Food Security and Sustainable Development: Rethinking Agronomy and International Trade

Abstract

Agriculture in the second half of the twentieth century was marked by radical changes in production techniques and technology, which led to a dramatic increase in productivity. However, with increased productivity came subsequent increases in the costs of agricultural raw materials, and farmers in poorer regions were not able to keep up with new production models. In this context, it is essential to reexamine standards of agronomy and international trade in order to achieve a balance between worldwide food security and sustainable development. After outlining the current state of both the food supply and the ecological situation, the article demonstrates the challenges faced by world agricultural, such as growing demand, soil depletion, and decreasing biodiversity. In order to resolve these issues, it is important that agricultural researchers work closely with farmers to intensify productivity without substantial reform of the world agricultural market. Adapted from the source document.