The IAASTD Reports ( agassessment Key issues in relation to food and nutrition security

KThe IAASTD Reports (www.agassessment.org

Key issues in relation to food and nutrition security

Hans R. Herren, Co-Chair IAASTD, President Millennium Institute

[email protected]

Brussels Rural Development Briefing on Food Security Dec 9, 2009

http://www.agassessment.org/

mailto:[email protected]

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



• 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



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



• 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



• 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


• 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



• 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



• 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



• 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



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


• 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



• 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



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


• 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


Documents

The IAASTD Reports ( agassessment Key issues in relation to food and nutrition security