Universal food security needs more than just sustainable intensification, expert warns

Intensified sustainable agriculture is the foundation for universal food security and nutrition outcomes, according to a new scientific paper. However, the researcher notes that its implementation faces challenges despite past Green Revolutions improving the food supply in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

Published in npj Sustainable Agriculture, the paper emphasizes the need for a “multi-sector approach” to increase food availability and lower environmental damage. This approach should be paired with investments in market infrastructure, stewardship, and social protection, says the paper’s author, Glenn Denning, Ph.D., a professor of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University.

He finds that green revolutions in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa have increased staple food supply and security, but environmental costs persist.

“Sustainable intensification is necessary but not sufficient for achieving universal food security,” he reiterates. “The complexity of the food system and the need for complementary and often synergistic investments across multiple sectors present implementation challenges.”

Green Revolution 

The paper reveals the Green Revolution, which increased agricultural productivity in Asia and Africa, used a combination of technology, infrastructure investment, and policies.

Green Revolution approaches will likely remain the best strategy for improving crop productivity, with emphasis on traditional crops such as millets, sorghum, and cassava.Denning reflects: “In response to predictions of famine in the 1950s and 1960s, governments, international development agencies, and philanthropies turned to new technology (high-yielding varieties and inorganic fertilizer), infrastructure investment (roads and irrigation), and supportive policies (input subsidies, farm credit, and market support) to boost agricultural productivity.”

“With a major focus on staple crops in Asia, this combination of investments became known as the Green Revolution.”

The approach led to reduced poverty and hunger and growth in the economy. 

However, efforts to implement the same approach in sub-Saharan Africa have failed, as “96% of arable land in sub-Saharan Africa is rainfed, and much of it is depleted of nutrients.” Also, agriculture was diverse, and important staple foods, like root and tuber crops, did not get researched, explains Denning. Other factors include poor infrastructure.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s 2004 attempt called for a “uniquely African Green Revolution” that included small-scale irrigation, soil health improvements, and investments in infrastructure and social safety nets. The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) has seen greater investment in R&D for staple crops, says Denning.

“Green Revolution approaches will likely remain the best strategy for improving crop productivity, though with increased emphasis on traditional crops such as millets, sorghum, and cassava.”

Denning believes with the current state and trends in hunger, malnutrition, and dietary change, we will not meet SDG 2 by 2030.“The challenge is how to intensify crop production more sustainably. Increased use of inorganic fertilizer, incorporating improved agronomic efficiency and integrated soil fertility management principles will be needed to boost the productivity of major staples and non-traditional cereal crops,” he adds. 

Native nutrition 

Researchers recently spotlighted millet, an underutilized but nutrient-dense and climate-resilient crop, as a solution for food insecurity.

In recent developments surrounding food heritage and security, East African nations have agreed to promote legislation to increase the consumption of traditional, indigenous, nutritious, and forgotten foods.

Food and nutrition security in spotlight 

Food security is a human right outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (1966). However, Denning warns the global food system is failing to deliver it. 

According to the UN, around 735 million people will be hungry in 2023, and three billion people cannot meet their nutrition needs. Denning spots a worrying and growing gap between ambition and reality, with negative impacts on peace, prosperity, and the environment. 

He believes that the Green Revolution is the best strategy against food and nutrition insecurity, but it requires investment, policy help, and market support.

“Producing enough food to meet the nutritional needs of 10 billion consumers by 2050 is the cornerstone of universal food security. But investing in sustainable intensification is just one component of a broader set of investments needed to transform the food system and align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).” https://www.nutritioninsight.com/news/us-faces-global-health-isolation-as-trump-withdraws-from-who.html 

“The current state and trends in hunger, malnutrition, and dietary change clearly show that we will not meet SDG 2 by 2030.”

The US is the largest donor of global aid. With President Donald Trump’s return to office, his intention to withdraw from the WHO, and the potential shutdown of USAID, the future of global health is uncertain.