Sustaining Global Food Security: The Nexus of Science and Policy

(Hardback)

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Population growth alone dictates that global food supplies must increase by over 50% in coming decades. Advances in technology offer an array of opportunities to meet this demand, but history shows that these can be fully realised only within an enabling policy environment. Sustaining Global Food Security makes a compelling case that recent technological breakthroughs can move the planet towards a secure and sustainable food supply only if new policies are designed that allow their full expression. Bob Zeigler has brought together a distinguished set of scientists and policy analysts to produce well-referenced chapters exploring international policies on genetic resources, molecular genetics, genetic engineering, crop breeding and protection, remote sensing, the changing landscape of agricultural policies in the worlds largest countries, and trade. Those entering the agricultural sciences and those who aspire to influence public policy during their careers will benefit from the insights of this unique set of experiences and perspectives.

Reviews

"Providing a safe, nutritious, affordable diet for an increasingly urbanized world of 10 billion people under a changing climate and with fewer natural resources is a task of mammoth proportions. Ending hunger can only be achieved through a determined and sustained commitment to smallholder agriculture, underpinned by appropriate technologies and policies. This fascinating book sets out to tackle these subjects and their interdependency, in a comprehensive and thought-provoking way. Through a crop lens, and with contributions from academia, industry and government, the authors have done a masterful job of combining exciting new science with real world policy pragmatism. Drawing from history, the book explores the intricate interplay between technological and policy innovation, and the way in which the upsides of technological breakthroughs can be balanced against the inevitable downside risks, while maintaining the pace or scale of adoption needed to achieve and maintain global food security." -- Nick Austin * Director, Agricultural Development, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation *

Author Bio

Robert S. Zeigler devoted his professional career to sustainably improving cereal production, primarily rice, in developing countries. Originally trained as a plant pathologist, Bob led increasingly complex multidisciplinary research programs, culminating in his appointment as Director General of the International Rice Research Institute in 2005, a position he held until his retirement in 2016. He has worked closely with policy makers and senior government officials in rice-producing countries in Africa, Latin America and Asia to link the potential of new technologies to political and economic realities. He now lives with his family in Portland, Oregon.