1. Barbara Adolph, Agroecology team, IIED Limerick, 8th April 2014
From production for food security to sustainable food systems – an introduction
Barbara Adolph, Agroecology team, IIED
Limerick, 8th April 2014

2. The food security equation
FS = +60% for 9 billion in 2050
This equation
Comes from the foresight report and other documents – is being reproduced
Guides public policies and investments
Interrogating the equation:
What is food security? Just enough calories? Also quality? FAO definition: xxx. Does it matter where the food comes from and who controls it? Food sovereignty or markets?
Population growth and consumption patterns – inevitable? Or parameters that are in themselves subject to public policy?
Main point: There is already enough food being produced – but it doesn’t reach the poor. So will producing more mean that food security increases?
Not much consideration of the production mode (sustainable intensification – more of the same? Business as usual?)

3. An alternative Sustainable food systems for all This equation
Comes from the foresight report and other documents – is being reproduced
Guides public policies and investments
Interrogating the equation:
What is food security? Just enough calories? Also quality? FAO definition: xxx. Does it matter where the food comes from and who controls it? Food sovereignty or markets?
Population growth and consumption patterns – inevitable? Or parameters that are in themselves subject to public policy?
Main point: There is already enough food being produced – but it doesn’t reach the poor. So will producing more mean that food security increases?
Not much consideration of the production mode (sustainable intensification – more of the same? Business as usual?)

4. Climate smart agriculture = sustainable agriculture?
Climate-smart agriculture promotes production systems that sustainably increase productivity, resilience (adaptation), reduces/removes GHGs (mitigation), and enhances achievement of national food security and development goals. (
This equation
Comes from the foresight report and other documents – is being reproduced
Guides public policies and investments
Interrogating the equation:
What is food security? Just enough calories? Also quality? FAO definition: xxx. Does it matter where the food comes from and who controls it? Food sovereignty or markets?
Population growth and consumption patterns – inevitable? Or parameters that are in themselves subject to public policy?
Main point: There is already enough food being produced – but it doesn’t reach the poor. So will producing more mean that food security increases?
Not much consideration of the production mode (sustainable intensification – more of the same? Business as usual?)

5. IIED’s work on sustainable food system components
Natural resources management, local control and governance
Sustainable and resilient farming systems
Markets and value chains including energy for agriculture
… and coming soon – watch this space:
Change initiative on fair consumption from sustainable food systems
This equation
Comes from the foresight report and other documents – is being reproduced
Guides public policies and investments
Interrogating the equation:
What is food security? Just enough calories? Also quality? FAO definition: xxx. Does it matter where the food comes from and who controls it? Food sovereignty or markets?
Population growth and consumption patterns – inevitable? Or parameters that are in themselves subject to public policy?
Main point: There is already enough food being produced – but it doesn’t reach the poor. So will producing more mean that food security increases?
Not much consideration of the production mode (sustainable intensification – more of the same? Business as usual?)

6. Energy for agriculture
Addressing energy gaps and needs in smallholder-based food systems
Energy affordability and sustainability
Bridging the gap between the ‘energy’ and ‘agriculture’ communities
*** I need to look into a bit the different tools out there, so I can explain roughly what they are doing and see if I can find a good visual

7. Knowledge and innovation for sustainable agriculture
Prerequisites for adaptation to rapidly changing environments
Key role of farmers’ knowledge – but on its own not enough?
Creating and working in equitable partnerships between farmers, researchers and other innovation system actors
*** I need to look into a bit the different tools out there, so I can explain roughly what they are doing and see if I can find a good visual