scispace - formally typeset
Search or ask a question
Journal ArticleDOI

Food Security: The Challenge of Feeding 9 Billion People

TL;DR: A multifaceted and linked global strategy is needed to ensure sustainable and equitable food security, different components of which are explored here.
Abstract: Continuing population and consumption growth will mean that the global demand for food will increase for at least another 40 years. Growing competition for land, water, and energy, in addition to the overexploitation of fisheries, will affect our ability to produce food, as will the urgent requirement to reduce the impact of the food system on the environment. The effects of climate change are a further threat. But the world can produce more food and can ensure that it is used more efficiently and equitably. A multifaceted and linked global strategy is needed to ensure sustainable and equitable food security, different components of which are explored here.

Content maybe subject to copyright    Report

Citations
More filters
Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This paper presents a meta-analyses of the chiral stationary phase replacement of Na6(CO3)(SO4)2, Na2SO4, and Na2CO3 of the H2O/O2 mixture and shows clear patterns in the response of these two types of molecules to each other in a stationary phase.
Abstract: Brian M. Hoffman,* Dmitriy Lukoyanov, Zhi-Yong Yang,† Dennis R. Dean,*,‡ and Lance C. Seefeldt*,† †Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Utah State University, 0300 Old Main Hill, Logan, Utah 84322, United States ‡Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Tech, 900 West Campus Drive, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States Departments of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States

1,247 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a review of methods to estimate yield gaps, with a focus on the local-to-global relevance of outcomes, is presented, based on which the authors recommend key components for a yield gap assessment that can be applied at local to global scales.

1,196 citations


Cites background from "Food Security: The Challenge of Fee..."

  • ...Whereas seven years ago there was relatively little concern for meeting projected food demand through improvements in crop productivity, today there is increasing awareness that “business as usual” will not allow food production to keep pace with demand—a situation that may result in dramatic rises in food prices, poverty, and hunger (FAO, 2003, 2006; Royal Society of London, 2009; Koning and van Ittersum, 2009; Godfray et al., 2010)....

    [...]

  • ...…today there is increasing awareness that “busiess as usual” will not allow food production to keep pace with emand—a situation that may result in dramatic rises in food prices, overty, and hunger (FAO, 2003, 2006; Royal Society of London, 009; Koning and van Ittersum, 2009; Godfray et al., 2010)....

    [...]

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Although yields continue to increase in many areas, it is found that across 24-39% of maize-, rice-, wheat- and soybean-growing areas, yields either never improve, stagnate or collapse, which underscores the challenge of meeting increasing global agricultural demands.
Abstract: In the coming decades, continued population growth, rising meat and dairy consumption and expanding biofuel use will dramatically increase the pressure on global agriculture. Even as we face these future burdens, there have been scattered reports of yield stagnation in the world's major cereal crops, including maize, rice and wheat. Here we study data from ∼2.5 million census observations across the globe extending over the period 1961-2008. We examined the trends in crop yields for four key global crops: maize, rice, wheat and soybeans. Although yields continue to increase in many areas, we find that across 24-39% of maize-, rice-, wheat- and soybean-growing areas, yields either never improve, stagnate or collapse. This result underscores the challenge of meeting increasing global agricultural demands. New investments in underperforming regions, as well as strategies to continue increasing yields in the high-performing areas, are required.

1,164 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present the largest standardized model intercomparison for climate change impacts so far, finding that individual crop models are able to simulate measured wheat grain yields accurately under a range of environments, particularly if the input information is sufficient.
Abstract: Projections of climate change impacts on crop yields are inherently uncertain(1). Uncertainty is often quantified when projecting future greenhouse gas emissions and their influence on climate(2). However, multi-model uncertainty analysis of crop responses to climate change is rare because systematic and objective comparisons among process-based crop simulation models(1,3) are difficult(4). Here we present the largest standardized model intercomparison for climate change impacts so far. We found that individual crop models are able to simulate measured wheat grain yields accurately under a range of environments, particularly if the input information is sufficient. However, simulated climate change impacts vary across models owing to differences in model structures and parameter values. A greater proportion of the uncertainty in climate change impact projections was due to variations among crop models than to variations among downscaled general circulation models. Uncertainties in simulated impacts increased with CO2 concentrations and associated warming. These impact uncertainties can be reduced by improving temperature and CO2 relationships in models and better quantified through use of multi-model ensembles. Less uncertainty in describing how climate change may affect agricultural productivity will aid adaptation strategy development and policymaking.

1,049 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors report that food outputs by sustainable intensification have been multiplicative and additive, by combining the use of new and improved varieties and new agronomic agroecological management (crop yields rose on average by 2.13-fold).
Abstract: Over the past half-century, agricultural production gains have provided a platform for rural and urban economic growth worldwide. In African countries, however, agriculture has been widely assumed to have performed badly. Foresight commissioned analyses of 40 projects and programmes in 20 countries where sustainable intensification has been developed during the 1990s–2000s. The cases included crop improvements, agroforestry and soil conservation, conservation agriculture, integrated pest management, horticulture, livestock and fodder crops, aquaculture and novel policies and partnerships. By early 2010, these projects had documented benefits for 10.39 million farmers and their families and improvements on approximately 12.75 million ha. Food outputs by sustainable intensification have been multiplicative—by which yields per hectare have increased by combining the use of new and improved varieties and new agronomic—agroecological management (crop yields rose on average by 2.13-fold), and additive—by which ...

1,008 citations


Cites background from "Food Security: The Challenge of Fee..."

  • ..., 2009) Sustainable agricultural intensification is defined as producing more output from the same area of land while reducing the negative environmental impacts and at the same time increasing contributions to natural capital and the flow of environmental services (Pretty, 2008; Royal Society, 2009; Conway and Waage, 2010; Godfray et al., 2010)....

    [...]

  • ...All commentators now agree that food production worldwide will have to increase substantially in the coming years and decades (World Bank, 2008; IAASTD, 2009; Royal Society, 2009; Godfray et al., 2010; Lele et al., 2010)....

    [...]

  • ...…is defined as producing more output from the same area of land while reducing the negative environmental impacts and at the same time increasing contributions to natural capital and the flow of environmental services (Pretty, 2008; Royal Society, 2009; Conway and Waage, 2010; Godfray et al., 2010)....

    [...]

  • ...All commentators now agree that food production worldwide will have to increase substantially in the coming years and decades (World Bank, 2008; IAASTD, 2009; Royal Society, 2009; Godfray et al., 2010; Lele et al., 2010)....

    [...]

  • ...At the same time, an unprecedented combination of pressures is emerging to threaten the health of existing social and ecological systems (Pretty, 2008; Royal Society, 2009; Godfray et al., 2010)....

    [...]

References
More filters
28 Jul 2005
TL;DR: PfPMP1)与感染红细胞、树突状组胞以及胎盘的单个或多个受体作用,在黏附及免疫逃避中起关键的作�ly.
Abstract: 抗原变异可使得多种致病微生物易于逃避宿主免疫应答。表达在感染红细胞表面的恶性疟原虫红细胞表面蛋白1(PfPMP1)与感染红细胞、内皮细胞、树突状细胞以及胎盘的单个或多个受体作用,在黏附及免疫逃避中起关键的作用。每个单倍体基因组var基因家族编码约60种成员,通过启动转录不同的var基因变异体为抗原变异提供了分子基础。

18,940 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
29 Feb 2008-Science
TL;DR: Converting rainforests, peatlands, savannas, or grasslands to produce food crop–based biofuels in Brazil, Southeast Asia, and the United States creates a “biofuel carbon debt” by releasing 17 to 420 times more CO2 than the annual greenhouse gas reductions that these biofuel reductions would provide by displacing fossil fuels.
Abstract: Increasing energy use, climate change, and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil fuels make switching to lowcarbon fuels a high priority. Biofuels are a potential lowcarbon energy source, but whether biofuels offer carbon savings depends on how they are produced. Converting rainforests, peatlands, savannas, or grasslands to produce food-based biofuels in Brazil, Southeast Asia, and the United States creates a ‘biofuel carbon debt’ by releasing 17 to 420 times more CO2 than the annual greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions these biofuels provide by displacing fossil fuels. In contrast, biofuels made from waste biomass or from biomass grown on abandoned agricultural lands planted with perennials incur little or no carbon debt and offer immediate and sustained GHG advantages. Demand for alternatives to petroleum is increasing the production of biofuels from food crops such as corn, sugarcane, soybeans and palms. As a result, land in

3,856 citations

01 Jan 2011
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors highlight the differential impacts that the world food crisis of 2006-2008 had on different countries, with the poorest being most affected, and present policy options to reduce volatility in a cost-effective manner and to manage it when it cannot be avoided.
Abstract: This report highlights the differential impacts that the world food crisis of 2006-2008 had on different countries, with the poorest being most affected. This year’s report focuses on the costs of food price volatility, as well as the dangers and opportunities presented by high food prices. Climate change and an increased frequency of weather shocks, increased linkages between energy and agricultural markets due to growing demand for biofuels, and increased financialization of food and agricultural commodities all suggest that price volatility is here to stay. The report describes the effects of price volatility on food security and presents policy options to reduce volatility in a cost-effective manner and to manage it when it cannot be avoided.

3,644 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
13 Apr 2001-Science
TL;DR: Should past dependences of the global environmental impacts of agriculture on human population and consumption continue, 109 hectares of natural ecosystems would be converted to agriculture by 2050, accompanied by 2.4- to 2.7-fold increases in nitrogen- and phosphorus-driven eutrophication of terrestrial, freshwater, and near-shore marine ecosystems.
Abstract: During the next 50 years, which is likely to be the final period of rapid agricultural expansion, demand for food by a wealthier and 50% larger global population will be a major driver of global environmental change. Should past dependences of the global environmental impacts of agriculture on human population and consumption continue, 10(9) hectares of natural ecosystems would be converted to agriculture by 2050. This would be accompanied by 2.4- to 2.7-fold increases in nitrogen- and phosphorus-driven eutrophication of terrestrial, freshwater, and near-shore marine ecosystems, and comparable increases in pesticide use. This eutrophication and habitat destruction would cause unprecedented ecosystem simplification, loss of ecosystem services, and species extinctions. Significant scientific advances and regulatory, technological, and policy changes are needed to control the environmental impacts of agricultural expansion.

3,606 citations

Related Papers (5)
Trending Questions (1)
Allegory District 9?

The provided paper does not mention anything about the allegory District 9.