Besides a major financial crisis
since 2008, a major inflation and
volatility of the price of the most
important staple foods such as rice or
wheat is threatening global food security,
especially for the millions of poor in
developing countries. Food production
has returned to the top of the political
agenda worldwide. Today, we are at a
crossroads. About 850 million people
still go to bed hungry. Food production
needs to be increased by about 70% in
the next 40 years to feed over 9 billion
people by 2050 and food systems have
to be more inclusive of the poorest
population. To achieve this increase
and food access for the most vulnerable,
many challenges need to be addressed,
including a changing climate and shrinking
natural resources. Innovations such
as high yield wheat and rice cultivars
and fertilizers sparked a green revolution
in South Asia in the 1960s but they are
now showing certain limits in terms of
sustainability and profitability