GLOBAL AGRICULTURE 2020:  WHICH WAY FORWARD?

MAIN THEMES EMERGE AT FIRST DAY OF GLOBAL AGRICULTURE 2020 CONFERENCE

Presentations and discussions at the first day of an international conference at the John Innes Centre, Norwich have highlighted some of the themes that will influence agricultural research and development in the medium term future.  Over the next two to three decades, agriculture will face greater challenges than ever before.  They include:
 

• Securing food for a huge increase in the world population from six to eight or nine  billion people in 20-30 years
• A decreasing area of land available for agriculture as the result of urbanisation and desertification
• Reduction of water availability and quality
• Need to respond to climate change
• Need for productive, nutritious, safe and sustainable crops
• Maintaining economic viability in the agricultural industry

• Over the next 20-30 years agriculture will become increasingly multi-functional.  It will be necessary to take a broader view of agriculture to include a wider range of agricultural products such as fuels, pharmaceuticals, alternative feed stuffs for animals, chemicals and industrial raw materials. This is likely to happen at different rates in different parts of the world.
• Views of those who believe that the main thrust of research should be directed towards improving production need to be reconciled with others who believe that better distribution systems can provide the solution to food needs.
• The general level of knowledge and understanding of the scientific basis for modern agriculture needs to be improved to enable people to take part in the debate on developing agriculture and technology.
• Whilst huge financial effort is being devoted to complex technological advances, there are many opportunities to apply simpler technology appropriate to local situations.  Communities need to plan and act locally.   Ways should be found to support projects that deliver appropriate and sustainable solutions where the overall market may not be large enough to ensure economic viability.
• There is a need for a common definition and understanding of sustainability and this should include political and economic issues.
• In many areas of the world the risk and cost of initial failure is too high to encourage the application of new technologies.
• It will be essential to encourage young people to enter agriculture and retain them in the industry.  This can best be done by improving agriculture’s social image, increasing the opportunities for intellectual challenge and stimulation and by raising profitability.
• A digital divide is developing between those who have access to information technology and those who do not, and this will inhibit the application of advanced IT-based agricultural systems.
• Gender issues need to be taken into account because of the major economic role of women in agriculture.  In addition, special attention needs to be paid to the nutritional needs of the female population in developing countries.  Under nourishment is particularly significant for pregnant women because, in addition to direct effects on the health of the mother and foetus, there are longer-term implications for the physical and mental health of the children in the next generation.
• It will be important to ensure that new products are acceptable and are taken up by consumers.  New routes to consumers need to be developed.
• In planning future research, development and application the roles of government and industry need to be balanced.
• A global market for agricultural produce is developing and countries need to be able to access it, but not to the detriment of production for local needs.
• It is important to capitalise on local knowledge of the novel properties of plants and traditions in their use, e.g. medicinal uses.
• The multidisciplinary nature of the conference attendance is already providing dividends by highlighting a wide range of significant issues.  The conference outcomes will be used to identify opportunities where scientific research can help achieve development aims.

1  For further information contact:

Dr George Forster, on 07973 452772

2  Further information for the press will be issues as the conference develops.