I’m fed up with talking about the weather, but I can console myself with the fact we have grabbed every opportunity so far and progress is not too bad.UN body calls for radical reform of farming
INDUSTRIAL farming is failing, and will need radical reform if the industry is to meet the challenges of a growing population and climate change, according to a new report.
The International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD) announced its conclusions today (Tuesday, April 15), following a four year study into world agriculture.
In its report, the IAAST called for a back-to-basics approach from world governments to place agriculture in the context of social, environmental and economic issues.
Key amongst those is the global food crisis and the challenge posed by rising prices and a rapidly growing population.
The report argues that whilst production undoubtedly needs to increase, governments should be aware of the wider impact of farming.
“Business as usual is not an option,” said Professor Bob Watson, director at the IAASTD and Defra’s chief scientist.
“To argue, as we do, that continuing to focus on production alone will undermine our agricultural capital and leave us with an increasingly degraded and divided planet is to reiterate an old message.
“But it is a message that has not always had resonance in some parts of the world. If those with power are now willing to hear it, then we may hope for more equitable policies that do take the interests of the poor into account.”
The report considers the effects of technology, trade agreements and climate change on agriculture and calls for more investment in technology to ensure the challenges can be met.
Despite the role of technology, Prof. Watson stopped short of recommending GM crops, instead advising that decisions should be taken on a ‘case by case basis’.
The conclusions had already upset some in the private sector with stakeholders from the GM lobby abandoning the talks when the report was discussed in Johannesburg last week.
Discussions over trade have also caused some concern with the USA, Canada and Australia all failing to sign the final report after disagreement over its conclusions.
The British Government has also failed to sign the accord, though Prof. Watson said he was ‘confident’ it would be approved at the ‘highest level of government’.
The report considers a range of other issues from soil degradation to water shortages and will now be distributed to governments around the world in the hope that it will stimulate further discussion on the role of agriculture and lead to concrete policies to address the growing crisis.
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