Food security depends on agricultural innovation, productivity strategies

As world population keeps growing, we would eventually exceed the world's ability to feed us all. "The challenge today," says Louw "is to feed additional billions, and this can be done only through encouraging agricultural innovation." Food security is threatened by three factors, namely - population growth, the effect of the increase in middle-class groups in Asia on food demand and - lastly - mankind's dependence on one of the world's finite resources, oil, and the fact that a portion of the maize crop is used for ethanol production.

A report released by an Advisory Committee On Agricultural Innovation And Productivity recommended three focus-areas that may assist in closing the food productivity gap, says Louw: "Produce more food and increase the nutritional value of food; make food accessible and affordable to everyone; and address the challenge in a continuously more sustainable and comprehensive way."

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