Productivity, environment, climate and food security –how can agriculture meet the challenges?
1. Productivity, environment, climate and food security – how can agriculture meet the challenges? Hans R. Herren Presidentwww.millennium-institute.org Presidentwww.biovision.ch Co-Chair IAASTD www.agassessment.org Coordinator UNEP GER Agriculture Chapter Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SSNC) Royal Swedish Academy for Forestry and Agriculture, 8 September 2011
2. Productivity, environment, climate and food security – how can agriculture meet the challenges? …by developing and implementing new policies informed by the key findings and options for action emanating from the IAASTD report “Agriculture at a Crossroads”
3. The IAASTD Reports (www.agassessment.org) Co-Chairs: Hans R Herren & Judy Whakungu Director: Bob Watson K Multi-stakeholder: 400 authors, 52 countries Multi-disciplinary Multi-locational: Global / sub-Global Reports
4. The IAASTD IAASTD Development and Sustainability Goals (=MDG = the 4 main areas where agriculture needs to transition): • Eradicating of Hunger and Poverty • Improving Rural Livelihoods • Improving Nutrition and Human Health • Facilitating Environmentally, Socially, Equitable and Economically Sustainable Development …under the challenges of: • Climate Change • Population and Demand Growth • Growing inequity • Shrinking Natural Resources / Energy
5. Agriculture a main problem: the green revolution Bases of green revolution is unsustainable (E-S-E) David Tilman et al. Science 2001
9. Main conclusions of the IAASTD “a fundamental shift in AKST and the linked agri-food system policies, institutions, capacity development and investments” Paradigm change: Transition to sustainable / organic /ecological agri - culture i.e., addresses multifunctionality and resilience needs of the small-scale and family farms (social & economic: equity issue, farmer status, land ownership, empowerment, women), quality job creation; • systemic and holistic approach (basic ecological principles); treat cause not symptoms;is part of the solution to hunger, poverty, health, CC
11. IAASTD Agriculture at a Crossroads 2009 “Agriculture for Development” (WDR 08, World Bank) “The Environmental Food Crisis” 2009 (UNEP) “A Viable Food Future” 2010 (The Development Fund) “Innovations that Nourish the Planet” (SOW 11, World Watch Institute) “Securing Future Food” 2010 (UK Food Group) “The future of food and Farming” 2011 (UK Foresight) “Green Economy Report” 2011 (UNEP) “Save and Grow” FAO 2011
12. Agriculture the main solution: Multifunctionality paradigm for sustainable development livable equitable sustainable viable
13. Agriculture the main solution: ..via a transition to sustainable, organic, agroecological, resilient, equitable agriculture High productivity Low productivity Sustainable Un-sustainable
14. Agroecology and Sustainable Development Solidarius certification Fair market Commercialization Extension Methodologies Legislation (policies) Cultural Socio-economics Conventional System Agroecology Conversion Environmental Alternative inputs Participatory research Farmer to farmer network Institutional partnerships Slide courtesy M. Altieri
15. Agroecology Agroecology is the study of the interactions between plants, animals, humans and the environment within agricultural systems. Consequently, agroecology is inherently multidisciplinary, including factors from agronomy, ecology, sociology and economics. In this case, the “-ecology” portion of "agroecology is defined broadly to include social, cultural, and economic contexts as well (Dalgaard et al.2003)
16. The Green way ahead: Organic agriculture (+resilience) Organic Conventional In 1995 –drought year
17. Green way ahead: ……..using the gifts of nature, habitat management
18. The Green way ahead: Animals on farm It is imperative to put the animals back on farm: sanitation, health, carbon cycle, sustainability
19. The Green way ahead: SRI: System of rice (and othercrops) intensification
20. Green way ahead: …no chemicals? more numbers 1:242 cost:benefits
22. Green way ahead: genetic engineering: less choices, diversity.. David Quist, 2010 pers com
23. The Green way ahead: More diversity (plants and animals) Encouraging a wider genetic base in agriculture…trees, fruits, grains, vegetables, lost crops, animals for nutrition, cultural diversity, incomes, pest control, resilience to climate change
25. Green way ahead: is knowledge intensive Improve and expand extension services (ICT) Introduce capacity building (ICT) Agriculture is very localized = local solutions Example: Biovision’s Farmer Communication Program
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27. Ag management practices (costs to transition from till to no till agriculture, training, access to small mechanization)
28. R&D (research on crop improvement, soil science and agronomy, appropriate mechanization, and more)
29. Food processing (better storage and processing in rural areas)In addition, need to invest in the “enabling conditions” (infrastructure, institutions, governance)
30. The forward looking scenarios: Its all connected…….system dynamics Land Loss & Flooding Food Production Health Catastrophes Energy Sector Human Population Migration Fresh Water Global Warming
31. Agriculture in a Green Economy (UNEP Report – 2011) Investing between 0.1% and 0.16% of total GDP ($83-$141 Billion) / year
32. The way ahead Rio+20 What are the optionswhen “Business as usual” is not an option? When is: NOW We have the key findings and options for action from the IAASTD report series… Now is time to implement them understand and remove the roadblocks, expand the multistakeholder process and link it to other policy relevant processes (CFS, etc)