The cost of corn, wheat and other grains is going through the roof. Food riots have already occurred in a number of countries; the poor are having a harder and harder time feeding themselves.So what’s the problem?
The news media have told us it’s all about ethanol production, expanding middle classes in
Nonetheless, governments from 61 countries signed onto the International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD) in Johannesburg,
The IAASTD takes issue with many of the shibboleths of industrial agribusiness. It expresses reservations (while recognizing potential benefits) of trade liberalization, biotechnology, and high-input large scale industrial agriculture. (At one point in the multiyear negotiations, biotech companies walked out in protest). Instead, the IAASTD calls for recognition of the multifunctionality of agriculture. Rather than look strictly at market-driven improvements in productivity and yields, policymakers should consider rural livelihoods and culture, ecosystem services of agricultural areas, and international equity. As the report puts it, the IAASTD
responds to the widespread realization that despite significant scientific and technological achievements in our ability to increase agricultural productivity, we have been less attentive to some of the unintended social and environmental consequences of our achievements. We are now in a good position to reflect on these consequences and to outline various policy options to meet the challenges ahead, perhaps best characterized as the need for food and livelihood security under increasingly constrained environmental conditions from within and outside the realm of agriculture and globalized economic systems.
The report looks specifically at eight cross-cutting themes: bioenergy, biotechnology, climate change, human health, natural resource management, trade and markets, traditional and local knowledge and community-based innovation, and women in agriculture. It calls for more research and investment into small-farm systems, low-input and organic agriculture and agroecology, a focus on food security and safety, and taking into account traditional knowledge and culture.
The proportion of women in agricultural production and post-harvest activities
ranges from 20 to 70%; theirinvolvement is increasing in many developing countries, particularly with the development of export-oriented irrigated farming, which is associated with a growing demand for female labor, including migrant workers. Whereas these dynamics have in some ways brought benefits, in general, the largest proportion of rural women worldwide continues to face deteriorating health and work conditions, limited access to education and control over natural resources, insecure employment and low income. ...
How to change these ill-effects? The report states that change
requires giving priority to women’s access to education, information, scienceWorth checking out if you want a better idea of what needs to happen to make food production sustainable.
and technology, and extension services to enable improving women’s access, ownership and control of economic and natural resources. To ensure such access, ownership and control legal measures, appropriate credit schemes, support for women’s income generating activities and the reinforcement of women’s organizations and networks are needed[, as well as] recognizing their knowledge,
skills and experience in the production of food and the conservation of biodiversity; and assessing the negative effects and risks of farming practices and technology, including pesticides on women’s health, and taking measures to reduce use and exposure....
