Thursday, May 15, 2008

Food Security and Environment in a Changing Landscape

By: Elizabeth Migongo-Bake, UNEP, and Angus MacDonald, Stakeholder Forum

Expansion of agricultural production to meet this challenge is most likely to lead to marked conversion of forest and rangeland ecosystems. Mainstreaming an ecosystems management approach into national agricultural and economic development plans is critically important to address the long-term sustainability of agriculture in the face of climate change.

Water: A huge side effect of increased agriculture, although relatively unreported in the mainstream media, will be the increased strain on already stretched water resources. 70% of the water that humans use goes into some form of agricultural production. Countries need to continue to develop IWRM plans to ensure all sectors are taken into account in water resouarces management. Otherwise, potentially devastating effects on ecosystems due to lack of water could occur.

Interlinkages: The interlinkages between land degradation, drought, biodiversity loss, water shortages and food security must be acknowledged. Agriculture is highly dependant on ecosystem services such as genetic resources, water regulation, soil formation, pest regulation, nutrient cycling and primary production. An agricultural industry that decimated its own ecosystems through unsustainable practices would really be shooting itself in the foot in the long term.

Women: The role of women in agriculture should also be discussed. In developing countries women are over 60% of the agricultural labour force, yet they have limited access to productive assets and often do not see the fruits of their hard work. In sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean, approximately 80% of the staple food eaten in households and sold in local markets is grown by women. Yet their role as farmers is not recognised. Empowering rural women as agents of sustainable rural development makes good economic, environmental and social sense. Neglecting or ignoring over half of the work force (four fifths in some countries) does not. Mainstreaming women in agriculture is crucial.

Long term perspective: At a sensitive time in the food security debate, long term measures must be taken, even though the short term need is now great. We must recognise the crucial role ecosystems play in the agricultural process and try to pursue policies and management that will not just give us enough food next year, but next decade and beyond.