Food for thought, and thought on food.

[The Grand Nudger]

The top 100 questions of importance to
the future of global agriculture.

Despite a significant growth in food production over the past half-century, one of the most important challenges facing
society today is how to feed an expected population of some nine billion by the middle of the 20th century. To meet the
expected demand for food without significant increases in prices, it has been estimated that we need to produce
70–100 per cent more food, in light of the growing impacts of climate change, concerns over energy security,
regional dietary shifts and the Millennium Development target of halving world poverty and hunger by 2015. The
goal for the agricultural sector is no longer simply to maximize productivity, but to optimize across a far more
complex landscape of production, rural development, environmental, social justice and food consumption
outcomes. However, there remain significant challenges to developing national and international policies that
support the wide emergence of more sustainable forms of land use and efficient agricultural production. The lack of
information flow between scientists, practitioners and policy makers is known to exacerbate the difficulties, despite
increased emphasis upon evidence-based policy. In this paper, we seek to improve dialogue and understanding
between agricultural research and policy by identifying the 100 most important questions for global agriculture.
These have been compiled using a horizon-scanning approach with leading experts and representatives of major
agricultural organizations worldwide. The aim is to use sound scientific evidence to inform decision making and
guide policy makers in the future direction of agricultural research priorities and policy support. If addressed, we
anticipate that these questions will have a significant impact on global agricultural practices worldwide, while
improving the synergy between agricultural policy, practice and research. This research forms part of the UK
Government’s Foresight Global Food and Farming Futures project

http://docserver.ingentaconnect.com/deli...A64024B712

-60. How much can agricultural education, extension,
farmer mobilization and empowerment be
achieved by the new opportunities afforded by
mobile phone and web-based technologies?-

I read this a couple years back and this one stuck with me. I've been working with a buddy of mine on a mobile app ever since (but since I can't code, and he can't farm - and we both have 9-5 lives....it's been slow going..lol)

[thesummerqueen]

Subscribing...hopefully I'll have time to get to this over the weekend...dad's blowing through Charlotte tonight...