisionFAO -Research and Extension Division

Rome, ItalyRome, Italy

28th Session of the WG on Trade and Transfer of Technology

Geneva – 14 July 2009

Yield increase of selected crops in Yield increase of selected crops in developing countries developing countries

(% over previous period)(% over previous period)

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000

Cassava

Maize

Wheat

Rice (paddy)

Sorghum

Food production increased faster than Food production increased faster than

population over the past 30 yearspopulation over the past 30 years

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

19

90

=1

00

Food production(world)

Food per capita(world)

Food production(Dev. C.)

Food per capita (Dev. C.)

1969/71 1999/01

Development of agricultural Development of agricultural productionproduction

• The Green Revolution The Green Revolution allowed to feed 6.4 billion allowed to feed 6.4 billion people,people,

• improved the livelihoods improved the livelihoods of several million farmersof several million farmers

• saved landsaved land• increased per capita food increased per capita food

availability > 18% from mid availability > 18% from mid ’90s. ’90s.

But:But:• 1,020 million still undernourished 1,020 million still undernourished • 1,2 billion absolute poor1,2 billion absolute poor• Vast areas excludedVast areas excluded• Natural resources base erodedNatural resources base eroded

Food demand is growing as result of growth Food demand is growing as result of growth of population, per capita food of population, per capita food

consumption...consumption...

010002000

300040005000600070008000

9000

population(million people)

foodconsumption

(Kcal/pers/day)

food demand(million tons)

1970

2000

2050

+38%

+11% +70%

1964/661997/99

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

kc

al/p

ers

on

/da

y

Food consumption per person and day in developing countries

Other (Milk, etc.)

Pulses

Roots and Tubers

Meat

Sugar

Vegetable oils

Coarse grains

Wheat

Rice

... and a shift towards a more nutritious ... and a shift towards a more nutritious and balanced dietand balanced diet

The growing food demand will be The growing food demand will be

met mainly by increased yieldsmet mainly by increased yields

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

1961-2005 1999-2030

Sources of growth in crop production (%)

Area

Croppingintensity

Yield

Leveraging existing assets Leveraging existing assets and knowledge baseand knowledge base

• Improving Improving Research Systems Research Systems

• Modernizing the Modernizing the Technical Technical Advisory ServicesAdvisory Services

• Building research Building research – extension – – extension – farmers linkagesfarmers linkages

• Exploiting the Exploiting the potential of ICTspotential of ICTs

• Bridging yield gapsBridging yield gaps• Protecting yield Protecting yield

gains gains • Minimizing post-Minimizing post-

harvest lossesharvest losses• Diversifying and Diversifying and

adding value to adding value to agricultural productsagricultural products

• Improving access to Improving access to marketmarket

Exploitable yield gaps:Exploitable yield gaps:actual versus obtainable yieldsactual versus obtainable yields

Wheat (high input, suitable land, rain-fed)

012345678

Germ

any

Ukrai

neUSA

Turkey

Argen

tina

Iran

Ethio

pia

Brazil

Tanza

nia

t/h

a

Potential

Actual

source: FAO (2002)source: FAO (2002)

Generating knowledge to improve Generating knowledge to improve productivity and sustainabilityproductivity and sustainability• Exploiting the molecular Exploiting the molecular

biology advances to biology advances to improve plant varieties improve plant varieties

• Genetic improvement of Genetic improvement of animal and fishanimal and fish

• Good agronomic Good agronomic practices to manage practices to manage water availability and water availability and soil fertilitysoil fertility

• Integrated control of Integrated control of animal and plant pest animal and plant pest and diseasesand diseases

• Redirecting R&D Redirecting R&D towards the needs of the towards the needs of the poor poor

• Enhancing yield Enhancing yield ceilingsceilings

• managing the natural managing the natural resources baseresources base

• promoting adaptation promoting adaptation to climate change and to climate change and disaster preparednessdisaster preparedness

• seeking congruence seeking congruence of productivity, of productivity, profitability and equityprofitability and equity

More investments in More investments in Agricultural R&D are neededAgricultural R&D are needed

0

2

4

6

Developedcountries

Developingcountries

% of Agric. GDP

Public sector Private sector

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

Million US$

Asia others ChinaIndia L. America othersBrazil WANASS Africa

Spending in Agricultural R&DSpending in Agricultural R&D

Insufficient and unstable Insufficient and unstable investments in R&D are only a investments in R&D are only a

part of the problem:part of the problem:

• Full participation of Full participation of farmers farmers

• coherent research and coherent research and extension policiesextension policies

• enabling regulationsenabling regulations• strengthened institutionsstrengthened institutions• skilled human capacitiesskilled human capacities• adequate infrastructuresadequate infrastructures• Capacity buildingCapacity building

Summary and conclusionsSummary and conclusions• Message 1:Message 1: Technical innovation in agriculture Technical innovation in agriculture

allowed to feed the growing population, but leaving allowed to feed the growing population, but leaving some problems unresolvedsome problems unresolved

• Message 2:Message 2: Agricultural production should increase Agricultural production should increase 70% by 2050 to meet the increasing food demand, by 70% by 2050 to meet the increasing food demand, by using an eroded resources base, and facing using an eroded resources base, and facing environmental challengesenvironmental challenges

• Message 3: Message 3: this target can be achieved mainly by this target can be achieved mainly by rising crop yields:rising crop yields:– making available to farmers existing technologiesmaking available to farmers existing technologies– developing new technologiesdeveloping new technologies– improving innovation systemsimproving innovation systems

• Message 4: Message 4: sustained investments and capacity sustained investments and capacity building are crucial to exploit the potential of building are crucial to exploit the potential of traditional and new knowledgetraditional and new knowledge