It is expected that by 2050, the world’s population will have increased by one-third, with the highest increase occurring in developing countries. The FAO estimates that, if current income and consumption growth trends continue unabated, agricultural production will have to grow by 60 per cent to satisfy the expected increased demands for food and feed.
To feed the growing global population, and to provide the basis for economic growth and poverty reduction, agriculture must undergo a considerable transformation. This task will be made more difficult by climate change. More extreme weather events and an increased unpredictability of weather patterns have already made an impact on agriculture and food security, leading to production reductions and lower incomes in vulnerable areas.
Agriculture will need to transition to systems that are more productive, use inputs more efficiently, have less variability and greater stability in their outputs, and are more resilient to risks, shocks and long-term climate variability. This transformation must be accomplished without depleting the natural resource base. It will also have to entail a decrease of greenhouse gas emissions and an increase of carbon sinks, which will contribute significantly to the mitigation of climate change.
