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proteomic and new breeding techniques; enhanced agricultural

production and efficiency; whole-farm management systems aimed

at multifunctional purposes delivering ecosystem services (including

food, feed, fibre, biofuels, wildlife habitat, environmental services

etc.) while preserving the integrity of these ecosystems; energy conser-

vation and efficiency practices to reduce agricultural dependence on

fossil fuel-based technologies, and managing the risks associated with

biotic and abiotic factors (e.g. droughts, floods, pests, invasive species

etc). However, the impact of these technologies will differ from region

to region because of the financial constraints and the rate of the adop-

tion of new technologies by producers and other land managers.

The Global Earth Observing System of Systems (GEOSS) is one

promising technology which could help meet the information needs

of global agriculture at the local, regional and global level. The GEOSS

can monitor and assess the condition of agricultural ecosystems and

manage them for optimum use of inputs (water, nutrients, chemicals)

and maximum output (yields, environmental services, wild life habitat,

biofuels, etc). It can provide advance warning of weather and climate-

related events to minimize their impact and manage their risks for

avoiding loss of services. It can conduct observations for scientific

explorations and technological innovations by researchers around the

world, and provide necessary information and knowledge for agri-

cultural managers and policy makers to make timely decisions and/or

establish sound agricultural policies. In addition, the GEOSS can

provide early warning and assessments for combatting natural disas-

ter affecting agriculture and rural regions, and food aid programmes.

Future prospects

While new technologies can help overcome many of the challenges

our food and agricultural system faces, there are fundamental uncer-

tainties associated with the role of agriculture in the 21st

century global economy which will impact our quality

of life. These uncertainties include, but are not limited

to the extent of biofuels and bio-based product devel-

opment and the factors influencing their use; the ability

to manage the risks associated with weather and climate,

and mitigate their impact and/or adapt to them; imple-

mentation of sustainable development principles to

allow multi-use of agro-ecosystems while maintaining

their integrity and quality; population migration, capac-

ity building, training and education, and the scientific

and technical cooperation and coordination between

developed and developing nations.

Agricultural research and innovations together with

21st century technologies are needed to satisfy imme-

diate needs of growing population while maintaining

long-term sustainability of agro-ecosystems; to effec-

tively manage the risks associated with environmental

changes, mitigate their impacts on agro-ecosystems

and/or adapt to them; to satisfy consumer demands by

providing safe, affordable and adequate food, feed, fuels

and other services from agro-ecosystems, and to

promote a balanced approach between ‘global’ versus

‘local’ agricultural development to reduce the disparity

between developed and developing countries.

Ultimately, it will take a concerted effort by scientists,

agricultural producers and policy makers everywhere to

overcome agriculture’s grand challenge for the 21st

century – the sustainable production of food, fibre, fuel

and more for the entire world.

Source: FAO

Food distribution and nutritional needs

Agricultural output has grown at about two per cent per year since 1950, but about a billion people in the world still suffer from hunger and malnutrition

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GRICULTURE