Food security and sustainable intensification

Abstract

The coming decades are likely to see increasing pressures on the global food system, both on the demand side from increasing population and per capita consumption, and on the supply side from greater competition for inputs and from climate change. This paper argues that the magnitude of the challenge is such that action is needed throughout the food system, on moderating demand, reducing waste, improving governance and producing more food. It discusses in detail the last component, arguing that more food should be produced using sustainable intensification (SI) strategies, and explores the rationale behind, and meaning of, this term. It also investigates how SI may interact with other food policy agendas, in particular, land use and biodiversity, animal welfare and human nutrition.

Keywords: animal welfare; biodiversity; food security; nutrition; sustainable intensification.

Figure 1.

The complexity of global food policy. Policy decisions made about production and demand affect global food prices and their stability, though exactly how depends on numerous national and international policies on rural support mechanisms (such as the Common Agricultural Policy), international trade, the governance of the private sector and efforts to reduce waste. Decisions made about the global food system have profound (and reciprocal) effects on the environment and on efforts to end poverty and hunger. Food policy itself is embedded within the wider policy landscape. Meeting the challenge of global food security requires action on supply, demand, waste and governance with it being critical to consider the effect of any policy action on the environment and the needs of the world's poorest. (Online version in colour.)