The Future of Sustainability

"Going forward, farmers must produce more food per unit of land, water and agrochemicals...They will have to do this while facing climate change, volatility, shifting nutrition needs, and the increasing scarcity of most of the physical factors of production. Agriculture is at the threshold of a necessary paradigm shift."

This is how the recently published report "Food and Agriculture: the future of Sustainability" begins. The report identifies key paths of action, including (shortened here):

1. Define the goal in terms of human nutrition rather than simply "more production"
2. Pursue high yields within a healthy ecology
3. Impel innovation and the availability of technologies suitable in different socioeconomic and ecological contexts
4. Develop and adapt public and private institutions
5. Motivate and reward outcomes that are for the "public good"