"The next 25 years will be the most important in the history of agriculture. That's why we need to get things right, and if we succeed in this period, we'll be good forever."
This statement was made by Professor Jack Bobo, Director of the Institute of Food Systems at the University of Nottingham, UK. Bobo is globally recognized for his innovative work in scientific communication, which recently earned him the prestigious Borlaug CAST Communication Award. He will receive this distinction in October from the World Food Prize Foundation in Iowa, United States.
Bobo arrived in San José, Costa Rica, to participate in a two-day debate on the future of agriculture with a dozen agriculture ministers from the Americas and other high-ranking officials in the sector. The discussions will take place at the headquarters of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) as part of the 44th session of the Executive Committee, a governing body of the organization.
Why Are the Next 25 Years Critical for Agriculture?
According to Bobo, by 2050, the world population will reach 9.5 billion people. Many expect that everything will worsen from then on. "But the reality is that population growth will start to decline drastically before then because we are having fewer children, and the number of children born will be smaller. All population growth during these years will be because people will live longer. This is good news for health and nutrition, but we will not live forever."
He explains: "Consequently, the challenge is not to produce more food forever. The challenge is to reach 2050 without deforesting all our forests and drying up all our rivers, lakes, and aquifers. From now until 2050, feeding the world will become increasingly difficult, but after 2050, it will become easier if we haven't ruined the planet by then."
When commenting on the award he received from the World Food Prize Foundation, the Borlaug CAST Communication Award, Bobo said, "It's a significant award because it elevates the profile and importance of communication. It highlights that what we are doing in science is not enough. We must also be able to communicate science so that people understand, value, and are willing to adopt innovations. The award gives me the opportunity to be heard by larger audiences."
In this regard, Bobo emphasizes that an institution like IICA plays a crucial role in ensuring that innovations that help build more productive and sustainable agriculture are disseminated and reach farmers. He is convinced that the organization can accelerate transformations in the continent because it has partnerships with governments and all sectors, thus being able to change the nature of the conversation and contribute to making changes happen.
A Vision for Agriculture
Having worked for 13 years with the U.S. Government and the State Department on global food policy, Bobo believes that many people today have a mistaken view of agriculture.
"It is true," he acknowledges, "that agriculture has a massive impact on the environment: it uses 40% of the planet's land, 70% of fresh water, and generates almost a third of the emissions that cause climate change. However, about 800 million people, 10% of the global population, go to bed hungry every day. Thus, it seems that food systems are failing. But if we consider where we came from, the conclusion is different.
Thirty years ago, 20% of the population was hungry. And 60 years ago, it was 30%. Certainly, 10% is a terrible proportion, and we need to do better. But we are doing much better than in the past. So, the question is: when were our food systems better than they are now? The answer is they never were."
Bobo argues that much misinformation is circulating and that, in many aspects, things are going well and improving, albeit not at the necessary speed. This means that changes need to be accelerated rather than blaming farmers for not doing more.
The scientist, who has also worked in the private and environmental sectors, identifies two key factors for accelerating transformation: more public policies and increased investment, with more money and resources, and a focus on consumers.
"We need to encourage the public not only to support innovation but also to demand it. This requires consumers to truly understand the role of innovation in our society. Often, we talk passionately about food but do not understand how production occurs because most people are far removed from the rural areas where their parents or grandparents grew up. So, we need to do a better job of engaging consumers to demand things that are truly beneficial. The challenges we face are enormous, and no one can solve them alone. We have just one generation to achieve our goals."
Comentários