Factors including drought, soil erosion, salinity and climate change all contribute to food scarcity, but a report by the UK government’s Foresight thinktank (The Future of Food and Farming: Challenges and choices for global sustainability) suggests another important cause may be insufficient agricultural research. In most countries, research into agriculture and fisheries remains a low priority and two decades of this lack of interest has caused a slow-down in productivity gains. The report emphasises the need for a significant increase in new agricultural research to support a radical change to the food system in order to meet the urgency of food scarcity. Investment in research is one of the report’s ‘key priorities’ and it suggests new models of research funding are needed in which public, private and third sector funders coordinate their efforts and incentives are provided for research into solutions to benefit low-income countries.
UK Government Thinktank suggests lack of agricultural research is a major cause of food scarcity
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2 Responses to UK Government Thinktank suggests lack of agricultural research is a major cause of food scarcity
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The whole agricultural system is failing and will continue to do so until we farm properly .
Soil care and wildlife must be at the heart agriculture , with a huge emphasis on mixed diverse
Farming techniques .
Farming is not an industry , it’s too presious to be pigeon holed into the same category as steel or
Car manufacturing.
How long can we expect to overpopulate and pour endless amounts of chemicals onto the land?
The west can only eat because of this dreadful form of farming and the people should be made aware
Of the strain that is put onto the environment to produce their food .
I would like very much to join your think tank and bring my opinion and knowledge to the table.
Stuart Bull
Also , this issues need to taken out of the hands of academics and scientists and should be placed with the people who truly understand the land.
A real farmer who had his hands in farming has more idea than anybody who has wasted their time with their heads in books.