World Scientists’ New Proposal to Feed the Poor

The International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD) launched their report, April 15. Four hundred experts on agriculture and development worked on the report which outlines ways in which “agriculture can feed a world with an exploding population and a changing climate, while reducing poverty and environmental degradation”

The report is a result of a four year assessment involving scientists from more than 100 countries. It engaged non-governmental organizations, consumer groups and the private sector. The central question of IAASTD is core to what Bread for the World’s mission. The report is extensive (it is more than 2000 pages) and looks at the potential of agricultural knowledge and science and technology to reduce hunger and poverty, improve rural livelihoods, and achieve environmentally, socially and economically sustainable development in poor countries.

The report’s release coincides with heightened concern over rising world food prices and the IAASTD report responds to this growing concern by arguing that global farming needs to change radically to avoid future food shortages.

The report advances several important arguments. Among them:

• In the past agricultural science has emphasized increasing agricultural production at the expense of environmental, social or economic sustainability.
• Trade liberalization in agriculture has not benefited all countries that have opened their markets. This is because some developing countries which have liberalized agricultural trade have not made improvements in basic infrastructure and institutions that are necessary to relieve hunger and poverty, and improve and protect the environment. And;
• Agricultural research and development efforts have focused on only a handful of crops without advancing knowledge or improvements in other staples foods, some of which are important to Africa, for instance tef in Ethiopia. In advancing agricultural science in similar countries, the IAASTD report acknowledges that “Genetic erosion is of particular concern in sub-Saharan Africa because many countries have a wide range of crops and livestock species that are considered relatively unimportant on a global level but are important as local staples.

The report also stresses that “we have little time to lose if we are to change course. Continuing with current trends would exhaust our resources and put our children’s future in jeopardy.”

Despite efforts to inclusive engagement, the report is opposed by some critical experts in agricultural science. For instance, the author of “Starved for Science: How Biotechnology Is Being Kept out of Africa”, Robert Paarlberg, is doubtful about the way in which the IAASTD tackles biotechnology.  Similarly, other organizations including the two biggest biotech and pesticide companies, Syngenta and BASF does not support the assessment process, mainly because they disagree on how the assessment is “overly cautious about the potential risks of genetically modified crops and its benefits”.

IAASTD’s response to these critics is that the report is based on scientific findings not on opinions. Based on this controversy and criticisms of the report it will be interesting to see if any of the findings will be adopted by other major international organizations, institutions and/or governments. The fact that the Australian, Canadian and U.S. governments do not fully support the global summary for decision makers is especially challenging. More than 50 other countries have endorsed the report. 

I strongly believe in the potential of science to improve agricultural production and I agree with IAASTD’s observations that "many problems could resolved if biotechnologies would focus on local priorities identified through transparent processes involving the full spectrum of stakeholders". 

I think more focus should be given to the report findings as the world has finite resources with an increasing population. It is unfortunate that all important players do not fully embrace the findings. This is one of the most extensive studies I have ever seen and the final regional report presented in Johannesburg is available here.  One of the critical message was that the time to change the course of agricultural development is NOW and the world must cooperate in solving food insecurity and environmental degradation.