Hans R. Herren, Co-Chair IAASTD, President Millennium Institute 2009 FAWCO Conference March 20, 2009 Food Security in a Changing World: International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development (

The food security issue: 1. Background 2. Global context and recent trends 3. What’s the problem? 4. Future challenges 5. Options for action

Co-sponsors FAO, UNEP, UNESCO, UNDP, WB, WHO, GEF 1. Background to the IAASTD: Who Bureau (30 countries and 30 delegates from the private sector, civil society/NGOs

- multi-thematic approach (nutritional security, livelihoods, human health, environmental sustainability); - multi-spatial (global and sub-global assessments); - multi-temporal (1950 to 2050); - Global Report: 230 authors and REs, 52 countries - Sub-Global Reports: each 30/35 authors, 5 regions Peer reviewed by Governments and experts Integrates local Knowledge with institutional Knowledge and looks at policy and institutional issues in light of history (50 years) and proposes options for action Created a common vision of the future of agriculture approved by 58 countries in April 2008, and welcomed by 61 countries - multi-thematic approach (nutritional security, livelihoods, human health, environmental sustainability); - multi-spatial (global and sub-global assessments); - multi-temporal (1950 to 2050); - Global Report: 230 authors and REs, 52 countries - Sub-Global Reports: each 30/35 authors, 5 regions Peer reviewed by Governments and experts Integrates local Knowledge with institutional Knowledge and looks at policy and institutional issues in light of history (50 years) and proposes options for action Created a common vision of the future of agriculture approved by 58 countries in April 2008, and welcomed by 61 countries 1. Background to the IAASTD: How

IAASTD The Reports

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 …under the Challenges of: Climate Change (new) Population and Demand Growth Shrinking Natural Resources / Energy 1. Background to the IAASTD: What

Food crisis Water crisis Environmental crisis Climate crisis Fiancial and credit crisis Hunger crisis Biodiversity crisis …etc. 2. Global context and recent trends

Drivers of the recent increase in food prices Increased demand from rapidly developing countries, e.g., China, Brazil, India…… Poor harvests due to variable weather -possibly related to human-induced climate change Increased use of agro-fuels, especially maize in the US High energy prices, fertilizer/agro chemicals land prices Export bans from some large exporting countries Speculation on the commodity markets Key question is whether this is a blip or a harbinger

? Global context and recent trends Unprecedented increase in ag productivity through R&D

1. People have benefited unevenly from the very significant yield increases across regions inequity, poverty health / nutrition uneven trade 3. What’s the Problem? …and 2. this productivity increase has come at costs: environmental sustainability soils water biodiversity climate change

More people means less cultivated land per person for food, feed, (agro)-fuel and fiber production 3. What’s the Problem?

Source: Stern Review 4. Critical Challenges: Climate change

Today's agriculture is characterized by Disconnects, both in the developed and developing world: Disconnects between agriculture and the environment Disconnects between consumers and farmers or land and cities Disconnects between policies and consequences (intended and un-intended) 3. What’s the Problem? Key findings

Demand for food will double within the next years Need sustained and sustainable growth across the agricultural sector to feed the world with nutritious and healthy food to enhance rural livelihoods to stimulate economic growth …while meeting food safety standards (i.e.,phytotoxins) farmers health concerns (i.e., pesticides) environmental concerns (i.e., ability of the ecosystems to sustain production of goods and services) …all in an environmentally, economically and socially sustainable manner…… 4. Future Challenges

4. Critical Challenges: Multifunctional agriculture Changing the R&D paradigm and focus

Realizing the IAASTD sustainability goals requires acknowledging the multifunctionality of agriculture: The challenge is to simultaneously meet development and sustainability goals while increasing agricultural production 4. Critical Challenges: Multifunctional agriculture

4. A major challenge and opportunity: The small scale farmer Pro-poor progress requires: –creating opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurship –Increased public research and extension investment Small scale farm sustainability – poses challenging policy choices – payment for ecological services – decentralized governance systems and technology choices

Small scale 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 4. A major challenge and opportunity: The small scale farmer Critical need to inform and support a suite of policy approaches that address small-scale / family producers, including AKST designed to improve profitability of the sector

1.Empower, involve and support farmers (women) in sustainable agricultural practices, restoration and management of ecosystem services; crop/animal and labor productivity increases; safety nets 1.Improve access to production resources and remunerative employment on and off farm; recognize the critical role of women and empower them (education, land tenure, add value locally to agricultural products) 1.Improve markets, infrastructure, and institutions 2.Expand and disseminate ecosystem sustainability oriented research, knowledge, and technology with stakeholder participation (soil fertility, animals on farms, diversity, IP) New Equitable & Sustainable Way Forward 5. Options for action

Targeting AKST strategies that combine productivity with protection of natural resources (i.e., pollination) 1. Empower, involve and support farmers 5. Options for action

1.Empower, involve and support farmers (women) in sustainable agricultural practices, restoration and management of ecosystem services; crop/animal and labor productivity increases; safety nets 1.Improve access to production resources and remunerative employment on and off farm; recognize the critical role of women and empower them (education, land tenure, add value locally to agricultural products) 2.Improve markets, infrastructure, and institutions 3.Expand and disseminate ecosystem sustainability oriented research, knowledge, and technology with stakeholder participation (soil fertility, animals on farms, diversity, IP) New Equitable & Sustainable Way Forward 5. Options for action

1.Empower, involve and support farmers (women) in sustainable agricultural practices, restoration and management of ecosystem services; crop/animal and labor productivity increases; safety nets 2.Improve access to production resources and remunerative employment on and off farm; recognize the critical role of women and empower them (education, land tenure, add value locally to agricultural products) 3.Improve markets, infrastructure, and institutions 4.Expand and disseminate ecosystem sustainability oriented research, knowledge, and technology with stakeholder participation (soil fertility, animals on farms, diversity, IP) New Equitable & Sustainable Way Forward 5. Options for action

1.Empower, involve and support farmers (women) in sustainable agricultural practices, restoration and management of ecosystem services; crop/animal and labor productivity increases; safety nets 1.Improve access to production resources and remunerative employment on and off farm; recognize the critical role of women and empower them (education, land tenure, add value locally to agricultural products) 2.Improve markets, infrastructure, and institutions 3.Expand and disseminate ecosystem sustainability oriented research, knowledge, and technology with stakeholder participation (soil fertility, animals on farms, diversity, IP) New Equitable & Sustainable Way Forward 5. Options for action

Using natural systems to regulate pest outbreaks (example of push-pull greater farm productivity vs higher yields 2 to 10X) 1. Empower, involve and support farmers WIRED Magazine, November Options for action

Using natural systems to restore and maintain soil fertility 1. Empower, involve and support farmers 5. Options for action

Using natural systems to regulate disease vectors (tsetse flies) 1. Empower, involve and support farmers 5. Options for action

5.Bring all sectors responsible for sustainable development into a comprehensive systematic analysis, to recognize that policy decisions in one sector (i.e., transportation) strongly affect other sectors (input & market access) 6. Promote responsible governance at global, regional and local levels 7. Invest in long term gains versus short term quick fixes (i.e., deal with the cause not the symptoms) New Equitable & Sustainable Way Forward 5. Options for action

5. Bring all sectors responsible for sustainable development into a comprehensive systematic analysis, to recognize that policy decisions in one sector (i.e., transportation) strongly affect other sectors (input & market access) 6. Promote responsible governance at global, regional and local levels 7. Invest in long term gains versus short term quick fixes (i.e., deal with the cause not the symptoms) New Equitable & Sustainable Way Forward 5. Options for action

5. Bring all sectors responsible for sustainable development into a comprehensive systematic analysis, to recognize that policy decisions in one sector (i.e., transportation) strongly affect other sectors (input & market access) 6. Promote responsible governance at global, regional and local levels 7. Invest in long term gains versus short term quick fixes (i.e., deal with the cause not the symptoms) The Equitable & Sustainable Way Forward 5. Options for action

Opening national agricultural markets to international competition can offer economic benefits, but can lead to long term negative effects on poverty alleviation, food security and the environment without basic national institutions and infrastructure being in place 5. Options for action: Trade

Changes are needed both in production and consumption patterns to reduce impacts on and contribute to the natural resource base conservation and sustainable use Empowerment and education of consumers to know and understand the process of sustainable food production and its added value in ecosystem services Help the global community live off the interest of sustainably grown and managed natural capital, (agro-ecosystems) instead of consuming it. Business as usual is not an option 5. Options for action: consumption patterns and sustainable development Business as usual is not an option

5. Options for action: consumption patterns and sustainable development Business as usual is not an option

Need for a new paradigm In conclusion Need for individual and collective behavioral change Need for good/ responsible governance, institutions Need for better education on the interconnectedness in the ecosystem Need for action NOW

You cannot solve the problem with the same kind of thinking that created the problem Albert Einstein Thank you

5. Options for action: immediate / short term suggestions for decision-makers Build rural safety nets, enhance profitability of small scale production systems and non-farm rural employment Increase AKST focus to boost - sustainable production of locally important food (drylands, mountain and coastal ecosystems and other crop-livestock and fisheries systems) - reduce pre & post harvest losses (crop and livestock) - adapt to climate change impacts Increase national public investment in rural infrastructure and regional co-operation in AKST Enhance basic sciences, technological and institutional changes to address water and land problems Business as usual is not an option

5. Options for action: medium / long term suggestions for decision-makers Target AKST towards strategies that combine productivity with protection of natural resources -especially those practiced sustainably by small scale producers (i.e., pollination) Shift focus from production technologies to understanding and enhancing the production and adapting to environmental climate change impacts Enabling crop and livestock system innovation to adjust to increasing climate change induced variation / stress Improve public-private-CSO involvement in AKST with accountability for social and environmental outcomes Develop macro-level policy changes and inter-sectoral linkages to ensure that AKST serves the IAASTD development goals Build and reform AKST skill base (basic sciences, social, political and legal knowledge) and innovation capacities of rural communities (women) and consumers Business as usual is not an option